The edible birds nests of Swiftlets living in the limestone cave systems of Gomantong on the North East side of Borneo have made this area incredibly valuable and famous. The area is now a forest reserve encompassing nine caves. Many other endangered species live in this protected area including the Orangutan and Probosis Monkey, whilst walking to the cave we saw many rare birds, including the Asian Paradise Flycatcher (see our Borneo Bird Collection). Only one cave Simud Hitam is open to the public. During harvest time, men risk their lives climbing to heights of 90m collecting the nests. It is said that harvesting is strictly controlled by the Wildlife Department to ensure sustainability. Harvesting takes place twice per year and workers live in the wooden huts close to and inside the cave itself. When they are not harvesting groups take it in turns by staying for 10 days at a time to guard the caves. Inside the cave the floor is alive with cockroaches, centipedes and scorpions feeding on the bat guano. Fortuantely a wooden walkway runs along the sides of the cave, so the little critters are kept safe.