Mulu National Park - People and Settlement

Specific privileges were also conferred to nomadic Penan people who were living within the park at the time of its proclamation. The Penan are a fascinating people, having traditionally lived a hunter gatherer lifestyle resulting in a remarkable understanding of the rainforest and its fauna. In the last twenty years most of the Penan living within the park have adopted a more settled lifestyle, living at one of the two Penan longhouses outside of the park. Nevertheless, their understanding of their environment remains strong, with many individuals returning to the park periodically for days or weeks at a time. In efforts to ensure that their cultural identity is not lost together with the knowledge they have gained, the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, supported by the park, has initiated a Traditional Knowledge Study with the local people.