The Hornbill of Borneo

Borneo is not only the third largest island in the world but it is also one of the most unique places on Earth. It's nearly 750,000 square kilometres are home to an incredible variety of habitats from dense tropical jungles to the complex coral reef systems found along the coasts.

The island is known as one of the world's biodiversity hotspots as it is home to some of the rarest and unique animals on Earth, many of which are found only in Borneo. Iconic species such as Orang-Utans, Pygmy Elephants and Proboscis Monkeys coexist in the rich jungles but there is also an incredible abundance of bird life.

More than 400 species are bird are natively found in Borneo including eight different species of Hornbill. These colourful and elegant birds are very distinctive both in appearance and behaviour as the females are actually sealed in a hollow tree while they are nesting and are fed by their male partners.

Orang Utan and Hornbill

The Semenggoh Wildlife Centre was established in 1975 to care for wild animals which have either been found injured in the forest, orphaned, or were previously kept as illegal pets. The centre is situated within the boundaries of the Semenggoh Nature Reserve, approximately 24 km from Kuching.

When established, the three main aims of the Centre were:

• To rehabilitate wild animals who have been injured, orphaned in the wild or handicapped by
• prolonged captivity, with the objective of subsequently releasing them back to the wild.
• To conduct research on wildlife and captive breeding programmes for endangered species.
• To educate visitors and the general public about the importance of conservation.

The Centre has been a resounding success, caring for almost 1,000 endangered mammals, birds and reptiles from dozens of different species. However it is the orang utan rehabilitation programme that has made the Centre famous. In one respect, Semenggoh has been too successful – so many orang utan have been successfully reintroduced into the surrounding forest reserve that the forest’s carrying capacity has been reached, and rehabilitation activities have been transferred to the Matang Wildlife Centre, part of Kubah National Park. 

As a result of its success, Semenggoh’s role has changed and it is nowadays a centre for the study of orang utan biology and behaviour, as well as a safe and natural haven for dozens of semi-wild orang utan, graduates of the rehabilitation programme. It is also home to numerous baby orang utan, born in the wild to rehabilitated mothers, a further testament to the success of the programme. 

A visit to Semenggoh is a once in a lifetime experience - a chance to see semi-wild orang utan, ranging from tiny infants and boisterous adolescents to dignified mature adults, enjoying life in a secure natural habitat.