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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Rudolf Abraham

Jungle trekking, rainforests and the world’s largest orangutan sanctuary: why Malaysia is unmatched for outdoor adventure

Couple walk pass kinabalu forest
Malaysia is a land of rainforests and national parks, teeming with wildlife Photograph: PR IMAGE

Malaysia has one of the greatest levels of biodiversity of any country on Earth – and it’s among just 17 to be listed as a megadiverse country. More than 50% of its land surface area is forested, and around 14% of the country is protected as a national park or nature reserve.

All of which makes Malaysia a spectacular destination for wildlife watching. Around 750 species of bird have been recorded, including no fewer than 10 species of hornbill – among these the iconic rhinoceros hornbill – along with brightly coloured trogons and pittas, white-bellied sea eagles and the great slaty woodpecker, one of the largest woodpecker species in the world.

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