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#3 Borneo continues Bako National Park Monkeys

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Contributed by: Penny Sheltz on 6/6/2008

While in Kuching, on our free day, we joined an optional tour to Bako National Park.
We had to take a boat up the river to go to the National Park.
Bako National Park is Sarawak's oldest and smallest national park. Bako contains a good variety of plant species. An interesting eco-system via the jungle trails even strange plant life like the carnivorous pitcher plant.

Bako is one of the best place in Sarawak for wildlife experience. The park has been a protected area since 1957, so the animals are less wary of humans. We listened for sounds and movements in the forest and could hear a strange grunting sound or the crash of leaves and soon spotted Probiscus Monkeys.

Bako is home to approximately 150 rare proboscis monkeys, found only in Borneo. The male is an odd looking creature with a huge pendulous nose and a large pot belly weighting around 40lbs. Both male female are covered in reddish-brown fur with grey limbs and a white tail. They are mostly arboreal (tree-dwelling), moving about the forest or mangroves in small groups and feeding on young leaves, shoots, sour fruits and seeds.

On the next posting we will show you other monkeys
There were also Long-tailed macaques, silver leaf monkeys, monitor lizards and bearded pigs. The macaques are the most fearless monkeys on earth. They will raid houses to steal food or an unguarded bag. In contrast to the unruly macaques, the silvered leaf monkey or silvered langur is a docile and attractive creature. Adults have silver grey fur.

The largest mammal found at Bako is the Bornean Bearded Pig (wild Boar). As its name implies it is distinguished from other wild pigs by prominent bristles either side of its snout. Bearded pigs are often found scavening for food or wallowing in mud.

Bako's extensive trail system is made up of 16 jungle trails and we struggled hiking through the National Park as it was one of the most strenuous hikes we have done as we tried to conquer the rough trails, climbing huge boulders up rocky hills through many narrow passages.

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