CRACCKKK! "Oi! Hati-hati! (Careful!)" a concerned voice called out as a tree branch came crashing from above. In an instant, I saw my life flash past me. Out here, in this verdant green forest was NOT where I intended my life to end.
Clutching my phone, I did an about turn, ran smack into a rotan tree and almost tripped over a root. I was as graceful as a blundering elephant stomping its way to safety.
The cacophony of rustling leaves, disrupted by the large branch hurtling downwards, signified its rapid descent. "Get away!" urged the men in safety helmets, gesturing urgently for me to move back further. With a deafening crash, the branch collided with the ground not far from where I stood.
In this primal coastal rainforest, nestled within the Machinchang forest range, the capriciousness of nature is acutely evident. Towering Keruing Bukit (Dipterocarpus costatus), canopy trees that should have been more at home at higher elevations, have been a source of fascination for foresters and botanists alike, given their prolific growth within this dense jungle.
Saplings of these trees are abundant, planted by the staff members of the renowned Malaysian resort, The Datai Langkawi. Just moments ago, I'd had the privilege of learning about them from Dev Abdullah, the resort's nature centre manager and pillar leader of the Wildlife For The Future in the Datai Pledge.
The Datai Pledge, he explained, is an extensive sustainability, conservation and community support programme dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing of the environment, wildlife and local community of Langkawi.
Established in 2019, this initiative aims to implement a comprehensive conservation and sustainability programme for the luxury resort and potentially expand to include future properties and locations.
It comprises four pillars — Pure For The Future, Fish For The Future, Wildlife For The Future, and Youth For The Future — each addressing different aspects, including the resort's business operations and ethics, marine life, flora and fauna, and the welfare of local children.
But the topic returns to the trees again, and he cautions me to carefully navigate around the saplings.
"The Keruing Bukit usually thrives at 600 metres above sea level, but here in the lowland coastal rainforest, it somehow flourishes. It's a mystery," Dev explains as we stroll along the path.
But nature is full of mysteries. Here in Langkawi, enveloped in the emerald glow of towering trees, it's easy to become enchanted by the wonders of the natural world.
Declared by Unesco as a Global Geopark, the island harbours a diverse array of wildlife, boasting over 260 species of birds, 530 species of butterflies, and 46 species of mammals, among them three primates: the Dusky langur, Long-tailed macaque, and the Sunda slow loris.
"That," Dev gestures towards a towering Keruing Bukit, "is a fully grown one." The tree, from which the hefty branch had fallen just moments before, now stands as a focal point of activity. Men in protective gear can be seen at its base, meticulously testing the ropes hanging from its branches.
From the group, a familiar face catches my eye. It's Sanjitpaal Singh, award-winning wildlife photographer who — along with his researcher wife Dr Ravinder Kaur — founded Gaia, a social enterprise dedicated to hornbill conservation. Gaia's extensive work with the hornbills is supported by two foundations, Yayasan Sime Darby and Yayasan Hasanah, as well as the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) and Sabah Wildlife Department.
He emerges from around the tree and waves in my direction. Despite the early hour, he already looks weary. Clearly, there's much to be done today.
Sanjit and his team of seasoned climbers from HUTAN/KOCP, a conservation non-governmental organisation based in Kinabatangan, Sabah, are here today to install a nest box for hornbills. And, of course, the majestic Keruing Bukit has been chosen to host their new home.
The installation is part of The Datai's Wildlife for the Future pillar programme, dedicated to protecting and restoring the island's natural heritage by establishing a sustainable habitat for the continued survival of these enigmatic birds.
ENIGMATIC HORNBILLS
The stunning birds, marked by their distinctive casques, have long been a feature of Malaysia's natural landscape, with 10 species making their home in Peninsular Malaysia and eight in Borneo.
In Langkawi, the Great hornbill, Wreathed hornbill and the comparatively smaller Oriental pied hornbill are commonly seen soaring above the island's dense primary forests.
Hornbills find their nests in naturally occurring tree cavities as they lack the ability to build these spaces themselves. These vital nesting sites arise from fungal infections in trees or through the handiwork of woodpeckers or sun bears.
A suitable cavity is one that has a mouth just big enough for the female to squeeze into because that way, she becomes the biggest animal that can enter that particular cavity.
The Great hornbill is more than a metre long from beak to tail and has a wingspan of a metre and a half. But it can squeeze into an opening just 11cm across!
"Such holes are becoming increasingly scarce," laments Sanjit, pointing to the diminishing availability of tall Dipterocarpaceae trees, preferred by hornbills for nesting, due to deforestation.
Adding, he says: "Large birds like the hornbills require large trees with cavities big enough for them. Without sufficient cavities, intense competition may lead some hornbill pairs to skip breeding for years."
Typically laying only one egg, or occasionally two, hornbills face a dire future. Some conservationists estimate they could be just three generations away from extinction. The slow reproductive cycle of these birds makes them increasingly susceptible to severe threats from habitat encroachment and poaching.
This is precisely when a little assistance becomes crucial for the survival of these magnificent creatures. Enter the introduction of nest boxes, a man-made solution designed to offset the loss of natural nesting sites caused by deforestation and the destruction of large, cavity-bearing trees.
Nest boxes give hornbills an alternative option for nesting — and a chance for researchers to observe and study these birds up close. "We're planning to install cameras and conduct studies to record their diet and behaviours. These measures will significantly enhance our understanding of the hornbill's natural history, particularly here in Langkawi," Sanjit explains, underscoring the importance of such initiatives in supporting hornbill conservation.
ALTERNATIVE HOME
The nest box isn't your run-of-the-mill birdhouse for sure. Hours of research and study had been poured into the creation of these artificial nests.
The artificial nest box initiative, aimed at supporting hornbill populations, was first introduced along Sungai Kinabatangan by primatologist Dr Marc Ancrenaz from HUTAN in 2013.
In 2014, Ravinder joined the project to concentrate her PhD research on these nest boxes, shifting from her masters study on the natural breeding behaviours of hornbills in Temengor, Perak.
During her six-year doctoral research, she focused on understanding the microclimate within natural cavities — specifically humidity and temperature — with the goal of replicating these conditions in the nest boxes to make them as hospitable as possible for the hornbills.
Designing and producing the nest box was a joint effort with various stakeholders including zookeepers from the Chester, Phoenix and Beauval Zoos in the United Kingdom, the United States and France respectively, the local community in Kampung Sukau and conservation scientists. This collaborative approach combined diverse expertise to create a design tailored to the hornbills' needs.
"It took a village… literally!" recalls Ravinder, a lecturer with Sunway University's Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences.
"This initiative has been highly successful," she shares. The two nest boxes had successfully attracted Rhinoceros hornbills — listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List — leading to five chicks being produced over a three-year period. Additionally, the team has observed the Oriental pied hornbill and the Bushy-crested hornbill nesting in these boxes as well.
Gaia plans to replicate this success, but with a twist to accommodate the local environment. This time, the design of the box has been altered specifically for the island's resident Great hornbill.
When Sanjit and his team manoeuvre the nest box along the narrow, forested path, its weight (a hefty 40kg!) and size initially takes me by surprise.
The box's almost cylindrical shape, distinguished by a diamond-shaped hole positioned near its base, was unlike anything I'd encountered before. The nest box design was carefully crafted, taking into account every detail from its weight to the entrance placement for the hornbills' needs and safety.
The diamond-shaped hole was specifically chosen to facilitate hornbills in sealing the entrance when nesting. This particular shape not only aids hornbills in creating a secure nesting environment, but also ensures the entrance is narrow enough to deter other animals from occupying the box.
The nest box, designed with a low entrance, also enables the incubating female to defecate without leaving her eggs, allowing her to stay seated while being fed by the male. Its bark-like exterior helps it blend with the environment and supports lichen growth, cooling the interior by absorbing sunlight.
Additionally, a perch is strategically placed for the male to land easily and feed the female efficiently, reducing the risk of dropping any fruits collected for her.
All in all, it's a perfect little "apartment" for any hornbill couple waiting to start a family!
CHALLENGING MISSION
Attaching a nest box to a tall tree is a complex and risky task that involves climbers scaling the tree to find a secure spot on the trunk, ensuring it doesn't rest on weak branches. This positioning helps deter predators and utilises the trunk's stability.
To achieve this, a rope is shot up between the highest branches using a catapult, a precaution in case the branches break. A pulley system is then installed by the climbers to hoist the heavy box to the chosen spot, allowing them to securely attach it.
Rigorous testing ensures ropes are secure and can bear the climber's weight, highlighted by an incident where a weak branch from a Keruing tree nearly missed us, emphasising the necessity for meticulous planning and safety in these operations.
Noticing my anxious gaze as I watch the climbers prepare, Sanjit smiles reassuringly and assures me that the HUTAN crew are seasoned climbers. Sheltered under the tree's canopy, Sabahans Eddie Ahmad, Mahathir Rataq, Selamat Suali and Ahmad Sapie Kapar quietly ready themselves, their relaxed composure masking the dangers involved in fixing the pulleys and attaching a nest box high up on the tree.
Scaling a tree involves exposure to unpredictable elements such as wind, snapping branches, and potentially aggressive wildlife, including angry hornets.
Safety precautions are paramount for the climbers. For every ascent, ropes serve as supports, with team members positioned at the base ready to rapidly help pull the climbers down at the first indication of danger. The multi-rope system ensures a measure of safety amidst the inherent risks of climbing.
The nest box installers are required to undergo targeted training. "The training can be quite intensive," Sanjit reveals. Gaia's skilled and certified climbing team once included the late Azmi Ungas, who played a key role in the installation and upkeep of the nest boxes in Kinabatangan. A shadow passes over Sanjit's face as he mentions this.
"Climbers, including Azmi and our HUTAN team, are crucial to the success of the nest box project," he shares before adding vehemently: "At 33 metres, this is Gaia and HUTAN's tallest installation. We dedicate this to Azmi, whose inspiration continues to drive us forward." Azmi passed away last November after a brief battle with cancer.
Observing the climbers' steady ascent feels like watching a live acrobatic performance in the heart of the jungle. My heart races as the wind makes the rope sway, turning their progress into a laborious task.
"Installing a nest box can take up to six hours," Sanjit shares while we observe this remarkable aerial "show". "That's assuming the weather cooperates and the wind conditions are favourable." Of course, everything takes much longer than you'd expect when you're dangling in a harness 33m above the ground!
After a lengthy and strenuous day, the nest box is gradually hoisted from the ground and carefully raised to its position on the tree. Watching the box being slowly elevated to the spot where it'll be secured by the climbers brings a lump to my throat. I can't help but feel slightly emotional. And it's not because a branch almost hit my head earlier.
The effort invested in creating a secure home for these birds is immense, almost beyond comprehension. It leads one to briefly ponder whether the birds would recognise or appreciate the sacrifices made on their behalf.
Nestled within a pristine primary coastal rainforest, the nest box now blends seamlessly into the ecosystem as if it has always been a part of it. This newly established home awaits hornbills, offering them a space to explore, and hopefully, establish a family within its welcoming confines.
High above the skies, a solitary Great hornbill flies wild and free.