Gomantong Caves, Sabah

Gomantong Caves in Sabah are famous for the birds nest collection, as well as the sheer size of the caves.

I wrote an article on Gomantong Caves for The Brunei Times in 2007, Gomantong bat caves awash in guano.

Entrance to the lower cave.

A boardwalk is in place around the area where tourists go.

View of the back of the cave

swiftlet and a skeleton

Houses for the nest collectors

and coiled ladders












It is estimated that between 600,000 and two million bats live in the cave. With each bat eating its own body weight in insects each night, this results in several tonnes of insects being consumed per night.

Some of the invertebrates that feed on guano

long legged centipedes

cockroaches

Dead bat being eaten by cockroaches

Back entrance
and front entrance

Guano mountain made famous by David Attenbourough

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission