Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre | Sandakan, Sabah: journeymalaysia.com

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

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The beginnings of Sepilok OrangUtan Rehabilitation Centre - Burgess, Tom & Barbara Harrisson

The original idea of an orangutan rehabilitation project was proposed in 1961 by P.F. Burgess, the Deputy Conservator of Forests then. Soon after, Barbara Harrisson started a mission to rescue orangutans kept by locals as pets. Their idea was to rehabilitate these captive individuals in hope that one day they may return to the wild . In 1962, together with WWF, Barbara Harrisson went to Sabah . Keeping orangutans as pets have long since been in the habit of locals. Even Agnes Keith (author of 'Land below the wind') had a young orangutan under her care back in Sandakan in the 1930's. By 1963, logging had cut deep into the heart of Sabah or North Borneo and already then, Barbara and Tom Harrisson reported that the orangutans were threatened with extinction. Although Barbara's work alongside her husband Tom was invaluable in documenting early archaeological works and also on conservation of species in Borneo after WWII, Tom's larger-than-life character seemed to have overshadowed her importance.

Heimann, a U.S. diplomat who first met English cultural anthropologist - Tom Harrisson() in Borneo described him to be, 'a romantic polymath, a drunken bully, an original-thinking iconoclast, a dreadful husband and father, a fearless adventurer, a Richard Burton of his time..' . Tom Harrison first parachuted behind enemy lines in Borneo in1945. He was a British Army Major who commanded 7 fellow Special Operations agents . In his daring quest to quell the advancement of the Japanese Army, he cooked up an unbelievable plan ..to recruit guerrillas, set up an intelligence network and raise an army of Dayak headhunters who by the time the Allied troops landed, had killed or captured 1500 Japanese.

As with all naturalists, anthropologists, adventurers and treasure hunters who traveled the world in the 1950's,- everybody knew everybody in this tight knit, elite community of explorers. David Attenborough had the pleasure of meeting Tom. And this he wrote, 'Explorer, museum curator, guerilla fighter, pioneer sociologist, documentary filmmaker, anthropologist-Tom Harrisson was all these things. He was also arrogant, choleric, swashbuckling, often drunk and nearly always deliberately outrageous. In spite of these contradictions, he became a key figure in every enterprise he undertook.'

For more on the life of Tom Harrisson, get this book titled 'The Most Offending Soul Alive: The Life of Tom Harrisson (Paperback) - by Judith M. Heimann (Author)'. And if you get to catch it on BBC Four, a documentary called Tom Harrisson - The Barefoot Anthropologist; narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

After the war, Tom Harrisson remained in Borneo and took on the position of curator of Sarawak Musuem. His passion for life knew no boundaries. In the course of his life in Borneo he contributed immensely to archiving, discovering and preserving parts of Borneo and its people as he saw it. He also pioneered the conservation of green turtles and together with Barbara helped establish the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.

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Accommodation and Packages to North Sabah ~ Sandakan, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Gomantong Cave, Selingan Turtle Island , Lankayan Island , Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sukau Area , Danum Valley , Tabin Wildlife Reserve & Lahad Datu

Trips & Packages :
Day Trips	Sepilok OrangUtan Rehabilitation Centre \| 1/2 Day Sepilok OrangUtan Rehabilitation Centre Tour \| Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre & Safari River Cruise Trip \| Guomantong Cave Bilit Rainforest Lodge ~ \| Full Day to Gomantong Cave & Bilit River Cruise \| Tabin Wildlife Reserve Tabin Wildlife Resort ~ \| Tabin Wildlife Mud Volcano \|
Overnight Trips	Kinabatangan / Sukau Wildlife Sanctuary Bilit Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 2 Days 1 Night Sepilok Orang Utan / Bilit / Gomantong Cave / City Trip \| 2 Days 1 Night Oxbow lake / Bilit / Gomantong Cave / City Tour \| Bukit Malapi Lodge ~ \| 2 days 1 night Sepilok , Sukau, Gomantong, Sandakan City Package Tour \| 2 days 1 night Sepilok / Sukau / Oxbow lake / Sandakan City Package Tour \| Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge ~ \| 2 Days 1 Night Sandakan Safari Trip \| Kinabatangan Jungle Camp ~ \| 1 day 1 night Package Tour \| Myne Resort ~ \| 2 Days 1 Night Gomantong / Bilit / Sepilok / City Tour \| Sri Menanggol Cabins ~ \| 2 Days 1 Night Sepilok / Sukau (SMC) / Gomantong/ City Tour \| Sukau Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 2 Days 1 Night Kinabatangan Wildlife Safari Trip \| Sukau River Lodge ~ \| 2 days 1 night Sukau / Kinabatangan River / Sepilok Tour \| Selingan Turtle Island Selingan Island Chalets ~ \| 1 Day 1 Night Selingan Island Tour \| 2 Days 1 Night Selingan Island And Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Tour \| Tabin Wildlife Reserve Tabin Wildlife Resort ~ \| 2 Days 1 Night Tabin Wildlife Encounter \|
3 Days 2 Nights Packages	Kinabatangan / Sukau Wildlife Sanctuary Bilit Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 3 Days 2 Nights Gomantong Cave / Bilit / Ox-bow lake / Bilit / City tour \| 3 Days 2 Nights Sepilok Orang Utan Centre/Bilit/Oxbow lake/Gomantong cave/City Tour \| 3 Days 2 Nights Turtle Island/Sepilok Orang Utan Centre/Bilit/Gomantong cave/City Tour \| Bukit Malapi Lodge ~ \| 3 Days 2 Nights Selingan / Sepilok / Sukau / Gomantong cave / Sandakan City tour \| 3 Days 2 Nights Gomantong cave / Sukau / Oxbow lake / Sepilok Orang utan / Sepilok Night walk \| 3 Days 2 Nights Sepilok / Sukau / Oxbow lake / Gomantong cave / City tour \| Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge ~ \| Sandakan Safari Extravaganza Package \| Sukau Wildlife Safari Package \| Myne Resort ~ \| 3 Days 2 Nights Safari Adventure \| 3 Days 2 Nights Venture Bilit Trip \| Sri Menanggol Cabins ~ \| 3 Days 2 Nights Sepilok / Sukau (SMC) / Oxbow lake / Gomantong cave / City tour \| Sukau Rainforest Lodge ~ \| Kinabatangan Wildlife Safari Package \| Sukau River Lodge ~ \| 3 days 2 nights Sukau / Kinabatangan River / Sepilok Tour \| 3 days 2 nights Selingan / Kinabatangan River / Sepilok Tour \| 3 days 2 nights Selingan / Libaran / Sepilok Tour \| Abai Village / Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary Abai Jungle Lodge ~ \| Abai & Sukau Trip \| Abai with a Local Touch Package \| Danum Valley Borneo Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 3 days 2 nights Borneo Rainforest Explorer \| Tabin Wildlife Reserve Tabin Wildlife Resort ~ \| 3 Days 2 Nights - Tabin Wildlife Observation and Nature \|
4 Days 3 Nights Packages	Kinabatangan / Sukau Wildlife Sanctuary Bilit Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 4 Days 3 Nights Sepilok Orang Utan Centre/Bilit/Oxbow lake/Gomantong cave/City Tour/Sabah Hotel \| 4 Days 3 Nights Turtle Island/Sepilok Orang Utan Centre/Bilit/Oxbow Lake/Gomantong Cave/City Tour \| Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge ~ \| 4 Days 3 Nights Sandakan Safari Adventure \| Myne Resort ~ \| 4 Days 3 Nights Borneo Extravaganza \| Sukau Rainforest Lodge ~ 4 Days 3 Nights Selingan Turtle Island, Sepilok OrangUtan & Kinabatangan River Safari \| 4 Days 3 Nights Orang Utan Search \| Sukau River Lodge ~ \| 4 Days 3 Nights Selingan Turtle Island/ Sukau/Kinabatangan River/ Sepilok Orang Utan Centre Tour \| 4 Days 3 Nights Selingan / Libaran / Gomantong / Sukau / Sepilok Tour \| Danum Valley Borneo Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 4 days 3 nights Borneo Rainforest Package \| Tabin Wildlife Reserve Tabin Wildlife Resort ~ \| 4 Days 3 Nights Birding at Tabin Package \| 4 Days 3 Nights Overnight at Mud Volcano Package \|
5 Days 4 Nights Packages	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary Bilit Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 5 Days 4 Nights Turtle Island / Sepilok Orang Utan / Bilit / Ox-bow / Gomantong / City Tour / Sabah Hotel Package \| Sukau River Lodge ~ \| 5 Days 4 Nights Wildlife of Borneo \| Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary & Danum Valley Sukau Rainforest Lodge & Borneo Rainforest Lodge ~ \| Kinabatangan Safari, Gomantong Cave & Danum Valley Rainforest Package \| Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary & Abai Village Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge ~ \| 5 Days / 4 Nights Bird Watching at Sukau & Abai \| 5 Days 4 Nights Sandakan Borneo's Wildlife Package \| Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary & Tabin Wildlife Reserve Sukau Rainforest Lodge & Borneo Rainforest Lodge ~ \| 5 Days 4 Nights Sukau -Tabin Wildlife Experience Package \|
6 Days 5 Nights Packages	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary & Abai Village Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge & Abai Jungle Lodge ~ \| 6 Days 5 Nights Sandakan Discovery Package \|
Around Sabah Tour	\| Drive Around Borneo in 10 Days \| Borneo's Big 5 in 10 Days \| Journey through Borneo Rainforests \|
Bird Watching Tours	\| 14 days 13 nights Birding in Borneo \| 5 Days / 4 Nights Bird Watching at Sukau & Abai \|
Volunteer / Student Programmes	\| 4 Days Borneo Orangutan and Wildlife Volunteer Experience \| 5 Days Borneo Orangutan and Pygmy Elephant Volunteer Experience \| 5 Day Wild@Heart Conservation Student Programme \| 7 Days 6 Nights Borneo Orangutan and Pygmy Elephant Experience for Families \| 12 Days Orangutan & Pygmy Elephant Volunteer Adventure \| 26 Days Zoo, Orangutan & Pygmy Elephant Volunteer Adventure \| Borneo Teach English Volunteer Program \|
Dive Trips	\| Lankayan Dive Packages \|
Combination Trips	\| 10 Days 9 Nights Sabah Nature & Sipadan Dive Trip \| 10 Days 9 Nights Kinabalu, Sandakan Wildlife & Kapalai Dive Trip \| 9 Days 8 Nights Mount Kinabalu Climb and Sukau Wildlife Adventure \| 7 Days 6 Nights Kota Kinabalu & Sandakan Wildlife Adventure \| 6 Days 5 Nights Sandakan Wildlife Adventure & Lankayan Island Trip \|
Accommodation :
Sandakan Town	\| Nak Hotel \| Hsiang Garden Hotel \| Hotel Sandakan \| Sanbay Hotel \| Sabah Hotel \| Hotel Tyng Garden \| Swiss Inn Waterfront \|
Sepilok Nature Reserve area	\| Paganakan Dii Tropical Retreat \| Sepilok Nature Resort \| Sepilok Forest Edge Resort \|
Lahad Datu	\| Asia Hotel \| De Leon Hotel \| Executive Hotel \| Grace Hotel \|
Accommodation in other areas of Sabah:
Tawau	\| Heritage Hotel \| Belmont Marco Polo \| Promenade Hotel
Semporna	\| Seafest Hotel \| Singamata Adventure Semporna \|
Mabul	\| Sipadan Water Village Resort \| Sipadan Mabul Resort \| Borneo Divers Mabul Island Resort \| Seaventure Platform \| Mabul Water Bungalows \|
Kapalai	\| Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort \|
Mataking	\| Reef Dive Resort \|
Kota Kinabalu	5 Star Hotels \| Hyatt Regency \| Le Meridien Hotel \| Novotel 1 Borneo \| 4 Star Hotels \| Beverly Hotel \| Jesselton Hotel \| Grand Borneo Kota Kinabalu \| Promenade Hotel \| 3 Star Hotels \| Celyn Hotel City Mall \| Kinabalu Daya Hotel \| Imperial Boutec \| Imperial International Hotel \| Hotel Shangri-La \| Tang Dynasty \| Boutique Hotels \| Myne Hotel \| Motels \| D'Borneo Hotel \| First Century Hotel \| Crown Borneo Hotel \| Budget Inns & Homestays \| Akinabalu Youth Hostel \| Borneo Adventure Centre & Lodge \| Borneo Backpackers \| Borneo Global Backpackers \| Buddy Backpackers Home \| Lucy's Homestay \| Lyn's Lodge Bed and Breakfast \| North Borneo Cabin \| Planet Kinabalu \| Trekker's Lodge \| Xplorer's Backpackers \| Beach Resorts \| Tanjung Aru ~ Megah D'Aru Hotel \| Shangri La's Tanjung Aru Resort \| Tuaran ~ Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort \| Tuaran Beach Resort \| Kinarut, Papar ~ Beringgis Beach Resort \| Langkah Syabas Beach Resort \| Kota Kinabalu ~ Nexus Karambunai Resort \| Sutera Harbour Resort - Magellan Sutera \| Sutera Harbour Resort - Pacific Sutera \| Service Apartments \| Colonnades Condominium \| Likas Square Condotel \| Marina Court Resort Condominium \| Promenade Apartments \| Sabah Apartment \| Island Resorts \| Gaya ~\| Bunga Raya Island Resort \| Gayana Eco Resort \| Mantanani Besar ~ Mari Mari Backpackers Lodge \| Pulau Tiga ~ Pulau Tiga Resort (Survivor Island) \| Kinabalu Park \| Lodges at Kinabalu Park \| Cabins at Laban Rata \| Lodges at Mesilau Nature Resort \| Kinabalu Park & Poring Hotsprings Package \| Kinabalu Park & Surrounding Day Tours \| Outside Kinabalu Park \| Celyn Resort Kinabalu \| D'villa Rina Ria Lodge \| Kinabalu Pines Resort \| Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort & Spa \| Zen Garden Resort \|
Trips & Packages in other areas of Sabah :
Kota Kinabalu & Outskirts Day And Overnight Trips	Day Trips \| Kota Kinabalu City Tour \| Kinabalu City By Night \| Monsopiad Cultural Village \| Kota Belud Sunday Market \| Kudat Rungus Longhouse \| Manukan & Sapi Island Hopping \| Kinabalu National Park \| Poring Hot Spring \| Kinabalu National Park & Poring Hot Spring \| Overnight Trips \| Kinabalu National Park & Poring Hot Spring (2 days 1 night) \| Rungus Longhouse Cultural Trip (2 days 1 night)\|
Outdoor Sporting & Nature Activities	\| Garama Wetland Cruise \| White Water Rafting Day Trips at Padas or Kiulu \| Tambunan Rafflesia Rainforest Tour \|
Mountain Climbing	\| Mount Kinabalu/Kinabalu Park Packages \| Mount Kinabalu Via Ferrata \| Mount Kinabalu Climb and Walk The Torq Via Ferrata \| Mount Kinabalu Climb and Low's Peak Circuit Tour \| Mount Trusmadi Climb \|
Combination Trips	\| 10 Days 9 Nights Sabah Nature & Sipadan Dive Trip \| 10 Days 9 Nights Kinabalu , Sandakan Wildlife & Kapalai Dive Trip \| 9 Days 8 Nights Mount Kinabalu Climb and Sukau Wildlife Adventure \| 7 Days 6 Nights Kota Kinabalu & Sandakan Trip, Sabah \| 7 Days 6 Nights Kota Kinabalu & Sandakan Wildlife Adventure \| 6 Days 5 Nights Sandakan Wildlife Adventure & Lankayan Island Trip \|

Malaysia Rainforests, Sanctuaries and Parks

Peninsula Malaysia - Rainforests, Sanctuaries and Parks
Perak	\| Bota Kanan River Terrapin Wildlife Conservation Centre \| Royal Belum State Park \| Sungkai Sambar Deer and Pheasant Wildlife Reserve \| Temenggor Forest Reserve \|
Johor	\| Endau-Rompin National Park \|
Pahang	\| Taman Negara - Kuala Tahan \| Jenderak Seladang Sanctuary \| Kenong Rimba Reserve \| Kuala Gandah Elephant Centre \| Taman Negara - Merapoh \| Tasik Chini Trek \| Janda Baik Jungle Trek with A Nature Conservationist \|
Selangor	\| Kuala Selangor Fireflies \| Kuala Selangor Nature Park \| Sungai Dusun Rhino Sanctuary \|
Kedah	\| Langkawi Mangrove Swamps \| The Datai, Langkawi \| Ulu Muda Reserve \|
Negri Sembilan	\| Ulu Bendol Reserve \|
Sabah and Sarawak - Borneo Rainforest, Sanctuaries and Parks
Sarawak	\| Semengoh Wildlife/Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre \| Bako National Park \| Niah National Park \| Kayakking in Kuching \| Kayakking with Dolphins \| Borneo Highlands Kayaking and Semengoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre Adventure Trip \| Mulu National Park \| Tenyok Rimba \|
Sabah	\| Tabin Wildlife Reserve \| Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre \| Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary & Sukau \| Gomantong Cave \|

Short Adventure & Nature Trips

Peninsular Malaysia
Water Activities
Perak	\| White Water Rafting at Gopeng and Caving at Gua Tempurung \|
Selangor	\| White Water Rafting at Sungai Selangor \| Abseiling and Tubing at Sungai Selangor \|
Camping Trips
Pahang	\| Taman Negara Inner Jungle Trip (Trekking) \| Kenong Rimba Camping \|
Johor	\| Endau National Park Camping \|
Perak	\| Trans Gopeng - Cameron Highlands Camping & Trekking \| Ulu Geroh Rafflesia Trek & Rafting Trip \|
Trekking Trips
Kedah	\| Jungle Trekking in Langkawi's Treasured Rainforest \| Trekking For Families with Kids in Langkawi \|
Pahang	\|Janda Baik Jungle Trek with A Nature Conservationist \|
Nature & Countryside Trips
Selangor	\| Kuala Selangor Fireflies \| Kuala Gandah Elephant Centre \|
Birdwatching Trips
Kedah	\| Birdwatching in Langkawi \|
Biking Tours
Kedah	\| Langkawi Biking Tours \|
River Kayakking Courses
Selangor	\| River Kayakking Basic Course at Sungai Selangor \|
Combination Trips
Nature/ Highland/ Island	\| 7 Days 6 Nights Malaysia Nature & Island Trip \| 9 Days 8 Nights Malaysia Highland, Nature & Island Trip \|
Borneo ~ Sabah & Sarawak
Water Activities
Sabah	\| White Water Rafting Day Trips \|
Sarawak	\| Kayakking in Kuching \| Kayakking with Dolphins \| Borneo Highlands Kayaking and Semengoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre Adventure Trip \|
Mountain Climbing
Sabah	\| Mount Kinabalu Climb \|
Sarawak	\| Mulu Pinnacles Climb \| Mount Trusmadi Climb \|
Birdwatching Trips
Sabah	\| Birding in Sabah,Borneo \|
Nature & Countryside Trips
Sabah	\| Garama Wetland Cruise \|

About Sepilok Orangutan Centre:

Accommodation at Sepilok:

Other Destinations in Sabah:

Other Rainforest Destinations in Malaysia: