Gunung Mulu National Park
The Park covers 52,865 hectares; 100 km inland from the coastal port of Miri in Sarawak, Malaysia.
By ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
With photo contributions from Edwino S. Fernando, Sahlee B. Barrer, Pamela Rebloa, and Julia Sang.
A World Heritage Site and an ASEAN Heritage Park
The towering limestone mountains, vast cave passages, centuries-old rock formations, lush forests, and amazing array of wildlife, are testaments to the rich geological, cultural, and biodiversity heritage of the Gunung Mulu National Park.
Clearwater Cave 1 (2015) by Pamela RebloraASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
The park is known for its karst features, which are among the most studied tropical karst in the world. Intricate cave systems can be found within sandstone and limestone mountains in the park, highest of which is Gunung Mulu at 2,376 metres.
Clearwater Cave 2 (2015) by Pamela RebloraASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
Outstanding rock formations and intricate cave systems
World class caves are among the most defining features of the park. These include Deer Cave, the largest cave passage in the world; Clearwater Cave, the biggest cave in the world; and Sarawak Chamber, the world’s largest underground chamber.
The caves serve as the roosting areas of millions of swiftlets and bats.
Bats are probably the most famous residents of the park, which exit en masse in awe inspiring formations from the Deer Cave each afternoon.
Unique Fauna
Free-tailed bats; wrinkled-lipped bats; Savi’s pygmy shrew, the smallest mammal in the world; wrinkled hornbill; regal python; Philautus sp., a frog that breeds only in the fluid of the pitcher plant; Bornean gibbon; Bay cat; Clouded leopard; and Rhinoceros hornbill.
Green viper (2010) by Gunung Mulu National ParkASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
Tree branches (2015) by Edwino S. FernandoASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
Habitat Types
On Gunung Mulu, multi-storied mixed lowland dipterocarp forest occurs up to an altitude of 800 m. Other habitat types include the lower montane forest, upper montane forest, limestone forests, lowland alluvial forest, tropical heath forest, peat swamp. and riparian forest.
The park has a wide range of soil types and altitudes, resulting in the identification of 17 vegetation zones; over 3,500 plant species; 8,000 fungi; 1,500 flowering plants;
and 170 species of orchids.
Salacca rupicola (2015) by Edwino S. FernandoASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
Flora of Gunung Mulu National Park
Gunung Mulu National Park is considered one of the richest sites in the world for palms, with approximately 111 species and 20 genera recorded.
Other flora include 1,700 species of liverworts and mosses, and 442 species of pteridophytes.
ASEAN Heritage Parks
ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs) are protected areas of high conservation importance that provide valuable contributions to safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity.
AHPs provide a window to the world, showcasing a wealth of biodiversity that is uniquely ASEAN.
With photo contributions from Edwino S. Fernando, Sahlee B. Barrer, Pamela Rebloa, and Julia Sang.
