Three months to the end of WWII, confronted by the imminent seaborne invasion of North Borneo by overwhelmingly superior Allied forces, the desperate Japanese military chose to withdraw into the country’s interior where they would consolidate for a last stand around their commander Lt. Gen. Baba in Sapong, Tenom. On 18 May 1945, in direct preparation for the last stand, they decided to eliminate all dangerous anti-Japanese suspects who could disrupt their consolidation or provide incriminating evidence of Japanese atrocities. All Catholic missionaries in North Borneo were forcefully detained on 19 and 20 May 1945 and taken to Tenom. Detained together with them were also their three local servants. None of them were ever seen again. This book tells the harrowing story of why and how nine forthright and good men became innocent victims fated to pay the ultimate sacrifice.
A Photographic Guide: Stick Insects of Borneo
A Photographic Guide: Stick Insects of Borneo is the 12th book on stick and leaf insects authored by the writer. Over the past 30 years, this and earlier works, alongside articles and papers by other researchers, have redefined and greatly expanded our understanding of stick insect fauna, not only in Borneo but also of related species across Southeast Asia. However, the wealth of new insights brought by these publications has resulted in significant taxonomic changes—new combinations, synonyms, and corrections to previously misidentified species. These updates have sometimes made it challenging for the average “person in the forest” to determine the latest or correct name for the insect in their hands.
This book aims to address that challenge by consolidating the various taxonomic changes related to Bornean stick insects into one accessible, up-to-date volume. It encompasses almost all scientifically named stick and leaf insects from Borneo, with only a few exceptions where no extant specimen or photograph is currently available.
As the most comprehensive photographic guide to Bornean stick and leaf insects, this guide book will appeal to anyone interested in learning about these fascinating creatures or identifying them. Organised by family, it allows readers to compare photographs with specimens at hand, enabling quick and accurate identification to the species level. Any species not featured in this guide is very likely a new species yet to be described by science.
Melastoma in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore: Taxonomy, Biology, and Uses
Melastoma is revised for Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Nine species and one new variety are recognised for Peninsular Malaysia, of which two species also occur in Singapore (M. malabathricum L. and M. molle (C.B.Clarke) Wall. ex Cogn.). Ten lectotypes are designated. Three species are so far only known from Peninsular Malaysia and nowhere else: M. longisepalum Ridl., M. kemamanense L.Neo & K.M.Wong, and M. scabrum Ridl.
Hypanthium scale type is used foremost for delimiting species in combination with characters of the vegetative organs. Character-state combinations present in the greatest number of collections are interpreted to represent natural species, while less common instances of mixed character-state combinations are interpreted as putative hybrids or introgression products.
Two-species hybrid combinations are identified between one species postulated to have contributed hypanthium scale characters and a second species postulated to have contributed other characters such as hypanthium size, twig scale type, leaf surface indumentum, etc; these are described between M. malabathricum and M. muticum Ridl., M. malabathricum and M. sanguineum Sims, and M. muticum and M. velutinosum Ridl. Furthermore, non-typical forms (infraspecific variants) are recognised in M. malabathricum, M. muticum, and M. sanguineum, which differ from the typical forms of the species by a single character.
Naturally-occurring floral mutants which have been observed in Melastoma species in Peninsular Malaysia are also briefly described and discussed. An identification key to species, and descriptions of species and putative hybrids or introgression products, are given.
This is followed by a chapter which presents an investigation into the molecular basis for some of the Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore species, putative hybrids or introgression products, which found preliminary support for the morphology-based taxonomic concepts of the present revision. This work should provide the foundation for future work on hybridisation in Melastoma in the region.
Finally, a comprehensive overview is given of ethnobotanical uses of Melastoma in the region, especially of M. malabathricum.
Man-Eating Crocodiles of Borneo (3rd Edition)
“What’s that? feels like a log”.
Before Kebir could respond, there was a thundering sound as though the river had exploded! with Bangan disappeared!
Thus began the saga of Bujang Senang, the notorious man-eating crocodile of the Batang Lupar, Sarawak, who managed to give many a sharp-shooter, leave alone countless Bomohs (witch doctors) and professional crocodile catchers the slip for many years.
Crocodiles, feared more than any other wild animal by the local inhabitants of Borneo, continue to exact a toll on human lives along the Batang Lupar and other rivers of Borneo. This is the story of Bujang Senang and other man-eating crocodiles of Borneo, traced by veteran journalist James Ritchie and crocodile specialist and proprietor of Jong’s Crocodile Farm, Johnson Jong. But for their efforts, these stories would have remained the topics of occasional Iban longhouse storytelling sessions.
A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Borneo
[cg_accordion title="Book Summary" open="open"]A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Borneo is a fully comprehensive guide to the 321 species of reptile recorded from Borneo, covering crocodiles, turtles, lizards and snakes. With photographs from the author and other top nature photographers, each species is illustrated and mapped.[/cg_accordion]
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Vintage Photographs of North Borneo by the Kwan Brothers 1928–1987
[cg_accordion title="Book Overview" open="open"]Historic photo collection capturing Sandakan, North Borneo through 200 images by the Kwan brothers, documenting its transformation from pre-war serenity to post-war rebirth.[/cg_accordion][cg_accordion title="Key Features"]
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[/cg_accordion][cg_accordion title="Historical Value"]This rare visual archive preserves North Borneo’s colonial legacy, wartime struggles, and triumphant rebuilding through the expert lens of two pioneering local photographers.[/cg_accordion]
A Guide to Land Snakes of Singapore with interesting related species
This guide documents and illustrates the 75 species of terrestrial snakes found in Singapore, with additional information on 124 related species from surrounding countries.
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This guide is designed for:
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The inclusion of species from countries surrounding Singapore makes this book valuable for understanding snake diversity throughout:
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Malesian Orchid Journal Vol. 27
The Malesian Orchid Journal, an annual publication, will publish scientific and semi-popular articles on the taxonomy, ecology and conservation of the native orchids of the Malesian—the area formerly known as the East Indies. Malesia traditionally comprises the Philippines, Sundaland (Malay Peninsula, Greater Sunda Islands (Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi), Lesser Sunda Islands (e.g. Bali, Lombok, Komodo, Sumbawa, Flores, Timor), and Papuasia (Maluku, New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago, but excluding Bougainville). Many of the world’s biodiversity hotspots are located in Malesia. The flora may be represented by as many as 30,000 flowering plants, including 6000 native orchid species in 200 genera. Approximately 3000 species are recorded from the island of New Guinea alone, while Mount Kinabalu on Borneo, an area of only about 1200 km2, has 850 taxa of orchids in 137 general.
“Begonias of Thailand” explores over 60 native begonia species within Thailand’s diverse landscapes. Known locally as Som kung or dat (ส้มกุ้งหรือดาด), these begonias thrive from coastal islands to mountain peaks. The book features detailed descriptions, beautiful illustrations, and insights into their uses in traditional medicine, cuisine, and folklore. Perfect for botanists, collectors, and nature lovers, it blends scientific knowledge with cultural and historical significance.
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From Pioneers to Present: Seventh-Day Adventist Mission History in British North Borneo and Sabah
This book traces the development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sabah (North Borneo) from its earliest missionary work to 2023.
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The book documents:
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A Guide to Butterlies of Borneo
This guide documents and illustrates 158 butterfly species and 3 subspecies found in Borneo, with detailed information and photographs contributed by over 50 butterfly enthusiasts.
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This guide is designed for:
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A Naturalist’s Guide to the Birds of Borneo, 4th ed.
A Naturalist’s Guide to the Birds of Borneo is an introductory photographic identification guide to 280 bird species commonly seen in on the island of Borneo (covering Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan), and is perfect for resident and visitor alike. High quality photographs from one of Borneo’s top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution, habits and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers geography and climate, vegetation, opportunities for naturalists and the main sites for viewing the listed species. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the birds of Borneo encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific name, IUCN status and its status in each state of Borneo.
A Naturalist’s Guide to the Butterflies of Borneo
There are currently approximately 19,750 species of butterfly in the world, grouped into six families. Of these, Borneo is home to approximately 1,000 species, many of which are shared with continental Southeast Asia, but Borneo also has a significant number of endemic species of its own. For its size, Borneo is very rich in butterfly species.
The Dragon of Kinabalu and other Borneo stories
This classic collection of stories by Owen Rutter captures the folklore, traditions, and landscapes of Borneo through captivating narratives that blend mythology with rich cultural insights.
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This book is ideal for:
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A Preliminary Guide to Pyraloid Moths of Borneo: Part 2
The Preliminary Guide Part 2 is a comprehensive resource dedicated to the Family Crambidae of the Superfamily Pyraloidea, offering detailed information and around 940 images of about 838 taxa from global locations. This guide is an invaluable tool for understanding the biology, ecology, and distribution of these species, with insights from 751 recorded in Borneo, and a selection from Peninsular Malaysia and other regions.
A Taxonomic Guide to the Stick Insects of Java Vol. 1
The eighth volume in the taxonomic guide series on South-east Asian stick insects by the author, presents a detailed and visually engaging exploration of stick insects from Java, including new species and genera, contributing to the total of recognized species to 89. This guide, serving as a pivotal resource for conservationists, entomologists, and nature enthusiasts alike, extends our understanding of South-East Asian stick-insect fauna, fostering more accurate and effective conservation efforts and scientific studies.
The Endemic Plant Genera in Borneo
This book documents the 62 vascular plant genera (comprising 162 species) found exclusively in Borneo, examining their distribution patterns and conservation status in the context of the island’s rich but threatened biodiversity.
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Malesian Orchid Journal Vol. 26
The Malesian Orchid Journal, an annual publication, will publish scientific and semi-popular articles on the taxonomy, ecology and conservation of the native orchids of the Malesian—the area formerly known as the East Indies. Malesia traditionally comprises the Philippines, Sundaland (Malay Peninsula, Greater Sunda Islands (Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi), Lesser Sunda Islands (e.g. Bali, Lombok, Komodo, Sumbawa, Flores, Timor), and Papuasia (Maluku, New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago, but excluding Bougainville). Many of the world’s biodiversity hotspots are located in Malesia. The flora may be represented by as many as 30,000 flowering plants, including 6000 native orchid species in 200 genera. Approximately 3000 species are recorded from the island of New Guinea alone, while Mount Kinabalu on Borneo, an area of only about 1200 km2, has 850 taxa of orchids in 137 general.
This monograph details what is known about Timonius in Borneo, a group in the extremely hyper-diverse coffee family Rubiaceae, that no one has studied since some scattered initial documentation in the past few centuries. Now, all Bornean territories are much more explored, botanically collected from, and ‘developed’. Still, very few studies have been made in Southeast Asia for complex and highly diverse plant groups which can illuminate our understanding of plant diversity and classification, and contribute to a more accurate assessment of plant lineage development and evolution. This is a first step, of many such first steps that will be needed, in addressing the incredible plant richness of the Malay Archipelago, a recognised region of spectacular biological richness.
This account documents 94 species of Timonius, a genus of mostly treelets to small trees still poorly understood throughout Southeast Asia, of which 68 species are newly recognised. Some 96% of the genus is endemic to Borneo, not known beyond this large, physiographically and geologically diverse tropical island, a centrepiece in the biogeography of a vast, biologically diverse region of our globe. The book includes discussions on the morphology, biology and reproductive ecology of Timonius and related plants, and is illustrated by 294 figures and 58 botanical line-drawings.
A Guide to Wild Fruits of Borneo (2nd Edition)
‘A Guide to Wild Fruits of Borneo’ by Anthony Lamb is an engaging exploration of over 500 species of edible fruits, nuts, and seeds native to Borneo, showcasing their incredible biodiversity. The guide encourages sustainable development and germplasm conservation while offering detailed insights into the island’s rich flora, making it a must-have for botanists, nature enthusiasts, and fruit lovers.
A Guide to Market Fruits of Borneo
This guide covers the edible fruits and nuts found in markets, tamus and roadside stalls in Borneo, that are now both cultivated, or collected from their forest habitats. It does not cover the many imported fruits, that are also sold, though many of these are also now cultivated in the Borneo States.
These cultivated species are found in back-yards in towns and villages, in small orchards on small to large farms, to those planted in and around the villages.
In rural communities, many of the wild species in the surrounding lands or forests, that are in known localities are protected from being felled by the local community, and the fruits when harvested are shared or sold in the markets.
Even in protected forests, nuts such as the chestnuts (berangan) in hill forest, are also collected for sale in local markets or consumed, and only recently is their commercial potential being realised, and they are being brought into cultivation.
In the past, sadly, when wild fruits which were sweet and juicy were found in the forest, the trees were felled for ease of harvesting, such as wild rambutans and pulasans, which has meant that a lot of promising germplasm was lost, and mainly trees with sour fruits is what is left.
Also, with all the recent development of commercial crops such as oil palm, over the last five decades, vast areas of lowland forests have been cleared, and the diversity of fruits subsequently reduced. This is of particular importance since Borneo has been found to be a centre of diversity for a whole range of edible fruits and nuts such as durians, mangoes, mangosteens, rambutans, tampoi (Baccaurea), chestnuts, figs and Xanthophyllum. This diversity gives the potential for breeding and selection of new varieties.
The Governments of the different States in Borneo have now realised that there is this potential, and are now supporting efforts, including joint ventures in providing areas for expanding fruit cultivation to funding, as well as providing marketing and processing facilities for both smallholders and private enterprises, as they realize the vast potential in the export fruits.
The cultivators of fruits and nuts have also set up growers’ associations to pass on information on cultivation. In addition, the Agricultural Departments have now put in efforts to select better clones and varieties that have potential in both the local and export markets. Also, Agricultural Departments have expanded services and training for local farmers. With its vast diversity of fruits and nuts found, Borneo deserves to be known as ‘The Island of Fruits’.
A Greenhorn Naturalist in Borneo
A Greenhorn Naturalist in Borneo is about natural history, travel in the tropics, life sciences, and adventure, with the environment always in mind. It chronicles the nine years the author spent with his family on that equatorial island. The book’s humorous style never detracts from the focus on the science, the island of Borneo and its natural wonders.
The story begins in 2007 on top of a garage in Taiwan, where the author kept a greenhouse filled with hundreds of carnivorous tropical pitcher plants. In August of the same year, he attended a conference on these plants in Borneo and met them in the wild for the first time. This triggered an obsession with the island’s legendary rainforest fauna and flora, and he decided to move to Borneo with his family for easier access to the jungle. In a tone reminiscent of Bill Bryson, Douglas Adams, and Gerald Durrell – funny, self-deprecating, but always satisfying for the science-minded reader – A Greenhorn Naturalist in Borneo documents the Breuer family’s adventures with Borneo’s enormous biodiversity: flying snakes, venomous primates, parachuting frogs, pangolins, king cobras, orangutans, masters of mimicry and camouflage, the world’s rarest lizard and the world’s longest snake.
And these are just a fraction of the life forms the reader will meet. Adventure lurks behind every trail bend: toddler-sized monkeys terrorize night hikers, bearded jungle pigs hunt stray dogs, a giant python almost gets stepped on, and other encounters of the ‘not so funny when it happened’ kind. The reader will also meet the people inhabiting the island, such as Asia’s last rainforest nomads, quaint government officials, and former headhunting tribes that still proudly display their trophies above their fireplaces. Inevitably, the author’s life in Borneo also led to first-hand insight into the island’s environmental tragedy caused by decades of severe over-exploitation, a recurring topic throughout the book.
A Greenhorn Naturalist in Borneo puts the reader in a front-row seat to marvel at nature’s wonders in all their magnificence visiting places unknown and creatures unheard of; and it is also an invitation to consider the state of the planet, to take it seriously, and to act before it’s too late.
Dr Piyakaset Suksathan and Dr Saroj Ruchisansakun present, in this book on the balsams of Thailand, their revision of the genus Impatiens (Balsaminaceae), a technically competent yet well-illustrated and engaging account of a plant group with very many elegant and exquisite species. For plant-lovers, especially, this comes some 130 years following the description of the first Thai species, Impatiens mirabilis Hook.f., in 1891. Since then, there have been many discoveries, including new records and new species, detailed in this book. The research has spanned over a decade, covering an incredibly attractive and interesting array of species spanning the longitudinally and latitudinally diverse inclusion of Thailand, ranging from subtropical mountains to the wet tropical lowland rainforest regions. Balsams have an impressive taxonomic diversity, their basic floral structure already elaborate, represented by an incredibly large variation in form and structure, amply displayed in this iconic taxonomic account. This beautiful book details 91 taxa including 20 new species and a new variety, with 43 species only known from Thailand. It is a gem not only for botanists and specialists, but also amateurs and plant lovers everywhere.
Helm Wildlife Guides: Birds of Borneo
The world’s third largest island, divided between three countries – Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei – Borneo is home to some of the oldest rainforests in the world, estimated to be 140 millions years old, and an avifauna of around 600 recorded bird species. It is a haven for birdwatchers and a frontrunning biodiversity hotspot. A … Continue reading Helm Wildlife Guides: Birds of Borneo
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