Liew toured parts of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary on maiden trip

Teo drawing Liew’s attention to a group of proboscis monkeys along a stretch of the Kinabatangan River.

SUKAU: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew toured parts of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary on her maiden trip here by boat from Sandakan, Thursday.

She went on a three-hour river cruise, accompanied by Elopura Assemblyman Calvin Chong, the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, William Baya, Director of Sabah Wildlife Department, Augustine Tuuga, Sabah Tourism Board (STB) General Manager, Noredah Othman and Founder of Borneo Eco Tours which operates the Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Albert Teo.

Liew, Teo and others using binoculars to view the visiting female orang-utan at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge. 

“What a fantastic tour! I am here to see the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary for myself. I have learned a lot today from the Kinabatangan River Cruise, especially the Big Five,” the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment remarked (in apparent reference to the presence of the Borneo Pygmy Elephant, Proboscis Monkey, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Crocodile and Orang Utan).

Liew also spotted the long-tailed and pig-tailed Macaque, water monitor lizard, oriental darter, oriental pied hornbill and other bird species.

More significantly, the Minister caught a glimpse of a visiting female orang-utan, estimated to be about 15 to 20 years old, during her stroll on the Attenborough Board Walk at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

The visiting orang-utan named “Christina Liew” after the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment.

Teo, who is also the Founder of the Lodge, has named the primate “Christina Liew” in honour of the Minister’s inaugural visit.