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Pictures of animals in Sabah, Borneo, part of Malaysia

There is a wealth of wildlife along the Kinabatangan River. Large areas of forest have been designated as nature reserves to protect habitats from the encroachment of agriculture and logging.  We travelled up the river in a small boat with an outboard motor.

We were lucky to catch a glimpse of this rare Borneo Pygmy Elephant browsing on the banks of the river. Although there are called pygmy elephants they are only slightly smaller than the Asian elephants we met throughout India.

 

It was wonderful to watch Hornbills flying over the river. These birds mate for life so they are usually seen in pairs near the tops of the trees. Occasionally a flash of bright colour would appear near the banks as kingfishers darted past. The one above is a Heron Billed Kingfisher.

The Orang Utans in Sabah are a different species to the Sumatran Orang Utans we saw in Indonesia.

 

These fascinating animals are always a delight to watch. This female swung through the trees with her infant whilst clutching a bunch of wild bananas with her feet.

 

Whilst Orang Utans are shy, elusive and endangered the Macaque Monkeys are bold, successful and ubiquitous. They are frequently  seen around human habitation thriving from the food they collect there. Whilst coming close into the bank of the river to see a monitor lizard we looked up and found we had moored under a huge banded mangrove snake coiled in a tree only a couple of metres from our heads. 

It’s difficult to watch Proboscis Monkeys without smiling. The stare very rudely when you drift past. Seeing them in a group they look just like people sitting gossiping.

 

The male Proboscis Monkeys have big bulbous noses.

 

These charming Silver Leaf Eating Monkeys were inquisitive, yet shy. They would stare from tree tops but move away quickly if approached.

Inquisitive Otter which darted quickly away

On our last day on the Kinabatanga River this Estuarine Crocodile was basking near the jetty.