Bako National Park

Bako National Park is a national park in Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. Established in 1957, it is the oldest national park in Sarawak. It covers an area of 27.27 square kilometres (10.53 sq mi) at the tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula at the mouth of the Bako and Kuching Rivers. It is approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) by road from Kuching. Millions of years of erosion of the sandstone have created a coastline of steep cliffs, rocky headlands and stretches of white, sandy bays. Wave erosion at the base of the cliffs has carved many of the rocky headlands into fantastically shaped sea arches and seastacks with colored patterns formed by iron deposition. The most famous of them is shaped like a cobra's head which can be spotted on a boat ride from the headquarters or one of the beaches. Some of these rock formations can be seen on entry to the Teluk Assam Beach, which fronts the park. The park can only be reached by a 20-minute boat ride from the village of Kampung Bako. It is often visited as a day-trip from Kuching, though accommodations (campground and forestry service bungalows) are available.

Bako National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Padang scrub at Bako National Park, with N. rafflesiana plant in foreground.
Bako NP
Location in Borneo
LocationKuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia
Coordinates1°43′N 110°28′E
Area27 km2 (10 sq mi)
Established1957
Governing bodySarawak Forestry

Bako is one of the smallest national parks in Sarawak. However, it features multiple biomes (including rainforest), abundant wildlife, jungle streams and waterfalls, secluded beaches, and trekking trails. A network of 16 marked walking trails of different lengths allows visitors access. In addition, various beaches are accessible by boat from Kampung Bako or Teluk Assam, as well as a geologically interesting sea stack rock formation. The range of attractions and activities in a compact area have made Bako one of the most popular parks in Sarawak.[1]

The park hosted the final Pit Stop of The Amazing Race Asia 1.[2]

Flora

Bako contains almost every type of plant life found in Borneo, with over 25 distinct types of vegetation from seven complete ecosystems: beach vegetation, cliff vegetation, kerangas or heath forest, mangrove forest, mixed dipterocarp forest, padang or grasslands vegetation and peat swamp forest.[3] The unusual plant life includes a variety of carnivorous plants (four species of pitcher plants,[4] sundews, bladderworts) as well as a huge variety of tree and other plant species.

Fauna

Bako is home to approximately 150 endangered proboscis monkeys,[5] which are endemic to Borneo, and has been called "the best place to see proboscis monkeys in Sarawak".[6] Other animals include the long-tailed macaque, silvered langur, plantain squirrel, Bornean bearded pig, monitor lizards, and otters. All of these are present in the forest as well as near camp headquarters on Telok Assam beach. Bako is also home to a number of lizards and snakes, most of which are harmless. Bako is a fascinating place for bird watching, with over 150 species recorded. Bako's nocturnal creatures include the colugo, pangolin, mousedeer, various species of fruit-eating and insect-eating bats, tarsier, slow loris and palm civet.

Bako National Park beach panorama

References
  1. "Higher visitor arrivals in 2017, over RM8 billion earned — Minister". The Borneo Post. 17 July 2018.
  2. "24 Days, 15 Cities, 39,000 Kilometres And It Comes Down To This". The Amazing Race Asia. Season 1. Episode 13. 1 February 2007. AXN.
  3. Ashton, P.S. 1971. The plants and vegetation of Bako National Park. Malayan Nature Journal 24: 151–162.
  4. Lonely Planet description of Bako National Park, "", retrieved 6 Jun 2011.
  5. Barrett, Rosanne (November 26, 2009). "Monkey Business in Borneo's Rainforest". TIME.
  6. Lonely Planet description of Bako National Park, "", retrieved 6 Jun 2011.
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