KUNAK: Motorists plying the Kunak-Lahad Datu/Kota Kinabalu route are advised to be extra vigilant while driving, as the area is known to be a crossing point for the Red Leaf Monkey (Presbytis rubicunda).
The Kunak-Lahad Datu/Kota Kinabalu road is a major commuting route, located in close proximity to the Madai Baturong Nature Centre, where the Red Leaf Monkeys can occasionally be spotted clinging to the branches within the recreation area.
According to a spokesperson for the Madai Tourism and Culture Community Cooperative Berhad (Kokom), which operates the Madai Baturong Nature Centre, the presence of these monkeys is crucial to the sustainability of the surrounding Madai Baturong Forest Reserve, which is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.
“It is difficult to predict when these monkeys will decide to cross the road, and this certainly puts them at risk of being run over by vehicles,” the spokesperson said.