Uncle Tan's Wildlife Camp

The Experiences of Robert T. Maag and his wife Mary Lou Maag - spending two nights in the jungle.

We had always insisted and informed our guests to the Wildlife Camp that "The Jungle is neither friend nor foe - it is neutral (Col. Spencer Chapman)." It is how you adjust to the environment that make you its friend. We had always preached to our visitors that you can actually live in the jungle quite comfortably - the jungle can be a great super market supplying food, water, and shelter. It can also give some people some rough experiences.

We know that many people who come to us are from "The Concrete Jungles" of the advanced countries, and they want to see our jungle and experience what it is like to be living in a Tropical Rain forest for a few days. We provide them with a copy of our "Information for visitors to the Wildlife Camp". We also have a copy pinned up in the camp notice board. (Copy attached for ref.)[Copy not found -alan.]

In the 7 years of operating the camp - no body had ever got lost in the Camp area. I believe the Maags were NOT LOST - but rather got disorientated. They could not find their way back t o the camp site, but they knew what direction they had to go to get out of the jungle. They were briefed by Mr. Dominic Harmer - who is a warden in one of the Bird Reserves run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, UK., who is now on leave and studying the STORM STORK in the camp area.

Once we realized the Maags were missing for morning coffee at 10.00 am we put our search operation in action. Our camp staff who know the area well led a team each (the volunteers had come from tourists in the camp at that time and members of the Medical/Dental Camp who had just completed a week in the interior of Sabah - giving medical and Dental aids to the local communities.) - See lists of volunteers for the medical camp.

According to Robert Maag, they got excited when they saw an elephant near the round lake and started to follow the elephants and before long they became disorientated (See letter from the Maags)

Our efforts to search for them are recorded in our "Search Diary and Map".

The missing couple is well and had suffered no ill effects from the two nights sleeping in the jungle. On the contrary - they are happy with the opportunity to see so many wildlife in the jungle.

(signed)
Salaiman Tan
(Uncle Tan)

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