Taman Negara, Malaysia
High biodiversity
Spectacular jungle
The chance of a dream species
Very tough for photography (high canopy, thick jungle)
Quite low density of birds, jungle birding is only for the hardcore
Very hot, very humid
Freedom:
Very high. You are free to explore the park independently, day or night. Though you are encouraged to take a guide for longer trails.
Costs:
Low. Accommodation in the village of Kuala Tahan is cheap but the one resort inside the park is quite pricey. The park ticket is 1MYR and a further 5MYR for a camera/phone, and the tickets last one month (roughly 1.5 USD). It is 1MYR each time you take a boat across the river to or from the park.
Target Species:
Sunbear
Malayan Crested Fireback
Lar Gibbon
Siamang
Malayan Tapir
My Species Stats (four-day visit, only including photographed species):
Birds - 32
Mammals - 4
Herps - 5
Insects/Arachnids/Mollusks - 12
Habitats:
Lowland dipterocarp rainforest
Montane rainforests at higher elevations deep in the park
Species
One visit for four days in June, 2023.
Excellent Sightings:
Birds - Black-Bellied Malkoha, White-Throated Kingfisher, Blyth’s Paradise-Flycatcher, Raffle’s Malkoha, Olive-Winged Bulbul, Pacific Swallow, Black-and-Red Broadbill, Purple-Naped Spiderhunter, Spectacled Bulbul, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Chestnut-Winged Babbler, Plaintive Cuckoo, Yellow-Vented Bulbul, White-Rumped Shama.
Mammals - Long-Tailed Macaque.
Herps - Keeled Ratsnake, Malaysian Blue Coralsnake, Clouded Monitor Lizard, White-Spotted Slugsnake, Flying Dragon Sp.
Good Sightings:
Birds - Rhinoceros Hornbill, Gold-Whiskered Barbet, Buff-Necked Woodpecker, Buff-Vented Bulbul, Black-naped Monarch, GRT Drongo, Scarlet-Rumped Trogan, Scaly-Crowned Babbler.
Mammals - Dusky Leaf Monkey, Black-Striped Squirrel, Prevost’s Squirrel.
Sightings:
Birds - Black-Capped Babbler, Checker-Throated Woodpecker, Square-Tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Blue-Winged Leafbird, Hairy-Backed Bulbul, Ochraceous Bulbul, Streaked Bulbul, Rufous-Winged Philentoma.
Technically Seen:
Asian Emerald Dove, Kingfisher Sp, Green Pigeon Sp, Chestnut-Breasted Malkoha.
Not Observed But “Common”:
Wild Boar, Southern Red Muntjac, Orange-Backed Woodpecker, Asian Fairy Bluebird.
Dream Wildlife On Park List:
Sunbear, Lar Gibbon, Tiger(!), Asian Elephant, Malayan Peacock Pheasant, Malayan Tapir, Garnet Pitta, Siamang, Binturong, White-Thighed Surili.
