Tenengang Lakes
Location:
5°25'-5°30'N, 118°05'-118°18'E; 50 km south of Sandakan on the lower reaches of the Kinabatangan River, Sabah.
Area:
9,500 ha.
Altitude:
10m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.25.12
Wetland type:
11, 13, 15 & 21.
Description of site:
A series of oxbow lakes in various stages of infilling along the Kinabatangan River, separated by logged-over swamp forest subject to varying degrees of periodic flooding, and with some open reed marsh. The water is fresh and, in some of the back-swamps, highly acidic. The depth of water is variable and may reach 5 metres in the oxbow lakes. The swamps are more or less permanent.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately I 2,600 mm, well distributed throughout the year, but with a slight peak in December and January; the lowest rainfall occurs in March and April. The mean diurnal maximum and minimum temperatures are 32°C and 22°C, respectively.
Principal vegetation:
The oxbow lakes are fringed with Nauclea forest. There are many Alstonia, Kleinhovia, Terminalia and Octomeles trees, and open reed swamps with Mapania thickets. The surrounding logged-over swamp forest includes relict dipterocarps and other large trees especially Susideroxylon zwageri.
Land tenure:
The wetland is State Land; there is some privately owned and kampung reserve land in adjacent areas.
Conservation measures taken:
None.
Conservation measures proposed:
It has been suggested that the area surrounding the oxbow lakes be gazetted as a wildlife forest reserve. Areas of open freshwater are rare in Sabah, and since those that do often have wildlife associated with them, they should be conserved.
Land use:
The wetland is State Land; there is some privately owned and kampung reserve land in adjacent areas.
Possible Changes in Land use:
There are plans to drain an extensive portion of the Bird Sanctuary in the Kerah Swamp area. Under the Fifth Malaysia Plan (starting in 1986/87), a pumping station is to be installed to reduce surface water, and under the Sixth Plan (1990/95), more drainage canals are to be constructed. The Aquabio Prawn Farm is to be expanded from its existing 40 ha to 4,000 ha, at the expense of open grazing land.
Disturbances and threats:
No information.
Economic and social values:
A potential exists for prawn farming in the oxbow lakes.
Fauna:
Fishes are abundant. Various herons and egrets (Ardeidae) have been recorded, and ducks may occur. Estuarine Crocodiles Crocodylus porosus probably frequent the oxbow lakes for breeding.
Special floral values:
None known.
Research and facilities:
Several faunal and floral surveys have been conducted, e.g. by the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in 1983, by Interwader in 1984, by Payne and Parish in 1985, and by Lansdown in 1986 and 1987, but no permanent facilities are available at the site.
References:
Axell (1985); Beadle & Whittaker (1985); Lansdown (1986, 1987b & in prep); Payne & Parish (1985); Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology (1983).
Criteria for Inclusion:
0.
Source:
C. Phillipps.