Wildlife in Borneo

Borneo is a land of many layers. Politically, it is divided into three countries: Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Geographically, it is the world’s third largest island, its highest peak Mount Kinabalu is a four-thousander, and it has one of the oldest rainforests in the world. Which is where the ecological layers release that spiritual nourishment so beautifully described by Sir David Attenborough.

The word ‘orangutan’ translates form the Malay language as ‘person of the forest’, an apt name for the species that shares over 96 percent of human DNA. Borneo is one of only two natural habitats for the orangutan, the other being Sumatra, although they do vary slightly as a species. According to WWF there are 104,700 Borneo orangutan left, and wildlife lovers come in pilgrimage to seek them out.

There are a growing number of wildlife sanctuaries in Indonesian Borneo too, such as Ketapang in the West Kalimantan region, run by International Animal Rescue. Or Samboja Lestari, which is in an area of restored tropical rainforest near the city of Balikipapan in East Kalimantan. The latter was founded by Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS), and sun bears are also given a safe haven here. Many of these sanctuaries are popular for conservation volunteering vacations, volunteering being the second way to get to see orangutans in Borneo. Although, be warned, no physical contact is allowed on these trips either due to the risk of disease (a common cold can kill and orangutan), but you will be doing invaluable work to support the orangutans.

These are the smallest elephants in Asia, and guaranteed to get a big ‘awwwww’ from anyone lucky enough to see one in the wild. Their small size with everything looking a little out of proportion, such as the big ears and long tail that can sometimes even drag on the ground, is thought to be simply because of their isolation as a species. Some of the more accessible areas to see them include the Danum Valley in the Sabah region which boasts walking trails and an elevated walkway through its mass of virgin rainforest. A boat safari down Sabah’s Kinabtangan River may also bring you into contact with them as they drink or bathe. Kinabatangan is also a great place to volunteer on conservation projects to help protect these great creatures.

They can be found all over Borneo, although their preferred habitats are along the coastal swamp areas or riverbanks as they are fond of a bit of swimming. Also great jumpers, of course, and one of the greatest sights is seeing them jumping from tree to tree, with a final double somersault pike into the likes of the Kinabtangan River or along the beaches of Bako National Park in the Sarawak region. Danum Valley is another favourite place for serious monkey business, other primates in Borneo’s habitats including gibbons, langurs, macaques, the tarsier and the slow loris, which is nocturnal.

One of the most elusive creatures in the lowland forests is the endangered Sunda clouded leopard, so-called because the irregular dark ovals on its coat resemble clouds. As they inhabit the wild mountainous interior, it is hard to know exact numbers, but wildlife experts say there are anywhere between 5,000 to 11,000 clouded leopard on Borneo, with sightings in Tabin Wildlife Reserve in the Sabah region as well as Danum Valley and along the Kinabatangan River. But they are rare.

Another elusive beauty in Borneo is the sun bear. Their rarity is mostly due to poaching for use as pets. They are the smallest bear in the world, and what they lack in height they certainly make up for in beauty, being almost jet black, with an elegant necklace-like patch on their breast. And although they are rarely spotted in the wild, they can be seen at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, a sanctuary for rescuing these precious creatures which is conveniently close to Sepilok.