Borneo’s tropical rainforests rank among the many most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. Greater than 130 million years outdated—making them 70 million years older than the Amazon—these historical forests harbor creatures as extraordinary as they’re surprising. Right here, scientists have found a lungless frog that breathes by means of its pores and skin, a so-called “ninja slug” that fires love darts at its mate, the world’s longest insect, a deer that barks, and even tiny pygmy elephants. It’s no marvel Borneo is taken into account a wonderland of weird and astonishing wildlife.
The numbers are simply as spectacular: roughly 222 species of mammals (44 discovered nowhere else), 420 birds (37 endemic), 100 amphibians, and 394 fish (19 endemic). Between 1995 and 2010 alone, researchers recognized greater than 600 new species—a mean of three monthly—and over 50 of those had been solely new to science.
Let’s meet a few of the distinctive creatures you’ll be able to hope to satisfy on a Borneo journey:
Orangutan
Orangutan interprets to “man of the forest,” which is sensible given this primate’s uncanny human resemblance. Like us, orangutans have 4 fingers and a thumb and fingernails. These extremely smart animals with shaggy reddish fur dwell within the lowlands and are comparatively solitary. They make nests in timber of vegetation to sleep at evening and relaxation through the day, making them the heaviest tree-dwelling animal. They’ve outstanding cheek pads known as flanges and a throat sac used to make loud verbalizations.
Sadly, orangutan numbers are sharply declining attributable to habitat being misplaced at an especially excessive price from the conversion of forests to grease palm plantations and different agricultural growth. Fires additionally destroy huge areas of orangutan habitat. Regardless of authorized safety in Indonesia since 1931, orangutans are nonetheless captured and saved in households as standing symbols or hunted as meals. Females give start to only one toddler each eight or 9 years, making their populations very inclined to even low ranges of looking.
Orangutans feast on wild fruits like lychees, mangosteens and figs and play an important position within the dispersal of seeds over an enormous space. If orangutans had been to vanish, so would a number of tree species.
Proboscis Monkey
The proboscis monkey, or nasalislarvatus, is a bizarre little reddish–brown primate with an extended nostril (we’re speaking as much as 7 inches in males!). On this species, measurement actually does matter. The longer the nostril, the higher to draw a possible mate. It additionally serves to amplify the sound of warning calls. Dwelling on a weight loss program of primarily mangrove shoots and bugs to keep up its distinctive pot stomach, the proboscis monkey is a strictly protected animal, with specialists suggesting that there are solely round 1,000 remaining within the wild.
Solar Bear
A far cry from the lifetime of a polar bear, solar bears (often known as honey bears) dwell within the dense lowland forests of Southeast Asia. A nocturnal and shy species, they’re uncommon to see within the wild. The solar bear is arboreal, so that you’ll have to hold your eyes on the timber if you wish to see one. You may inform the solar bear from different species from the distinctive horseshoe marks on their chest—no two markings are ever the identical! Their tongues are as much as 10 inches lengthy and assist them to satiate their voracious urge for food for honey.
Solar bears are important members of their ecosystem as a result of they assist disperse seeds whereas additionally preserving pesky termites in verify. Sadly, their world inhabitants has declined 30% over the previous few years, making them the second-rarest bear species subsequent to the Big Panda. On our Nat Hab Wilds of Borneo tour, we’ve the prospect to get pleasure from a personal go to to the Bornean Solar Bear Conservation Middle. Based in 2008, the middle supplies care, rehabilitation and launch of orphaned and captive solar bears and will increase consciousness in regards to the plight of this little-known bear.
© Frendi Apen Irawan
Sunda Pangolin
The critically endangered Sunda pangolin has been known as an “artichoke with legs.” These prehistoric animals have existed for 80 million years. This funky little critter is the one mammal coated in protecting keratin scales and has a freaky tongue that stretches out longer than its physique. Missing enamel, this lengthy, sticky tongue serves to gather ants and termites. Although we all know they feast on a weight loss program of ants and bugs, there’s nonetheless little recognized about these elusive, nocturnal animals with prehensile tails. We do know that when threatened, they defend their gentle underparts by crunching right into a roly-poly ball.
Sambar Deer
The nocturnal sambar deer is likely one of the largest species of deer on the planet. Grownup males can attain a size of greater than 7 toes and weigh greater than 440 kilos (one on file even got here in at over a thousand kilos!). They’re at house within the Bornean rainforests and are a few of the best animals to identify at nightfall. They’re timid, however when disturbed, their first intuition is to freeze earlier than responding to predators with loud barks known as ‘pooking’ or ‘belling.’ In addition they dramatically stomp their toes, and their mane will rise in a confrontational method. They’ve been listed as a susceptible species on the IUCN Crimson Record since 2008.
Microhyla Nepenthicola
It’s most likely best to name it by its different identify, the “Matang narrow-mouthed frog.” This newly found species is across the measurement of a pea, making it the second smallest frog on the planet, and it likes to dwell round pitcher crops in Kubah Nationwide Park. They had been found after scientists tracked the distinctive and highly effective croaks of the males. Whereas they’re bodily tiny, their voice is large and travels far distances.
© Bernard Dupont
Horsfield’s Tarsier
These fantastic weirdos with wonderful leaping and climbing expertise look fairly much like Yoda. They’re nocturnal, and their huge yellow eyes assist them maneuver by means of the darkish. The dimensions of considered one of their eyeballs is similar measurement as their mind, making them the largest-eyed mammal on the planet relative to their physique measurement. The forward-facing slope of their eyes permits tarsiers to precisely assess distances for protected leaping—useful, contemplating they will leap as much as 18 toes. Tarsiers are additionally able to turning their heads almost 180° in every path, which means that they will rotate their heads virtually 360°.
Whereas they could come throughout as cute, tarsiers are the one residing carnivorous primate species, they usually use their dexterous arms to aggressively ensnare their prey. Their medley of insect snacks consists of beetles, cockroaches, locusts, moths, grasshoppers, butterflies, ants and cicadas. For a feast, they’ll go after birds, bats, frogs and snakes—together with toxic species.
Mouse Deer
Whereas not technically a deer or a mouse (it’s really labeled as a tragulidae), this nocturnal and solitary critter reaches a not-so-towering top of barely 12 inches, making it the smallest hooved animal on the planet. Overachievers, these females can conceive simply two hours after start, and new child fauns can stand after half-hour. They’re discovered on forest flooring feeding on leaves, shoots, fruits and generally even fungi.
With spherical our bodies and spindly legs, they appear virtually like a stuffed animal—however inside that cute little mouth are some mighty fangs. A male will angrily beat his hooves when agitated or to keep off predators and warn different mouse deer of hazard. Though they’re land mammals, they will maintain their breath for as much as 4 minutes and infrequently leap into the water to flee predators.
Borneo Pygmy Elephant
The smallest elephant on the planet is among the many cutest animals in Borneo, with its outsized Dumbo ears and lengthy tail. Though it grows to about 9 toes tall, the Bornean pygmy elephant continues to be the biggest mammal on the island. Due to deforestation and looking, estimates counsel only one,500 to three,000 stay within the wild, placing the pleasant and lovely elephants in dire want of safety.
As soon as believed to be remnants of a domesticated herd given to the Sultan of Sulu within the seventeenth century, Bornean elephants had been decided by WWF to be genetically completely different from different Asian elephants. DNA proof proved that these elephants had been remoted about 300,000 years in the past from their cousins in mainland Asia and Sumatra.
© Spencer Wright
Clouded Leopard
Preferring to dwell within the treetops, this elusive leopard possesses an unimaginable means to climb and hunts smaller mammals, together with deer, pigs and even monkeys. Given their nocturnal and stealthy nature, seeing a clouded leopard within the wild is extraordinarily uncommon. It’s been known as essentially the most stunning wild cat on Earth and is Borneo’s solely massive cat. Presently listed as Susceptible on the IUCN Crimson Record of Threatened Species, the most effective probability of recognizing the clouded leopard is in Deramakot Forest Reserve.
© Brad Josephs
Hornbill
Hornbills are recognized for his or her uncommon double-storied invoice, but additionally noteworthy is that they’ve their very own ‘language.’ They appear to talk to one another in a kind of Morse code whose noise resembles that of a steam engine. This type of communication is how a male hornbill sends messages to his mate by means of the barricade she makes throughout her nesting interval. The pair builds a nest in a tree hole, and as soon as the eggs are laid, the male seals the feminine within the hole, utilizing mud and feces to assemble a wall. Solely a small gap is left in order that the male can cross the meals to the feminine and to the chicks as soon as they’re hatched.
Hornbills are extremely loyal to their households, mate for all times and can band collectively to defend one another towards predators. Hornbills have an essential place in native tradition, signifying nothing lower than the Spirit of God. It’s stated that if a hornbill is noticed flying over your property, good luck will likely be granted to the entire group.
Saltwater Crocodile
Crocs are straightforward to see sunbathing on the banks of Kinabatangan River. Although these are the saltwater crocs—essentially the most harmful crocodiles on Earth—locals appear to have a peaceable relationship with these animals, that are a lot smaller than their Australian cousins.
Sumatran Rhino
Sadly, the Sumatran rhino is on the verge of extinction. It’s unclear precisely what number of stay, however estimates counsel fewer than 100 dwell in northern Sumatra and Borneo. The Sumatran rhino holds the title of the smallest rhino on the planet. Their our bodies are coated in lengthy hair, they’re the one two-horned rhinos in Asia, they usually have a fame for being so elusive that even rangers hardly ever see one. So whereas it will be fantastic to identify one on a Borneo journey, realistically, you simply should be completely satisfied understanding that they nonetheless exist.
Bornean Sluggish Loris
The Bornean sluggish loris (Nycticebus borneanus) is a primate that extra intently resembles a tiny, wide-eyed lemur. Regardless of its lovely look, it holds a uncommon distinction: it’s one of many few venomous mammals on Earth. This nocturnal creature makes use of its toxin—secreted from glands close to its elbows and activated by licking—to discourage predators. Sadly, its cuteness has made it a goal within the unlawful pet commerce. Earlier than being offered, people typically endure brutal remedy, together with having their sharp enamel clipped with nail cutters—usually with out anesthesia—to render them much less harmful. This merciless follow, coupled with habitat loss, makes the pet commerce one of many best threats to the species’ survival. The Bornean sluggish loris is at present listed as Susceptible on the IUCN Crimson Record. Central Borneo is house to the biggest populations, and remarkably, new species of sluggish loris are nonetheless being recognized right this moment.
Ninja Slug
This inexperienced and yellow slug (Ibycus rachelae) was not too long ago found on leaves at altitudes as much as 6,200 toes. The slug boasts a tail that’s thrice the size of its head, which it likes to wrap round its 1.6-inch-long physique as if it had been performing like a cat. In reality, its discoverers initially needed to call the slug Ibycus felis, after this feline inspiration.
The slug species shortly made a reputation for itself due to its so-called love darts. Manufactured from calcium carbonate, the love dart is a harpoon-like construction that pierces and injects a hormone into its potential mate, rising the slug’s possibilities of copy.
© Brad Josephs
Crimson Big Flying Squirrel
Crimson big flying squirrels are a few of the most considerable animals in Borneo, and when you spend any time within the jungle at evening, you might be just about assured to see them. Borneo has quite a lot of flying squirrels, however the purple big flying squirrel is by far the biggest of all of them. However know that they don’t really fly—they merely glide over massive distances with the assistance of a flying membrane flap of pores and skin that extends from their entrance toes to the again toes.
Chan’s Megastick
This huge twiglet, Phobaeticus chani, is believed to inhabit the excessive rainforest cover, making it particularly elusive and troublesome to check. Although it’s an insect that’s virtually 2 toes lengthy, little or no is understood about its biology and ecology. Along with being the world’s longest insect, the species additionally wins the insect world file for the longest physique, measuring a formidable 14 inches. Solely three specimens of this extraordinary creature have ever been discovered, all of them from the center of Borneo.
Bornean Flat-Headed Frog
It might be small—lower than 3 inches lengthy—however the Bornean flat-headed frog holds a outstanding distinction: it’s the world’s first recognized lungless frog. Although initially found in 1978, scientists solely uncovered its astonishing adaptation in 2008. Slightly than counting on lungs, this frog breathes solely by means of its pores and skin—a uncommon trait amongst amphibians. With inner organs occupying the area the place lungs would usually be, its physique takes on a noticeably flattened type. This glossy form isn’t simply odd—it’s practical, serving to the frog glide effortlessly by means of the swift, rocky streams of its rainforest house. Sadly, this extraordinary amphibian is endangered, its future unsure as its habitat continues to shrink.
Prepared for an journey to hunt out Borneo’s uncommon and noteworthy wildlife? Expedition Chief and professional photographer Courtroom Whelan shares his recommendation for revealing the mystique of Borneo within the Day by day Dose of Nature beneath, together with how one can {photograph} animals in timber, suggestions for perfecting your wildlife portraiture, and how one can use publicity and shade steadiness to convey temper.
