KELAWAR CAVE GEOSITE

This geosite is located within the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park in the east of Langkawi. This cave is located in an isolated limestone hill in the mangroves. The small cave is an important location at Kilim Karst Geotrail, as it is easy to access, it is the most visited recreational cave in Langkawi.

There is a layer of ancient oyster shells inside the cave at a height of 2 metres above sea level. This laver represents the ancient sea level about 5,000 years ago. The cave is formed from wave erosion process, forming tunnels that are now, easily accessible to every visitor.

Dark and cool caves provide a suitable habitat for three species of insectivorous bats that play important roles as predators of insects. The vertical cliffs outside this cave are also where the Cycad tree (Cycas clivicola) grows, the only native species in this genus in Langkawi, out of a total of four species in Malaysia. Cvcadophyta family first appeared since the Permian Period (270 million years ago) and became the staple food for herbivorous dinosaurs. Since becoming a geopark, geotourism activities to the Bat Cave are operated by the Kampung Kilim Community Cooperative.