Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary

Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary was constituted in February 1983 for the purpose of protecting all animals and in particular the maias (orang-utan) and hornbills living in the area. With an area of 168,758 ha, LEWS is the largest totally protected area in Sarawak. Including the adjacent areas proposed for extension, the size of LEWS will eventually increase to 191,568 ha. Except for patches of abandoned secondary forest, the Sanctuary is a relatively undisturbed primary forest.

Located in the south-western part of Sarawak at latitudes 1° 19' N to 1° 51' N and longitudes 111° 53' E to 112° 28' E, LEWS is contiguous with Batang Ai National Park in the south, and Betung Kerihun National Park in West Kalimantan, Indonesia in the south-east. LEWS straddles the watershed of Batang Lupar and Batang Rajang and is drained by the tributaries of these two mighty rivers. The Sanctuary is characterised by a deeply dissected, rugged and hilly terrain ranging from 60 m to 1,284 m a.s.l. The mountain ranges are marked by a series of sharp ridges and shallow soils. Bukit Lanjak, 1,284 m a.s.l., is the highest peak.

The forests of LEWS have, for many generations, provided the local communities with food (such as meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, etc.), building materials, medicine, fuel and other non-timber products, and have served as a source of income through the sale of these commodities.