Forest spirits: Strange tales from the jungle

A bobohizan or traditional Kadazandusun priestess using a bouquet of seven specially selected plants to bless delegates at an event in Sandakan, Sabah. Filepic

Nobody can “scientifically” prove (or disprove) if mountain spirits really caused the earthquake at Mount Kinabalu after being angered by rude nudists who urinated in sacred areas there, just as nobody can “scientifically” prove what is the “true path” to God.

But those who often go jungle trekking in Malaysia have encountered situations right out of The Twilight Zone before, resulting in strong beliefs about spirits in our forests and mountains. Is there “something” in the forests?