GAYA ISLAND RESORT WILDLIFE CENTRE
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OUR PHILOSOPHY
Borneo is the third-largest island in the world and home to the largest remaining expanse of rainforest in Southeast Asia. This isolated land is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. At its core lies the Heart of Borneo, a 220,000-square-kilometre tract of ancient forest often called “Asia’s last great rainforest.” This conservation region was declared in 2007 through an agreement between the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, Brunei Darussalam, and Indonesia, the nations that share the island.
The island supports an extraordinary array of life: more than 288 mammal species, 600 bird species, 100 amphibians, 105 lizards, 160 snakes, and 394 fish—many of them endemic. Within the Heart of Borneo alone, there are ten primate species, over 350 bird species, and 150 species of reptiles and amphibians. Vast stretches of largely unexplored montane forest hold the promise of new discoveries. The island’s swamps, mangroves, and lowland and montane forests shelter an estimated 15,000 plant species, of which more than 5,000 are endemic. The Heart of Borneo is home to around 10,000 of these.
Within this rich natural heritage lies Gaya Island, the largest of five islands that form the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park in Sabah. Designated a forest reserve as early as 1923, the island was gazetted as Sabah’s second National Park in 1974. Spanning 1,483 hectares, it remains largely owned and managed by Sabah Parks. The island preserves a rare and intact primary forest, classified as protected Coastal Dipterocarp Forest, with a remarkable diversity of flora and fauna.
Committed to leading the way in ecological conservation, the Gaya Island Resort Wildlife Centre champions three core pillars: Proboscis Monkey Preservation, Nature and Wildlife Conservation, and educational Nature Trails. Launched in October 2016, the centre was conceptualised and is led by Justin Juhun, the resort’s Resident Naturalist, and his dedicated team.
MEET OUR DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION
JUSTIN JUHUN
Born in Tawau, a town on the south-eastern coast of Sabah, Justin Juhun is of mixed Kadazan, Indian, and Chinese heritage. Raised in a family of wildlife enthusiasts, his childhood unfolded on the surrounding plantations, where he began exploring the tropical rainforests of Borneo with his father from the age of three. In 1980, his family was granted a license by the Sabah Wildlife Department to foster wildlife rescued from within the plantation boundaries—an experience that ignited his enduring passion for wildlife care. For Justin, witnessing the healthy growth of the animals under his protection has always brought deep joy and contentment. He is equally committed to conserving and preserving the delicate balance of their natural habitats. Over the years, he has nurtured more than 50 native wildlife species, including orangutans, Borneo pygmy elephants, Borneo gibbons, and maroon langurs.
Justin together with his team of dedicated naturalists, oversee the 7 Wonders of Gaya project—a series of immersive experiences designed to connect guests with the island’s natural environment—alongside mangrove preservation initiatives and curated Wildlife Wonders encounters. He also leads nature walks that are both captivating and educational. The walks vary in distance and difficulty to accommodate different interests, yet all offer guests the chance to discover a botanical reserve exceptionally rich in endemic plants, brought to life by his enthusiastic and insightful commentary.
OUR RESCUES
BOOBOOK OWL
NINOX
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PINK-NECKED GREEN PIGEON
PINKY
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RED GIANT FLYING SQUIRREL
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SUNDA PANGOLIN
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SIGNATURE CONSERVATION PROJECT
PROBOSCIS MONKEY PRESEVATION
Classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the proboscis monkey is legally protected throughout Borneo. Gaya Island is home to several harems comprising around 100 individuals living in the island’s rainforest. The resort’s team of naturalists has been studying these groups to better understand their habitat, diet, movement patterns, and population dynamics. Since 2012, Gaya Island Resort has worked closely with Sabah Parks and the Sabah Wildlife Department on efforts to rescue, translocate, and relocate displaced proboscis monkeys—a project central to the resort’s conservation ethos.
FEATURED EXPERIENCE
NATURE TRAILS
Discover an exceptional botanical reserve and a rare, undisturbed mixed dipterocarp forest found only on Gaya Island. Two walking trails of varying difficulty wind through a dense tangle of vines, looping rattans, palms, shrubs, and towering hardwood trees, where wildlife blends seamlessly into the surroundings.
