(Miri, 7th) A group of tour guides from the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), serving the Mulu National Park, recently participated in a two-day advanced geology training workshop organized by Curtin University to delve into the geological mysteries of the world-famous Mulu Caves.
The training was led by Dr. Dominique Dodge-Wan, Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Sciences at Curtin University Malaysia. It is an important part of Curtin Malaysia’s community engagement initiatives, aiming to enhance the guides’ scientific understanding of cave formation processes, enabling them to provide richer content during tours and strengthening their awareness of Mulu's underground ecosystem conservation.
Over 16 professional guides from the local Mulu community participated in the training, including members of the Penan and Berawan ethnic groups.
The initiative was proposed by Mulu National Park Manager Hein Gerstner and coordinated by Tourism Services Manager Bian Rumei. It was planned shortly after Mulu successfully hosted the International Show Cave Association Conference in 2024. At that time, Dr. Dodge-Wan's outstanding presentation on tropical karst landscapes sparked the local guides' strong interest in further geological training.
Dr. Dodge-Wan mentioned that the Mulu Caves are among the world's most spectacular karst landscapes, and the guides showing these natural wonders to the world should have a deep understanding of their geological significance. This training combined scientific and practical knowledge to enhance the depth and expertise of the guides’ narration.
The workshop covered key aspects of Mulu’s geology, including the origin of giant limestone formations and unique cave structures. Through rock samples, geological maps, and cross-section diagrams, guides learned how the over 2000-metre-thick Melinau Limestone evolved into one of the world’s largest cave systems.
A highlight of the training was the discussion of rare geological phenomena in Mulu Caves, such as "photokarren" bio-erosional features that appear only at tropical cave entrances and "crayback stalagmites" influenced by biological activity.
Dr. Dodge-Wan noted that the guides were particularly interested in why and how Mulu's caves "grew" so vast, explaining that it is due to the dissolution of limestone by rainwater and surface water from adjacent Mulu sandstones over millions of years.
In addition to geological knowledge, the training also enhanced the guides’ awareness of nature conservation. Now, they can explain the fragility of the Mulu Cave ecosystem in a more scientific way to visitors and convey the importance of preserving natural heritage.
Dr. Dodge-Wan, who completed doctoral research in karst hydrogeology in southwest France, has extensive experience in cave and karst study.
She pointed out that although France also has famous caves like Dargilan and Aven Armand, they are far less significant in scale and complexity compared to Mulu Caves.
This training is part of the ongoing collaboration between Curtin University Malaysia and Mulu National Park, aiming for local communities to benefit from cutting-edge scientific knowledge while actively participating in the conservation of one of Sarawak’s most precious natural heritage sites.
