SANDAKAN, Oct. 27 -- A relatively unknown conservation area in Kinabatangan has emerged as a focal point for bird lovers and wildlife advocates following its showcase at the Borneo Bird Festival held at the Rainforest Discovery Centre, here, recently.

The two-day event which ended on Sunday, was held at the Sungai Pin Conservation Area (SPnCA), spanning 2,632 hectares of riverside and peatland forests. It is a sanctuary for 28 protected bird species, including some of Borneo's rarest hornbills and storks.

The reserve protects endangered species such as the white-crowned hornbill, wrinkled hornbill and Storm's stork, along with vulnerable birds like the rhinoceros hornbill and oriental pied hornbill.

Stretching along 30km of the Kinabat...