Kinabalu Park

Kinabalu Park
Kinabalu Park
IUCN category II (national park)
	Location of Kinabalu Park in Malaysia
Location	Sabah, Malaysia
Nearest city	Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran (Tamparuli), Kota Belud, Ranau
Coordinates	6°09′N 116°39′E / 6.15°N 116.65°E
Area	754 km2 (291 sq mi)
Established	1964
Visitors	611,624 (in 2010)
Governing body	Sabah Parks
Asia-Pacific

Kinabalu Park (

national parks of Malaysia in 1964, is Malaysia's first World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO in December 2000 for its "outstanding universal values" and the role as one of the most important biological sites in the world with more than 4,500 species of flora and fauna, including 326 bird and around 100 mammal species,^[1] and over 110 land snail species.^[2]

Located on the west coast of

Malaysian Borneo, it covers an area of 754 square kilometres surrounding Mount Kinabalu, which at 4,095.2 meters, is the highest mountain on the island of Borneo

.

The park is one of the most popular tourist spots in Sabah and Malaysia in general. In 2010, the park received 611,624 visitors, including 47,613 climbers.[3]

The site has been identified by UNESCO as a Centre of Plant Diversity for Southeast Asia, as it contains representatives from at least half of all Borneo’s plant species and is extremely rich in species with elements from China, Australia, the Himalayas, Malaysia and pan tropical floras.^[4]

History

The region was designated as a national park in 1964. British colonial administrator and naturalist

Low's Peak

.

Geography

Kinabalu Park is situated on the

Ranau, within the West Coast Division. The park is not to be confused with Crocker Range National Park

which is a separate park in the south.

The park headquarters is 88 kilometres away from the city of Kota Kinabalu. There are sealed roads leading towards the park headquarters from other parts of Sabah. It is situated on the southern boundary of Kinabalu Park, at an elevation of 1,563 m (5,128 ft).

Administration and park features

This park is administered by an organisation called Sabah Parks. Accommodations in the form of chalets can be found in the park, mostly around the headquarters. Reservations for accommodation and mountain climbing guides are processed through Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, a private company. Every person who wishes to climb the mountain must be accompanied by a qualified guide. Sutera is now requiring hikers to stay one night at their lodge near the entrance, in addition to a required stay at Laban Rata. The cost to stay is considerably higher than at lodging just outside the park and includes a mandatory purchase of meals, etc.

The mountain summit trail begins at Timpohon. There is also an alternative route called the

Mesilau Trail

.

A notable feature of the park is Low's Gully. It is a 1.6-kilometer deep ravine stretching 10 kilometres on the side of the mountain peak.

Ecology

This botanical site contains a variety of flora and fauna that ranges over 4 climate zones; from rich

alpine meadow plants, and to the stunted bushes of summit zone. The mountain is also known for its many carnivorous plant and orchid species, most notably Nepenthes rajah

.

It is also home to a multitude of

endemic animal species, including the Kinabalu giant red leech and Kinabalu giant earthworm

. The park also plays host to a variety of birds, insects, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.

Mount Kinabalu is one of the youngest non-volcanic mountains in the world. It was formed within the last 10 to 35 million years. The mountain still grows at a rate of 5 millimetres a year

Gallery

Kinabalu Park Headquarters
Mountain squirrel
Ochraceous bulbul
Male Philautus bunitus
Crested dragon (Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis
)
Black and golden cicada (Huechys fusca)
Orbweb spider (
Araneidae
)

References

^ Chilling out in a tropical destination Archived 23 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine. The Jakarta Post, 12 June 2011.
^ Liew, T.S., M. Schilthuizen & M. Lakim, 2017. The determinants of land snail diversity along a tropical elevational gradient: insularity, geometry, and niches. Journal of Biogeography, 37: 1071-1078
^ "Annual Report 2010". Sabah Parks. pp. 108–114. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
^ "Kinabalu Park". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
^ "Kinabalu Park". Sabah Parks. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2008.

External links

[1] Chilling out in a tropical destination Archived 23 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine. The Jakarta Post, 12 June 2011.

[2] Liew, T.S., M. Schilthuizen & M. Lakim, 2017. The determinants of land snail diversity along a tropical elevational gradient: insularity, geometry, and niches. Journal of Biogeography, 37: 1071-1078

[3] "Annual Report 2010". Sabah Parks. pp. 108–114. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

[4] "Kinabalu Park". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 9 August 2021.

[5] "Kinabalu Park". Sabah Parks. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2008.

[1]

[2]

[4]

v t e World Heritage Sites in Malaysia
West Malaysia	Malacca City (2008) George Town, Penang (2008) Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (2012)
East Malaysia	Kinabalu Park (2000) Gunung Mulu National Park (2000)

v t e Protected areas of Sabah
World Heritage Site	Kinabalu National Park
State parks	Crocker Range Park Tawau Hills Park Tiga Island Park Tun Mustapha Marine Park Tun Sakaran Marine Park Tunku Abdul Rahman Park Turtle Islands Park
Protection forest reserves	Balembangan Forest Reserve Bengkoka Forest Reserve Bidu Bidu Forest Reserve Binsuluk Forest Reserve Botitian Forest Reserve Bukit Kuamas Forest Reserve Bukit Taviu Forest Reserve Danum Valley Conservation Area Deramakot Forest Reserve Gomantong Forest Reserve Gunung Rara Forest Reserve Klias Forest Reserve Lipaso Forest Reserve Maliau Basin Conservation Area Mandamai Forest Reserve Mount Pock Forest Reserve Silabukan Protection Forest Reserve Tawai Forest Reserve Tenompok Forest Reserve Ulu Kalumpang Forest Reserve Ulu Telupid Forest Reserve
Other nature reserves and sanctuaries	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre Silam Coast Conservation Area Tabin Wildlife Reserve Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area Rafflesia Forest Reserve

v t e ASEAN Heritage Parks
Brunei (1)	Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park
Cambodia (2)	Preah Monivong National Park Virachey National Park
Indonesia (7)	Gunung Leuser National Park Kerinci Seblat National Park Lorentz National Park Way Kambas National Park Kepulauan Seribu National Park Wakatobi National Park Bantimurung – Bulusaraung National Park
Laos (1)	Nam Ha National Protected Area
Malaysia (3)	Gunung Mulu National Park Kinabalu National Park Taman Negara National Park
Myanmar (8)	Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Inlay Lake Wetland Sanctuary Khakaborazi National Park Lampi Island Marine National Park Meinmahla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary Natmataung National Park
Philippines (9)	Mount Apo Natural Park Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary Mounts Iglit–Baco National Park Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park Mount Makiling Nature Reserve Mount Malindang Range Natural Park Timpoong and Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
Singapore (2)	Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Thailand (7)	Ao Phang Nga National Park, Surin Islands and Similan Islands Kaeng Krachan National Park Khao Yai National Park Khao Sok National Park Tarutao National Park Hat Chao Mai National Park and Mu Ko Libong islands Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park
Vietnam (10)	Ba Bể National Park Bái Tử Long National Park Chư Mom Ray National Park Hoàng Liên National Park Kon Ka Kinh National Park U Minh Thượng National Park Bidoup Núi Bà National Park Vu Quang National Park Lò Gò-Xa Mát National Park Ngọc Linh (Kon Tum) Nature Reserve
Association of Southeast Asian Nations Centre for Biodiversity

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Germany
Geographic	BGCI garden