Borneo’s Rainforest Wildlife And Surroundings

 

 Borneo’s Rainforest Wildlife And Surroundings

 

  

The Danum Valley Conservation Area, a dense lowland rainforest in Sabah, Borneo, is home to thousands of animal species, from monkeys and apes to elephants and amphibians. The 20 miles of nature trails that cut through the park are perfect for spotting wildlife. 

The island of Borneo is estimated to have around 220 species of mammals, 13 of which are primates. On the left, one long-tailed macaque grooms another, removing parasites, and on the right, an orang-utan swings from the forest trees.

The proboscis monkey, a highly endangered species, is very social, often living in groups from 10 to 32. Here, a mother proboscis monkey climbs treetops with her youngster.

Borneo is home to rare amphibians, such as the Bufar asper, more commonly known as a river toad. These river toads, native to Southeast Asia, can grow to more than 12cm in length.

Batang Ai in western Sarawak has many authentic longhouses that have resisted modernization. This region is about 250km southeast of Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, and many of the settlements are accessible only by boat. You need a guide to visit, but if you are genuinely interested in encountering indigenous culture, the money and effort to get here will be richly rewarded.

A lovely hanging valley in eastern Sarawak, the Kelabit Highlands are tucked up against the Indonesian state of Kalimantan and ringed by jungle-covered mountains on all sides. This is home to the Kelabit tribe who number only about 6,500 worldwide, and who are pictured here with traditional elongated earlobes. The Kelabit Highlands is also one of the best places in Borneo for trekking from longhouse (houses for communal living in each village) to longhouse on mountain trails. 

Penambawan is a traditional stilt village of the seafaring Bajau, on the northwest coast of Sabah. Here you will find a friendly, traditional community and houses built in the old traditional thatch style pictured here. The only way to get here is by motorboat, hence its isolation and authenticity.