GAYA ISLAND RESORT WILDLIFE CENTRE
Guardians of ecological conservation
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Borneo is the third-largest island in the world, comprising the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, Brunei Darussalam, and Indonesia. 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 remarkable region 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, including 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. 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 forming the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park in Sabah. Designated a forest reserve in 1923 and gazetted as Sabah’s second National Park in 1974, the 1,483-hectare island remains largely owned and managed by Sabah Parks. Here, we preserve a rare and intact primary forest—classified as protected Coastal Dipterocarp Forest—sheltering 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 Director of Conservation, and his dedicated team.
MEET OUR DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION
JUSTIN JUHUN
Born in Tawau on Sabah’s south-eastern coast, Justin Juhun is of mixed Kadazan, Indian, and Chinese heritage. Raised in a family of wildlife enthusiasts, he began exploring Borneo’s rainforests 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 plantation grounds—igniting a lifelong passion for wildlife care. Over the years, he has nurtured native species, including Orangutans, Borneo Pygmy Elephants, Gibbons, and Maroon Langurs.
Justin leads the 7 Wonders of Gaya project—a series of immersive nature experiences—alongside mangrove preservation initiatives and curated Wildlife Wonders encounters. Through nature walks tailored to different interests, he brings the island’s botanical reserve to life with enthusiastic, insightful commentary.
OUR RESCUES
BOOBOOK OWL
NINOX
Discovered grounded with a wing injury, Ninox was unable to hunt or escape predators. The team provided treatment and a period of flight conditioning to rebuild its strength. Once fully recovered, she was released at dusk—returning to the night skies she calls home.
PINK-NECKED GREEN PIGEON
PINKY
Found as a fledgling that had fallen from its nest, Pinky was brought in weak and unable to fend for herself. Through weeks of hand-feeding and careful monitoring, she regained her strength and developed the skills needed to survive in the wild. She was successfully released back into the forest where she belongs.
RED GIANT FLYING SQUIRREL
YOMA
After 100 days of rehabilitation—during which it grew 7cm and gained over 250g—Yoma, a young red giant flying squirrel found on the resort grounds in late 2023, has successfully been returned to the wild, where she now glides through the canopy, often spotted perched in the nest boxes found across the resort to support her return to the wild.
SUNDA PANGOLIN
SONNY
Rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, this critically endangered Sunda pangolin arrived stressed and malnourished, its scales showing signs of trauma. The team provided specialised care, including a controlled diet and a quiet, safe space to recover. After rehabilitation, Sonny was released into a protected forest area under the watch of conservation partners.
SIGNATURE CONSERVATION PROJECT
PROBOSCIS MONKEY PRESERVATION
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.
SIGNATURE CONSERVATION PROJECT
MANGROVE PRESERVATION & CULTIVATION
Mangroves are nature’s coastal guardians—salt-tolerant trees that protect shorelines, trap carbon, and provide critical nursery grounds for marine life. Gaya Island Resort is home to a rare 100-year-old mangrove forest, a living sanctuary that our team of Naturalists help guests explore while sharing the importance of preserving this fragile ecosystem. Kayaking through these ancient waterways offers more than wildlife encounters with mangrove crabs, hornbills, and monitor lizards—it is a firsthand look at a habitat worth protecting. Every paddle through this vital treasure is a reminder of why conservation matters.
SIGNATURE CONSERVATION PROJECT
CONSERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION
Guests are invited to discover an exceptional botanical reserve and a rare, undisturbed mixed dipterocarp forest found 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. Led by our team of Naturalists, these walks offer an immersive environmental education. To minimise human impact on wildlife and their habitat, the number of guests is limited each day.
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.
