Contributing Writer: Elwa Gloria Justin
The story of Labuk Bay began with a drought. In the late 1990s, proboscis monkeys, Borneo’s famously long-nosed primates, wandered into a palm oil estate (owned by the Lee Brothers) desperate for food. Instead of turning them away, the brothers offered bananas and sugarcane. What started as a simple act of kindness soon grew into something far bigger. By the year 2000, part of the estate had been transformed into Sabah’s first proboscis monkey sanctuary.
Today, Labuk Bay spans 500 acres of mangrove forest, a refuge surrounded by plantations. Around 300 proboscis monkeys live here, alongside silvered-leaf langurs, otters, slow lorises, and hornbills. Conservation efforts include replanting mangroves and acquiring more land, ensuring the survival of wildlife in a fragile environment.
Two feeding platforms bring you up close to the monkeys’ quirky personalities. Platform A offers a quiet, intimate encounter, while Platform B buzzes with activity—complete with a café, gift shop, and a small theater. Feeding sessions happen four times daily: 9:30 am and 2:30 pm at Platform A, and 11:30 am and 4:30 pm at Platform B. Watching the monkeys leap through the mangroves for their share of cucumbers and pancakes is a sight few forget.
Getting there is simple, about 45 minutes from Sandakan Airport or 20 km west of Sepilok. While shuttle services no longer run, Grab or taxi rides cost around RM 150–180 for a return trip with waiting time. Tickets are affordable: RM 60 for international travellers, RM 15 for Malaysians, with lower fees for children. A small camera fee of RM 10/day lets you capture every moment.
Boardwalks through the mangroves, wildlife photography opportunities, and engaging video shows make Labuk Bay more than a tourist stop; it’s a bridge between people and nature. Above all, the sanctuary carries a mission: to protect proboscis monkeys from the pressures of deforestation and habitat loss. Through emergency feeding, habitat restoration, and public awareness, Labuk Bay reminds us that conservation often begins with compassion.
From one simple meal, an entire sanctuary was born. And today, visitors leave with more than just photos. They leave with the story of Labuk Bay, and the understanding that protecting wildlife is also protecting our shared future.
