The Mulu (Sarawak) expedition 1977-1978

Hear Robin and his colleagues share their first-hand stories, sounds, artefacts, maps and images associated with the original geographical survey of the Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak by the Society and the Forestry Department in 1977-78, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The discussion will include Robin Hanbury-Tenison, Andy Eavis, Matt Kirby and members of the Mulu Caves Project as well as others from Sarawak.

About the speaker

Robin Hanbury-Tenison OBE, DL, FRGS is the doyen of British explorers. A Founder and President of Survival International, the global organisation supporting tribal peoples, he was the leader of the RGS expedition to Gunung Mulu in 1977-1978, then the largest scientific geographical survey the Society had ever mounted. It was this research that first brought the plight of tropical rainforests to the world’s attention and triggered global campaigning.

A veteran of over thirty expeditions, he is a Gold medallist and one time Vice-President of the Royal Geographical Society. He has farmed on Bodmin Moor for sixty-five years.

His many books include A Question of Survival, A Pattern of Peoples, Fragile Eden, Mulu: The Rainforest, The Oxford Book of Exploration, The Great Explorers, The Modern Explorers, Land of Eagles, Finding Eden and his two autobiographies, Worlds Apart and Worlds Within.

His latest book, Taming the Four Horsemen, forecast the Covid pandemic, from which he subsequently nearly died.

About the Gunung Mulu expedition

Please join us to celebrate the original geographical and caving survey of the Gunung Mulu National Park by the Sarawak Forestry Department and the Society in 1977-78. This pioneering expedition, operating from ‘Long Pala’, the temporary longhouse on the river Melinau, in the pristine rainforests of Sarawak, Malaysia, brought together a multidisciplinary team of over 100 geographers, cavers, biologists and taxonomic scientists (notably the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the Natural History Museum), from 11 different nations, to explore, document, and map the park’s remarkable karst systems, biodiversity, and unique ecosystems.

The survey led by Robin Hanbury-Tenison resulted in groundbreaking discoveries, including the mapping of some of the world’s largest cave chambers and passages, such as the iconic Sarawak Chamber and Clearwater Cave. This fieldwork was possible due to the skills and expertise of the local Berawan and Penan communities, who worked alongside the scientists, on foot operating from a network of sub-camps on Gunung Mulu and near the caves and sharp limestone pinnacles of Gunung Api. The scientific outputs from this expedition significantly contributed to our understanding of tropical karst landscapes, cave hydrology, and the ecological significance of the region’s flora and fauna.

The reunion will be an opportunity for members of the expedition to reconnect, share memories, and reflect on the lasting impact of their work. Presentations and discussions will revisit key achievements, such as the pioneering use of advanced caving techniques, the rich biodiversity catalogued, and the foundational role the expedition played in the designation of Gunung Mulu as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guests will also enjoy updates on recent scientific studies in the park, showcasing how the legacy of the 1977-78 survey continues to inspire ongoing research and conservation efforts at the Park’s headquarters today.

Booking information

Advance booking for this event is required. This event will be held in person and online. If you are joining the event online, the joining instructions will be included in your confirmation email.

If you have any questions or require assistance with your booking, please email events@rgs.org