Minus humans, nature spreads out on Mount Kinabalu

 

Nature is taking a more prominent place on Mount Kinabalu with a decline of human presence due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.

KOTA KINABALU: Nature appears to have more room to spread out on Mount Kinabalu after its closure to climbers because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sabah Parks official Nasrulhakim Maidin said the sighting of maroon langurs near a rest house on the mountain was an example of how the movement control order and less human presence have been beneficial to the environment.

“It is essentially an opportunity for nature to recuperate or have a resting period from human exploitation and tourism,” he told FMT, adding that it was definitely unusual for the “shy” creatures like the maroon langurs to come close to the rest house.

Nasrulhakim said langurs, which local Kadazandusun communities call maragang or the red creature due to the colour of its fur, have appeared before around Laban Rata but never so close to the rest house.

He said warmer temperatures associated with climate change were not likely to be the reason for their recent appearance.

Maroon Langurs were photographed near a rest house by Sutera Sanctuary Lodges service manager Freddie Jude Julani recently. (Freddie Jude Julani pic).

The langurs were photographed near the rest house by Sutera Sanctuary Lodges service manager Freddie Jude Julani recently.

Wildlife experts had wondered whether the incursion was an indication of warmer temperatures from climate change, as langurs are usually found in forests at altitudes of up to 2,000 metres.

Climbing activities on the mountain were halted on Oct 9 last year and resumed on Dec 7. However, the two-week movement control order on Jan 13 includes an inter-district travel ban, thus curtailing climbing activities on Mount Kinabalu once again. - FMT

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