There is already a buzz in the air as we walk towards the feeding area at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, which sits on the fringes of the Bornean rainforest.
On a raised wooden platform, a couple of female orangutans are playing with their young. They are restless little things, eagerly jumping up and down, and keen to practise their tree-climbing skills. Their mothers, meanwhile, seem to want to get some rest before the frenzy of feeding begins.
Suddenly, the forest canopy takes on a life of its own, as a flash of orange appears in the distance. A huge male orangutan, Malin, as he has been named, scuttles nimbly across tree branches and connecting cables, swinging his way towards the platform. Malin knows it is time for his breakfast. And soon enough, an official comes by with a crate filled with bananas, papayas and coconuts.
At the age of 21, Malin is in peak adult form. Knowing this, the protective mothers grab their curious children and move to one side of the platform. But there is enough food here for everyone, including the noisy troop of pig-tailed macaques that emerge seemingly out of nowhere as soon as the crate is emptied out. The females and children move away after they have had their fill, but Malin enjoys his feast slowly and thoroughly, confident in his unchallenged authority.
In the Malay language, orangutan means “man of the forest”, which makes perfect sense as we watch Malin breaking open a coconut and digging into the sweet flesh. This welfare organisation in the small town of Sepilok in the Malaysian Borneo state of Sabah has been taking care of orphaned and injured orangutans since 1964. It is now home to more than 60 of these great apes, who share 97 per cent of their DNA with humans.
The best part of this experience is the chance to watch orangutans at close quarters not in a zoo, but in a semi-wild area where the primates are free to come and go as they please. The eventual goal is to have them reintegrated in the wild, where they truly belong.
Across the road is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, which aims to do the same for the smallest bear species in the world. Sun bears, some no larger than an adult Labrador, are only found in certain parts of South-east Asia, and are classified as “vulnerable”, as a result of rampant poaching and a steady loss of habitat. This centre was founded by wildlife biologist Wong Siew Te as a place to nurture sun bears rescued from captivity, primarily from homes where they are kept illegally as pets.
The small team of staff and volunteers work to rehabilitate the creatures, slowly teaching them survival skills. From the viewing platforms above the forest floor, I spot several of the black bears sniffing and foraging for fallen fruit and unsuspecting insects. Wong knows each of them by name, and describes their unique characteristics with great fondness. Here too, it is time for the morning feed. As one of the volunteers comes along with a fruit bucket, the bears gather around, a few of them standing on their hind legs in anticipation.
There are dozens of macaques jumping around, competing with the bears for food. But later in the afternoon, we head out to look for a more uncommon simian, the endangered proboscis monkey. They are usually found along rivers and in mangrove forests, and Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary close to Sepilok offers a safe space for them to thrive in, even as their numbers are diminishing in the open forests.
The long bulbous noses and protruding bellies of the males make them look like serious, serene old men as they sit quietly staring into space. But the minute they begin to scamper about in groups, they become comical, playing raucous games of catch with each other.
While undeniably enjoyable, these experiences feel like a rather tame introduction to Borneo’s rainforest, a purposeful move to to make them appealing for all kinds of travellers, including families with small children. For a more authentic experience, I opt for a night walk at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sepilok. Part of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, this nature park has several jungle trails, and a fascinating canopy walkway — called the Rainforest Skywalk — high above the ground.
I am hoping to catch a glimpse of a stray orangutan in the wild, or even a tarsier, a tiny primate with huge, beguiling eyes. This is not to be, but I do see giant red flying squirrels gliding gracefully from treetop to treetop. As the sun sets and darkness takes over, the cacophony of birds gives way to a chorus of cicadas.
Getting%20there
%3Cp%3EGiven%20its%20remote%20location%2C%20getting%20to%20Borneo%20can%20feel%20daunting%20even%20for%20the%20most%20seasoned%20traveller.%20But%20you%20can%20fly%20directly%20from%20Kuala%20Lumpur%20to%20Sandakan%20and%20Sepilok%20is%20only%20half%20an%20hour%20away%20by%20taxi.%20Sandakan%20has%20plenty%20of%20accommodation%20options%2C%20while%20Sepilok%20has%20a%20few%20nature%20lodges%20close%20to%20the%20main%20attractions.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The next morning, I go back to hike the area's longer trails and see the Sepilok Giant, a typical lowland rainforest tree growing to a height of 65 metres. The canopy bridge, with panoramic views of the dense rainforest sprawling in all directions, is an even more enjoyable experience in the daylight. My sweaty jungle hikes are rewarded with rich sightings of oriental pied hornbills and blue-throated bee-eaters. I also catch sight of another glider, the elusive colugo, known as the flying lemur, cleverly camouflaged in tree bark. All in all, it's a successful introduction to Sepilok's wild side.
Overall standings
1. Christopher Froome (GBR/Sky) 68hr 18min 36sec,
2. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) at 0:18.
3. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 0:23.
4. Rigoberto Uran (COL/CAN) 0:29.
5. Mikel Landa (ESP/SKY) 1:17.
The%20BaaS%20ecosystem
%3Cp%3EThe%20BaaS%20value%20chain%20consists%20of%20four%20key%20players%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsumers%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20End-users%20of%20the%20financial%20product%20delivered%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDistributors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Also%20known%20as%20embedders%2C%20these%20are%20the%20firms%20that%20embed%20baking%20services%20directly%20into%20their%20existing%20customer%20journeys%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEnablers%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Usually%20Big%20Tech%20or%20FinTech%20companies%20that%20help%20embed%20financial%20services%20into%20third-party%20platforms%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProviders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Financial%20institutions%20holding%20a%20banking%20licence%20and%20offering%20regulated%20products%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
On sale: now
How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Read more about the coronavirus
All or Nothing
Amazon Prime
Four stars
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.
- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.
Roll of honour: Who won what in 2018/19?
West Asia Premiership: Winners – Bahrain; Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership: Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Winners – Dubai Hurricanes; Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference: Winners – Dubai Tigers; Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Need to know
Unlike other mobile wallets and payment apps, a unique feature of eWallet is that there is no need to have a bank account, credit or debit card to do digital payments.
Customers only need a valid Emirates ID and a working UAE mobile number to register for eWallet account.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
THE SPECS
Engine: 3-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 424hp
Torque: 580 Nm
Price: From Dh399,000
On sale: Now
England v West Indies
England squad for the first Test Cook, Stoneman, Westley, Root (captain), Malan, Stokes, Bairstow, Moeen, Roland-Jones, Broad, Anderson, Woakes, Crane
Fixtures
1st Test Aug 17-21, Edgbaston
2nd Test Aug 25-29, Headingley
3rd Test Sep 7-11, Lord's
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Tickets
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
Getting%20there
%3Cp%3EGiven%20its%20remote%20location%2C%20getting%20to%20Borneo%20can%20feel%20daunting%20even%20for%20the%20most%20seasoned%20traveller.%20But%20you%20can%20fly%20directly%20from%20Kuala%20Lumpur%20to%20Sandakan%20and%20Sepilok%20is%20only%20half%20an%20hour%20away%20by%20taxi.%20Sandakan%20has%20plenty%20of%20accommodation%20options%2C%20while%20Sepilok%20has%20a%20few%20nature%20lodges%20close%20to%20the%20main%20attractions.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
