bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

Dodging fire ants, snakes and millions of nighttime creepy-crawlies, a group of trekkers advances through the humid Bornean rainforest, scanning with torches for some of the jungle’s most unlikely stars: frogs.
“There’s another one! And it’s massive,” British tourist Lauren Heywood exclaims as she spots the telltale reflective glint off a pair of blinking eyes.
“Frogging”, or the hunt for the exotic amphibians that call the rainforest home, is taking off in Malaysia’s Sarawak state in Borneo.
And herpetologists – those who study reptiles and amphibians – say few places rival Kubah National Park, around half an hour’s drive from the state capital, Kuching.

The park is home to some of the world’s smallest and most unusual frog species.
While many visitors flock to Borneo’s jungle to see animals like orangutans or elephants, some of its tiniest residents are increasingly getting their turn in the spotlight, according to Kubah park ranger Muhammed Tajuddin.
“More and more people are coming to see our frogs,” he says.
The tour begins at yspi, the highest peak in the area, to frog central.
Here, surrounded by ancient jungle trees, is a shallow pond about the size of two swimming pools.

Scientists say it serves as the primary breeding ground for many of the 180 frog and toad species found on Borneo – the world’s third-largest island, divided between Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.
Dozens of species dot almost every surface, submerged in the torchlit water, or perched on leaves, branches or tree trunks, placid and unbothered by their human fans.
“There is something special here,” says Jikie, 64, a retired park ranger who now specialises as a frogging guide. “People come to the park because they don’t have the species that we have here back at home.”
Among the stars of the show on this visit are pinkish harlequin flying frogs with mottled underbellies, file-eared tree frogs with distinctive sharp noses, and white-lipped frogs whose lurid green backs give way to a stripe of white along their bottom jaw.


One of Borneo’s most famous species, the giant river toad, nicknamed “frogzilla” for its dinner-plate size, is not seen in Kubah.
But there are other, more delicate types, according to Jikie.
“We have one of the world’s smallest frog species, that breed inside pitcher plants,” he says, training his sharp spotlight on a pair of amphibian eyes just up the steep mountain road.
The Matang narrow-mouthed frog was officially described by Malaysian and German herpetologists in 2010 after its discovery in Kubah. It grows to a maximum of just 11 millimetres – less than half an inch – as an adult.
British tourist Thom Harris and his fellow visitors spotted 11 species on their nighttime trek.
“This was an amazing experience,” he says. “They are just stunning creatures.”
“There are a few fire ants and a few other things to be careful of – and a lot of bugs,” he laughs. “But it’s definitely worth it. And it’s a lot of fun!”


The rising popularity of the forest frogs is a chance for environmentalists to highlight the serious threats they face.
Deforestation, climate change and overhunting are all putting pressure on the tropical island’s frog population, scientists say.
“Even slight changes in the temperature and climate may affect the survival of the frog species in a particular habitat,” researchers Nur Hidayah Zulkefli and Ramlah Zainudin from the University of Malaysia, Sarawak wrote in 2022.
Deforestation in Sarawak remains significant and ongoing, according to statistics from the environmental group Global Forest Watch, including for timber and to make way for palm oil plantations.
Sarawak’s government said it backed community conservation movements to preserve the amphibians, and it ran well-protected game and nature reserves like Kubah National Park.
Awareness events include the annual International Bornean Frog Race, which sees scientists and the public compete to spot and photograph as many frog species as possible within a set time frame and area.
For park ranger Tajuddin, the more people are able to engage with the unique creatures, the more they will understand the need to protect them and their habitats.
“I love nature,” he says. “Frogging is a unique way for me to share that love with all our visitors.”


Indonesia closes door on Airbnb ban after Bali governor seeks to curb unlicensed rentals

Louvre thieves escaped 30 seconds before police arrived, probe finds

US plans to order foreign tourists to disclose social media histories

North Korea beckons Chinese tourists with beach resort in 2026 calendar

Tourism

What is frogging? Tourists hop to rainforests in Borneo to spot exotic amphibians

A harlequin tree frog, or harlequin flying frogs, seen at Kubah National Park. Photo: AFP

British tourists Thom Harris and Lauren Heywood take part in frogging activity at Kubah National Park in Borneo. More tourists are going on frogging tours, which spotlight the island’s frogs. Photo: AFP

A four-lined tree frog at Kubah National Park in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, on the island of Borneo. Photo: AFP

A slender litter frog at Kubah National Park. Photo: AFP

British tourist Thom Harris (second right) takes pictures of a frog at Kubah National Park. Photo: AFP

A harlequin tree frog, or harlequin flying frog, at Kubah National Park. Photo: AFP

A brown marsh frog at Kubah National Park. Photo: AFP

A sticky frog at Kubah National Park. Photo: AFP

How tourists are crushing hotspots in Europe, world’s most visited region

People demonstrate during a protest against overtourism in Barcelona in June 2024. The Spanish city remains at the forefront of a problem in Europe that shows little sign of ending. Photo: AP

An activist holds a banner that reads “stop cruises” as part of a march to demand measures against mass tourism in Mallorca, Spain, on June 15, 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE

Tourists ride a gondola in Venice, Italy. Photo: AP

Tourists surround the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Photo: AP

Tourists in Paris pose for a selfie with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Photo: AP

A woman takes a selfie in front of the Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Photo: AP

Why urban hiking in Korea is getting so popular, plus Seoul’s top 3 mountains

A post on the Korea Tourism Organisation’s Visit Korea Instagram account shows a hiker enjoying a view of Seoul from one of its urban mountains. Photo: Instagram/visitkorea_travel

A group of hikers enjoy a view of Seoul from Mount Bukhan. Photo: Shutterstock

A hiker on Mount Bukhan. Photo: Shutterstock

Mount Bugak offers stunning views of downtown Seoul. Photo: Seoul Tourism Organisation

Mount Gwanak boasts rugged beauty in southern Seoul. Photo: courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organisation

What to do in Osaka, Japan’s ‘culinary capital’, from Dotonbori’s chaos to the castle

Dotonbori is Osaka’s number-one nightlife district. The district is known for its bars, restaurants, entertainment and large illuminated billboards, including one that is a giant crab with moving legs and another that depicts Spider-Man perched on a clam. Photo: Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau/dpa

The Tsutenkaku Tower is the tallest landmark in Osaka’s Shinsekai neighbourhood. Photo: Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau/dpa

Sea urchins for sale at a market in Osaka. Photo: Ralf Johnen/dpa

Street food at the Kuromon Ichiba Market in Osaka. Photo: Ralf Johnen/dpa

Osaka Castle is a peaceful spot for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Photo: Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau/dpa

The Glico Man overlooks the Dotonbori Canal. Photo: Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau/dpa

6 of Singapore’s best hidden speakeasy bars that will take you back in time – and how to find them

Bartenders at Chandu create drinks with a narrative that are loosely based on history. Photo: The Robertson House by the Crest Collection

A bartender mixes a drink at Chandu, one of our picks of six of the best hidden speakeasy bars in Singapore. Photo: The Robertson House by the Crest Collection

The Mizuwari whisky highball at Live Twice uses Hokkaido soft water rather than soda to accentuate the malt notes of the Japanese Nikka whiskies. Photo: Instagram/@livetwicesg

Chandu is inspired by Singapore’s colonial era, when opium dens flourished in the city state. Photo: The Robertson House by The Crest Collection

Chandu’s Mata Hari cocktail is named after a Dutch dancer and courtesan. Photo: Facebook/Chandu

Oriental Elixir, located in a Peranakan rowhouse, is a dimly lit watering hole for nonconformist cocktails. Photo: Philipp Meier

Oriental Elixir’s Malabar Tamarind cocktail combines the sour ingredient with roasted cherry tomato gin, dry vermouth. Photo: Instagram/@oriental.elixir

Junior the Pocket Bar is a small, 25-seater speakeasy that tasks itself with changing the menu completely every few months. Photo: Philipp Meier

A cocktail titled Sesame from the Korea-inspired menu at Junior the Pocket Bar. Photo: Junior the Pocket Bar

Jade Harbour is part of The Bund menu currently offered at Junior the Pocket Bar, inspired by the Shanghai district. Credit: Junior the Pocket Bar

For its Korean Joseon dynasty-inspired menu, the interiors of Junior the Pocket Bar featured dragons. Photo: Philipp Meier

Roxy is a hip-hop-inspired speakeasy hidden inside the Miss Fitz restaurant in Singapore’s Marina Bay. Photo: Facebook/Roxy

The drinks at Roxy are based on classics, but are given their own spin. Photo: Facebook/Roxy

Last Word has finessed tipples that were invented in the 1920s. Photo: Philipp Meier

Last Word’s eponymous cocktail is a classic, blending gin, maraschino liqueur, green chartreuse and lime. Photo: Instagram/@lastwordsg

Lifestyle

Travel & Leisure

While many visitors head to Borneo to see animals like orangutans or elephants, frogs are increasingly getting their turn in the spotlight


While many visitors head to Borneo to see animals like orangutans or elephants, frogs are increasingly getting their turn in the spotlight.


Travel Destinations

Malaysia

Animals

Conservation

What is frogging? Tourists hop to rainforests in Borneo to spot exotic amphibians

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}While many visitors head to Borneo to see animals like orangutans or elephants, frogs are increasingly getting their turn in the spotlight

While many visitors head to Borneo to see animals like orangutans or elephants, frogs are increasingly getting their turn in the spotlight