BRL Celebrates Wins at Borneo Bird Festival

28 November 2025

SANDAKAN: Borneo Rainforest Lodge (BRL) has celebrated the outstanding achievements of its team at the Borneo Bird Festival 2025, an event that brought together birdwatchers, photographers, and conservation enthusiasts from across the region.

The festival, held from 25 to 26 October at the Rainforest Discovery Centre, saw BRL Junior Naturalist Ak Mohd Shahrin Nizam clinch several top accolades across multiple categories.

He secured first prize in the Borneo Wildlife Video Contest for his moving footage of a mother orangutan with her baby, and first runner-up for a rare and captivating video capturing mating colugos.

Shahrin also earned second runner-up in the Borneo Bird Video Contest for his stunning film featuring the Blue-throated Bee-eater.

In the artistic Bornean Bird Makeup Contest, Eric Estiva (make-up artist and costume designer) and Emilia Amos (model), both from the Housekeeping Department, achieved first runner-up, impressing audiences with their imaginative, bird-inspired creation.

BRL, a subsidiary of the Yayasan Sabah Group of Companies, also commended its dedicated nature guides — Sabinus, Emmanuel, and Cassy — for proudly representing the lodge in the Borneo Bird Race and Borneo Bird Photo Race.

“We are incredibly proud of our team’s achievements at this year’s Borneo Bird Festival,” said Freddy Coleman, Chief Executive Officer of Borneo Nature Tours Sdn Bhd and Innoprise Jungle Lodge Sdn Bhd.

“Their creativity and passion reflect the spirit of Borneo Rainforest Lodge, where every individual contributes to celebrating and safeguarding the rich biodiversity of Danum Valley.

“This recognition underscores our commitment to nurturing local talent while promoting conservation through meaningful engagement,” he added.

Freddy noted that these collective achievements demonstrate BRL’s strong commitment to wildlife stewardship, creativity, and conservation awareness — values central to its operations in Danum Valley.