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Ficus callosa and Binturong at Shangri la Rasa Ria, Tuaran, Sabah

uluulublog

We heard that a group of four binturongs from Lok Kawi zoo had been released into the forest at the Shangrila Rasa Ria resort near Tuaran,  several years ago. Knowing that binturongs have a strong penchant for ripe figs we  decided to make a visit. The Rasa Ria activities staff have seen up to 8 binturongs at one time including babies so the binturongs must be breeding successfully.

The  Activities staff at the Rasa Ria Resort told us that the binturongs were most often seen when fig trees were fruiting near the resort.  For the last few days a binturong had been feeding in a fruiting Ficus callosa only 20 m into the forest along the main trail.  We found that the fig was still fruiting and and  despite the rain the binturong had returned. 
After a large meal of ripe Ficus callosa figs the binturong decided to take a nap.
Ripening Ficus callosa figs at the Rasa Ria Resort,  Tuaran, Sabah.
The ground below the tree was covered in ripe green figs and fresh leaves knocked down by the binturong.  Ficus callosa  figs which ripen yellow – green are normally dispersed by giant flying fox fruit bats which are now rare in Sabah, due to hunting for food.

The Shangrila Rasa Ria Resort is about one hours drive north of Kota Kinabalu facing onto Dalit beach. You can see the resort on the right. Directly behind the resort is a  ridge covered in old growth secondary forest rich in fig trees including Ficus callosa, Ficus drupaceae, Ficus microcarpa and Ficus sundaica. Behind the ridge is the Dalit Golf Course  on which many fig trees mainly Ficus benjamina have been planted.

 

 

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