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The Deramakot Book

A free illustrated guide to Deramakot Forest Reserve: its story, its wildlife and how to visit.

Cover of the Deramakot book: a Rhinoceros Hornbill flying over misty forest

Deramakot: A Forest, Its Wildlife, and the Travellers Who Found It.

Deramakot Forest Reserve in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, is a working timber forest, and one of the world's great places to watch wild mammals. This free 46-page book tells how that happened, introduces more than 30 of the animals visitors most hope to meet, and gives the practical detail you need to plan a trip.

It is written for travellers, mammal watchers and birders, and for anyone curious about how careful forestry and wildlife can work together. Every species profile gives size, diet, when the animal is active and where to look, and the book ends with a 620-species field checklist to tick off on the night drives.

Download the PDF Read online
Free · PDF, 6.7 MB · 46 pages · No sign-up
Inside the Book

Three Parts

Part One

The Forest

How reduced-impact logging began here in 1989, why Deramakot became the first natural forest in Southeast Asia to earn FSC certification, and how mammal watchers, Jon Hall and Kate Humble among them, put it on the map.

Part Two

The Wildlife

Profiles of the Sunda Clouded Leopard, Marbled Cat, Sun Bear, Binturong, Otter Civet, Bornean Orangutan, Bornean Pygmy Elephant, Bornean Gibbon, hornbills, the Bornean Bristlehead, flying frogs and more.

Part Three

Practical

Getting there via Telupid, where you stay, how long to come for, the two kinds of night drive, what to bring, and a 620-species checklist of the mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians of lowland Sabah.

For the full history and science of the reserve, see our guide to Deramakot Forest Reserve. Separate printable checklists for mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians are on the downloads page.

Common Questions

About the Book and the Reserve

What is the Deramakot book?

A free 46-page illustrated book about Deramakot Forest Reserve in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. It tells how a working timber forest became a world-class place to watch wild mammals, profiles more than 30 of the animals visitors hope to see, gives practical advice for a visit and ends with a 620-species field checklist.

Is the Deramakot book free?

Yes. It is a free PDF download (6.7 MB) with no sign-up, and it can also be read online page by page.

What wildlife does the book cover?

Sunda Clouded Leopard, Marbled Cat, Leopard Cat, Sun Bear, Binturong, Otter Civet and other civets, Bornean Orangutan, Bornean Pygmy Elephant, Philippine Slow Loris, Bornean Gibbon, Bornean Bearded Pig, hornbills, the Bornean Bristlehead, flying frogs and snakes. Each profile gives size, diet, when it is active and where to look.

Is Deramakot still FSC certified?

Yes. Deramakot was first certified by the Forest Stewardship Council in 1997, making it the longest-certified tropical rainforest in the world. The certificate lapsed in late 2019 and was regained in 2024.

How do you get to Deramakot?

Fly into Sandakan (SDK), drive about two hours to the town of Telupid, then transfer by 4WD into the reserve, a further two to three hours. Guests stay at the forest headquarters in chalet-style rooms with meals included.

Can you see Clouded Leopards at Deramakot?

Yes, though never guaranteed. Sunda Clouded Leopards are recorded at Deramakot with genuine, if infrequent, regularity, mostly at night on spotlight drives and only occasionally by day. Longer stays give the best chance.

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