Life from Headwaters to the Coast PELAGUS NATIONAL PARK Biodiversity Above the Rapids

Sarawak’s vast protected areas network, including its National Parks, are home to many of the State’s natural wonders- floral, faunal, geological and at the level of landscapes. Central Sarawak, in particular, is an important area for biodiversity conservation, being home to uncountable Bornean endemics. Its thriving National Parks vindicate the commitment of the State Government as a responsible caretaker of Sarawak’s biodiversity. Halting biodiversity loss is one of the top State agendas, whereby Sarawak is determined to conserve and protect its wildlife and natural ecosystem. This project sits in line with the University’s niche area of biodiversity and environmental conservation. This book, based on extensive field research by the staff of our two organisations, brings together new information on species, their habitats and other aspects of natural history. Little has been written about Pelagus National Park. Scientific understanding of biodiversity intended for conservation is crucial for our advancement to preserve the State’s natural heritage. Identifying the distribution, richness and habitat use of animals in tropical rainforest are essential for understanding their ecology, and in facilitating management of such biodiversity-rich areas. This book attempts to enumerate selected zoological groups, many of which had hitherto remained undetected in these dense tropical rainforests. The faunal studies reported here include inventories of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and macroinvertebrates, a critical first step towards understanding the biodiversity of Pelagus National Park