Dangerous Animals of Sabah

30% of Sabah is in wilderness, and there are some things that we should watch out for, or they will remind us that they deserve our respect. My eyes roll whenever I hear tourists say something ignorant like, “Oh dear, the orangutan/elephant / monkey is so cute!!!” Wildlife is not our house pet. They don’t like humans, so don’t expect they to welcome us (though they may look or act friendly).

1. Elephants

Bornean Pygmy elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) is the biggest mammal in Sabah, and there are fewer than 1,500 of them left. With 2.5 Metres in height and body weight in tons, you know you can’t afford to trust this giant babe.

Above: the habitat of our elephants is destroyed by logging and oil palm plantations. Read more here…

Due to oil palm plantations, logging, and land clearing for farmland, the loss of lowland forests has brought the elephants into more contact and conflict with people. The Bornean Pygmy Elephant is timid but a very protective parent. The overexcited tourists, who come too close to the herd that has a calf around, would find themselves in danger.

Pic: Memorial stone for Jenna O’Grady Donley

In 2011, an Australian tourist, Jenna O’Grady Donley, was stabbed to death by a bull elephant in Tabin Wildlife Reserve. She was an animal lover, and sadly, she was too close to a bull elephant, which was said to be mentally unstable. Rest in peace Jenna. On 25 December 2022, a Borneo pygmy elephant gored its handler to death at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, when he was tending a wounded calf.

Above: The elephants are in stress even at this distance. They round up to protect the calf. Photo of Kinabatangan.

In the video below, you can see that an elephant was agitated when we were too close to them:

2. Crocodiles

Saltwater or estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is the largest crocodiles in the world and they are found in rivers and swampy areas of Sabah. Crocodile is the master of sneak attack, so it is a threat to the villagers who wash their clothes and fish in the rivers.

Above: this crocodile killed a few villagers. Photo of Tuaran Crocodile Farm

Basically there is no hope for survival when we are grabbed by the powerful jaws of this 4-Metres aggressive monster. Sometimes people see them sunbathing in unlikely places, such as Tuaran and Papar.

Above: warning sign at Kinabatangan River

On 1 December 2022, a crocodile attacked a father and a one-year-old son who were rowing a boat on the river of Lahad Datu. Unfortunately, the boy was killed. Between 2020 and 2022, a total of 12 crocodile attacks were reported in Lahad Datu, out of which eight were fatal.

3. Snakes

One drop of venom from the banded sea krait or yellow-lipped sea krait (Laticauda colubrina) can kill three adults, and there is no antidote. Sea snakes are occasionally trapped in fishing nets. When the unlucky fisherman is busy sorting out the fish, he might be bitten by a sea snake without knowing it, due to the anesthetic effect of the venom. The poison will dissolve the muscles of his body, and his urine will turn a cola red color. At last, he dies in enormous suffering. The good news is that sea snakes are not aggressive unless threatened, although all sea snake species are highly venomous. Sometimes they approach scuba divers just out of curiosity, but they mean no harm.

The most dangerous snakes in Borneo forest are pit vipers and king cobra. You would encounter a viper if you hiked in a jungle that is frequented by small animals such as rodents and frogs. King Cobra is known for aggressively guarding its nest. The locals believe that carrying a Kayu Tas wood can ward off snakes.

Above: The sea snake is more poisonous than the cobra, but it’s not aggressive. Photo from Banggi Island

Above: yellow-lipped sea kraits in fish tank of the Green Connection

Above: A reticulated python can eat a human if it is big enough

4. Jellyfish

There are 17 species of jellyfish in the waters of Sabah, and eight of them can pose dangers to humans; three of them are the Balung (Chironex Yamaguchii), Box Jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri), whose toxin could kill victims in less than five minutes, and Ubur-ubur merah.

Above: jellyfish warning on Manukan Island

The application of vinegar, which contains acetic acid, can disable the jellyfish’s nematocysts that have not yet been discharged into the bloodstream. After the death of a few tourists, vinegar is always available for such first aid in the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. If you are stung, look for the lifeguard on the beach immediately; they know what to do. Please do not pee on the wound, it will not help.

5. Hornets and Bees

If one sting is painful, 100 stings will be a painful death, so terrible that nobody would want to commit suicide by intentionally provoking the hornets, especially the Lesser Banded Hornet (Vespa affinis). If you are allergic to bee sting, a few jabs can cause anaphylactic shock that is potentially fatal. It is also advisable not to agitate a hornet near a nest, as the distress signal will trigger the entire hive to attack. If that happens, submerging into the water is probably the only way to save you. For your information, perfumes can be mistaken for the pheromone of hornets and trigger an attack as well. The same advice goes to the giant honey bee (Apis dorsata), which is far more aggressive than other honey bee species.

Hornet also likes to build nests under the roof and water tank of houses. The nest may be as small as a tennis ball in the beginning. But if you don’t eliminate it in the early stage, it will grow to the size of a sandbag and pose a serious threat to the residents. By that time, only the Fire Department can help you to remove the huge nest safely.

If you are too close to a bee hive, the patrolling bees will come and buzz around you to investigate if you are a threat. It’s very important that you stay still and avoid agitating them (by making sudden moves or swatting at them). After the guard bees leave, move slowly away from their territory. In contrast to a honeybee, a hornet can sting multiple times. If a child has an anaphylactic reaction to a bee sting, an attack by one hornet is deadly enough.

6. Mosquito

Finally, last but not least is the mosquito. If one mosquito gets into your room, you know you will have a problem sleeping all night long. Anyway, causing bad sleep is not how mosquito kills hundreds of people every year. Mosquitoes are the deadliest disease vectors, which spread infectious diseases such as Malaria, Dengue, and Yellow Fever. Parts of Sabah are the red zone for Malaria. Therefore, please ensure your house is free of stagnant water, which serves as a breeding ground for them.

Pic: Among all mosquito species, Aedes aegypti (locally known as Nyamuk Aedes) is the most dangerous, as it can spread diseases such as dengue fever and yellow fever. It is easily recognized by the white stripes on its legs and body.

7. Cattle / Cow

The domesticated cattle of Kota Belud town always roam in the middle of the road. You will need to be especially cautious when driving in the countryside. Do not honk them, otherwise the group will disperse and run like mad cows in all directions on the road, causing danger to other motorists. Well, I will not pay a single cent of compensation for accidentally knocking down a cattle because it is illegal to let them wander around in the first place. But do you know what’s more dangerous? The angry villagers who don’t reason with you.

8. Wild Boar

In contrast to their domesticated cousin (pig), wild boars are agile and the favourite target for hunting games because they are difficult to catch. Wild boars are elusive and prefer to flee from our sight in most cases, so it is hard to believe that they have a record of killing bears and tigers in battle. Wild boars rarely attack, but they can pose a danger to people who act like a threat to their piglets. Jungle trekkers are best to move away quietly and leave them alone.

Above: adult wild boar has long tusk that can kill.

There is no tiger in Borneo, in case you wonder why it isn’t on the list. As you may see by now, a dangerous animal is not necessarily a man-eater or a big animal. Even if it can look friendly and adorable, wildlife is wild; never treat it like a pet. Most of the time, wildlife appears timid and afraid of humans, and tourists can usually get away unharmed. But you need only one incident to lose your life.

Photos taken in Sabah, Malaysia Borneo