When folks talk
about wishing to see animals in the wild, they tend to refer to going on animal
safaris in the various wildlife parks of Africa. Most people are however;
unaware that Malaysia with its various diverse habitats can offer an equally
interesting wildlife-spotting experience.
Malaysia hosts
many national parks and nature reserves like Taman Negara, the Endau-Rompin
national park, the Mount Kinabalu National Park, the Krau Wildlife Reserve, all
expansive green lungs, which welcome visitors and offer opportunities for
viewing Malaysia’s many exotic native creatures, many of which are not found
elsewhere in the world.
It is estimated
that Malaysia’s fauna repository currently consists of 210 species of mammals,
more than 600 species of birds and over 200 species of reptiles. Malayan
tigers, Malayan tapirs, Malayan sun bears, tapirs,
orangutans, proboscis monkeys, Bornean pygmy elephants, Sumatran rhinoceros,
bearded pigs are just a few of the exotic creatures known to reside in the
forests of Malaysia.
A guide to
viewings of Malaysian Fauna
The Malayan Tapir
This
pig-like mammal is a protected species
in Malaysia. Once found in abundance on the Malaysian peninsula and the island
of Sumatra, its population has dwindled due to hunting and deforestation. Tapirs can be viewed in nature reserves like the Jerangu Forest
Reserve (Terengganu) and the Krau Wildlife Reserve in Pahang
The Malayan Tiger
The
Malayan tiger is venerated as a symbol of valor and strength, however like its
siblings in other parts of Asia, it too faces the threat of extinction. Malaysia’s famed national parks like the Taman
Negara, the Krau Wildlife Reserve, the Endau Rompin National Park and the Royal
Belum State Park offer rare and occasional sightings of this magnificent beast.
The
Proboscis Monkey
The
comical Proboscis monkey is endemic to Borneo. While the females of the
species, are relatively normal-looking, the males evoke much laughter with
their rather funny appearance, for they sport big, dangling noses in addition
to potbellies and flattop thatches of hair. The privately owned Labuk Bay
Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, near Kota Kinabalu is the best spot for a sighting
of this strange creature.
The Orangutan
Orangutans are adored the world over. This fuzzy, red-haired
primate can be sighted at Malaysian conservation centers like the Sepilok Orang
Utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah and Pulau Orang Utan near the Bukit Merah
resort in Perak or then in the wild at the Kinabatangan Wildlife
Sanctuary or the Danum Valley Conservation Area.
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