Good news has come from the collaboration between the Forest Research Center of the Sabah Forestry Department, the Beluran District Forestry Office and TSH Resources Berhad. A research team led by John Sugau, Dr. Reuben Nilus and Razy Japir successfully discovered a population of Rafflesia tengku-adlinii, an endemic species of Sabah, in the Bukit Monkobo and Bukit Mentapok Forest Reserves during a scientific expedition in August 2024.

Among the three identified Rafflesia species in Sabah, Rafflesia tengku-adlinii is the rarest and smallest. The significance of this discovery expands the understanding of the distribution of this endemic species, which was previously known only in the western and central parts of Sabah, is now confirmed in the north-central region, specifically in Mount Monkobo and Mount Mentapok. The researchers found three populations in Mount Monkobo and another one in Mount Mentapok.

Smallest Rafflesia in Malaysia

The species Rafflesia tengku-adlinii was named in honor of Datuk Tengku Zainal Adlin Tengku Zainal Abidin, a prominent conservationist in Sabah. He was the first to document the existence of this species in 1987 in Kampung Tempulun, near Kampung Kaingaran, Tambunan, on the western slope of Mount Trus Madi.

In 1988, another discovery was made when the species was found to be spreading on Mount Lotung, within the Maliau Basin Conservation Area, and in Kampung Sinoa on the southeastern slopes of Mount Trus Madi. The species was later described by the late Mat-Salleh and Latiff in their 1989 scientific publication based on specimens collected from Mount Trus Madi, Sabah.

This species, with a flower diameter ranging from 20 to 25 centimeters, is classified as the smallest Rafflesia species in Malaysia. Its distinctive feature is its bright orange perigone lobes marked with rounded warts, which distinguishes it from other Rafflesia species in the region.

Diversity of Rafflesia in Malaysia

The Rafflesia genus (R.Br.), part of the family Rafflesiaceae, is one of the most unique groups of parasitic flowering plants in the world. Its geographical distribution is limited to Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

To date, Malaysia has been recorded as the habitat for 13 species of Rafflesia. In Peninsular Malaysia, eight species have been identified: R. cantleyi, R. azlanii, R. kerri, R. su-meiae, R. sharifah-hapsahiae, R. parvimaculata, R. tuanku-halimii, and R. tiomanensis.

In Sabah, three species have been found: R. pricei, R. keithii, and R. tengku-adlinii. Sarawak also exhibits high Rafflesia diversity, with four documented species: R. hasseltii, R. keithii, R. pricei, and R. tuan-mudae.

As a parasitic plant, Rafflesia cannot survive independently. It requires a host from the Tetrastigma genus, particularly the T. diepenhorstii species, to provide essential nutrients throughout its lifecycle.

Rafflesia Discovery Boosts Conservation Efforts

Datuk Frederick Kugan, the Chief Conservator of Forests, stated that the discovery of this rare Rafflesia species in the Bukit Monkobo and Bukit Mentapok Class I (Protection) Forest Reserves will serve as a significant catalyst for strengthening conservation efforts in the area. The decision to re-establish the reserve's status in 2015 has become even more relevant with the discovery of this highly valuable endemic species.

The reserve covers an area of 5,443 hectares and includes two main peaks, Mount Monkobo (1,829 m) and Mount Mentapok (1,581 m). Although administratively referred to as "Bukit" (hill), the term "Gunung" (mountain) is more commonly used by the local community. These two peaks are part of a relatively unexplored mountain range in the north-central region, and much of the reserve shares a border with the Ulu Tungud Forest Reserve, which is managed by TSH Resources Berhad.