Senior Lecturer
BSc (UMalaya), PhD (Kent)

My general field of interest is studying birds, focusing on species diversity and habitat use. In 1997 and 1998, I studied the breeding biology and ecology of the White-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) in middle Baram, Sarawak. In the year 2000, I carried out another comprehensive study of the other important species of edible nest swiftlet, i.e. the Black-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus maximus) at Bukit Sarang, Sarawak. Using the new information and data gathered from these two studies, two different sustainable harvesting plans were formulated and recommended to the Sarawak Forest Department. Most important of all, these plans were adopted voluntarily by the local communities who are granted the privileges to collect edible birds’ nest from natural caves, and as a result the swiftlets populations have increased tremendously over the years.

From that point onwards, I was absorbed with the conviction of sustainable use as a mean to achieve the ultimate aim of species conservation. Between 2001 to 2003, I was a consultant with the DANIDA/SWMPI project, serving as community adviser, encouraging the local people to practice sustainable harvest of the Black-nest Swiftlet, and overseeing the implementation of the management plan at Niah National Park.

Before joining the Department of Zoology, I was the Senior Manager of Planning in Sarawak Forestry Corporation’s Protected Areas and Biodiversity Conservation Unit from February 2004 until June 2008. Under this capacity, I administered the preparation and subsequent implementation of infrastructure development in Sarawak national parks under the 9^th Malaysian Plan. This was a major shift from my passion and interest, and hence I made the decision in 2008 to come back to academia after a lapse of 10 years.

My current research interest is focused on three main areas, namely (1) social vocalization of the swiftlets, (2) roosting and nesting behavior of swiftlets as colonial species, and (3) baseline study of the swallow populations in Sarawak (Barn Swallow and Pacific Swallow) in relation to the expansion of swiftlet framing industry to investigate the long-term impact of the significant increased in the number of swiftlets.

Selected Publications

Lim, C. K. (2007) Edible Bird's Nest: Swiftlet Farming in Specially-designed Buildings. The Ingenieur, pp. 19 - 22.

Lim, C. K. (2007) Edible Bird's Nest: A Valuable and Renewable Resource in Grand Perfect Conservation Areas. The Regional Conference of Biodiversity Conservation in Tropical Planted Forests in Southeast Asia (eds R. Stuebing, J. Unggang, J. Ferner, J. Ferner, B. Giman & K. K. Ping), pp. 50 - 57. Forest Department, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Grand Perfect Sdn. Bhd., Bintulu.

Lim, C. K. (2006) An overview of sustainable swiftlet farming in South-east Asia. The First South East Asia Swiftlet Farming Conference: Challenges to Sustainable Swiftlet Farming. MCA Traditional Agriculture & Agro Based Industry Bureau, Penang.

Lim, C. K. & Cranbrook, Earl of (2002) Swiftlets of Borneo: Builders of Edible Nests. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.

Lim, C. K. (2001) The Elixir of Caves: Birds’ Nest Soup. Sarawak Gazette, CXXVIII, 38 – 43.

Lim, C. K. (2000) Humans and Swiftlets — Centuries of Affiliation. Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial Borneo Research Conference: Borneo 200 environment, conservation and land. July 10-14, 2000. Kuching, Sarawak, 41 – 54.

Lim, C. K. (2000) Cave Manager cum Trader Trader Concept — A proposed co-management plan for communal edible bird’s nest caves. Hornbill, 4, 90 – 101.

Lim, C. K. (1999) Swiftlets. Biodiversity and Cultural Property in the Management of Limestone Resources: Lessons from East Asia (eds J. Vermeulen & T. Whitten), pp. 59 –60. The World Bank, Washington D. C.

Lim, C. K. (1999) Sustainable Management and Conservation of the White-nest Swiftlets of Sarawak. Hornbill, 3, 74 – 85.

Cranbrook, Earl of & Lim, C. K. (1999) Cave Swiftlets. The Birds of Borneo (ed B. E. Smythies, revised by G. W. H. Davison). Natural History Publication, Kota Kinabalu.