Gomantong caves
| Gomantong caves
|
||
|---|---|---|
 Entrance of the Simud Hitam ("black cave") |
||
| Location: | Sabah , Malaysia , Borneo Island | |
|
Geographic location: |
5 ° 31 '0 " N , 118 ° 4' 0" E | |
|
||
| Geology: | limestone | |
| Particularities: | Traditional utilization of the salangan nests as "edible swallow nests " | |
The Gomantong Caves are a highly branched cave system in the north of Borneo , in the Malay state of Sabah , 30 kilometers south of Sandakan . They are located in the largest limestone formations in the lower Kinabatangan region. The caves are known for the numerous bats that live there and especially the salangans , swallow-like birds, whose nests are the main component of the so-called swallow's nest soup , a delicacy of Chinese cuisine . In Sabah, the caves are one of the most famous tourist attractions. The caves can be visited all year round.
The main part of the cave system is formed by two caves: the more accessible one is called Simud Hitam ("black cave") and the larger, slightly above Simud Putih ("white cave"). The naming is motivated by the nest type typical in these caves, in Simud Hitam there are more nests of the black nest salangans , in Simud Putih the nests of the white nest salangans are more common.
The number of salangans breeding in the caves is estimated at 1.5 million, the number of bats is roughly in the same range. There are also many insects, especially cockroaches , that benefit from the presence of birds and bats.
The exploitation of the salangan nests is regulated in the Gomantong caves in order not to endanger the populations of the species. With a few exceptions, the nests may only be “harvested” twice per season, once at the beginning of the breeding season, immediately after the first nest has been built, if possible before the eggs are laid, and at the end when the young have flown out. This regulation is considered exemplary in the region, but even with this regulated utilization, a reduction in breeding success can be determined.
