11 Awesome Native Animals You Can See in Borneo!

Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei share the island of Borneo, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. Inside the dense and often unexplored rain forests live elephants, deer, tigers, primates and several other types of plants, insects, and birds. Discover our favorite animals in Borneo and where to see them below.

Probosci's Monkeys

The probosci's monkey, or Nasalis larvatus, is probably the most unusual animal in Borneo. The reddish-brown primate has a long nose, which can reach up to 18 centimeters (7 inches) in males. The purpose of the elongated nose helps to attract mates and to amplify the sound of warning calls. Grey limbs and a distinctive pot belly are other defining characteristics. Living on a diet of mainly mangrove shoots and insects, the proboscis monkey, named after its nose, are strictly protected animals with estimates suggesting only 1,000 remain in the wild. Small populations live in Kota Belud and Beaufort near Kota Kinabalu and along the Kinabatangan River in Eastern Sabah.

Orangutans

Orangutan translates to ‘man of the forest’, referring to the resemblance of this primate to humans. The intelligent animals only live in Borneo and Indonesia’s Sumatera and are relatively solitary compared to other species. Sadly, with deforestation, logging, and hunting, orangutan numbers are sharply declining.

Sun Bears

When people hear the term bear, they automatically think of polar and grizzlies. But Borneo has their own species called a sun bear. The bears, also called Malayan sun bears, live in the dense lowland forests of Southeast Asia. With their relatively small size, they often resemble a small dog; a nocturnal and shy species, they are rare to see in the wild. A trip to Sabah’s Danum Valley Conservation Area will likely reveal a glimpse of these animals in Borneo living in their natural habitat.

Pangolins

The critically endangered Sunda Pangolin resembles ‘an artichoke with legs’. The critter is the world’s only mammal covered in scales and has a tongue stretching longer than its body. Feasting on a diet of ants and insects, nobody knows much about these difficult-to-find nocturnal animals in Borneo. Those staying in Kota Kinabalu’s Rasa Ria can join a pangolin night trek through the rain forest in search of the elusive animal. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei share the island of Borneo, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. Inside the dense and often unexplored rain forests live elephants, deer, tigers, primates and several other types of plants, insects, and birds. Discover our favorite animals in Borneo and where to see them below.

Probosci's Monkeys

The probosci's monkey, or Nasalis larvatus, is probably the most unusual animal in Borneo. The reddish-brown primate has a long nose, which can reach up to 18 centimeters (7 inches) in males. The purpose of the elongated nose helps to attract mates and to amplify the sound of warning calls. Grey limbs and a distinctive pot belly are other defining characteristics. Living on a diet of mainly mangrove shoots and insects, the proboscis monkey, named after its nose, are strictly protected animals with estimates suggesting only 1,000 remain in the wild. Small populations live in Kota Belud and Beaufort near Kota Kinabalu and along the Kinabatangan River in Eastern Sabah.

Orangutans

Orangutan translates to ‘man of the forest’, referring to the resemblance of this primate to humans. The intelligent animals only live in Borneo and Indonesia’s Sumatera and are relatively solitary compared to other species. Sadly, with deforestation, logging, and hunting, orangutan numbers are sharply declining.

Sun Bears

When people hear the term bear, they automatically think of polar and grizzlies. But Borneo has their own species called a sun bear. The bears, also called Malayan sun bears, live in the dense lowland forests of Southeast Asia. With their relatively small size, they often resemble a small dog; a nocturnal and shy species, they are rare to see in the wild. A trip to Sabah’s Danum Valley Conservation Area will likely reveal a glimpse of these animals in Borneo living in their natural habitat.

Pangolins

The critically endangered Sunda Pangolin resembles ‘an artichoke with legs’. The critter is the world’s only mammal covered in scales and has a tongue stretching longer than its body. Feasting on a diet of ants and insects, nobody knows much about these difficult-to-find nocturnal animals in Borneo. Those staying in Kota Kinabalu’s Rasa Ria can join a pangolin night trek through the rain forest in search of the elusive animal.

Clouded Leopards

Clouded leopards are among some of the more elusive animals in Borneo. Preferring to live in the treetops throughout the rain forests in Asia, the leopard possesses an incredible and agile ability to climb. The nocturnal creatures hunt smaller mammals including deer, pigs, and even monkeys. Given their nature, seeing a clouded leopard in the wild is rare.

Hornbills

The elegant and gracious hornbills, known for their unusual ‘double-storied bill’ and looking like cartoon characters, live throughout the tropics in Asia and Africa. But Borneo’s Sarawak holds a special place for twitters wanting to catch a glimpse of the giant birds. Housing eight out of the world’s 54 species, Sarawak deserves the state nickname as ‘The Land of the Hornbills’. The most common is the black-bodied and white-tailed Rhinoceros hornbill with a white and orange beak which features on the state’s emblem.

Sumatran Rhinos

Sadly, the Sumatran Rhino is on the verge of extinction. With the title as the world’s smallest and having a body covered in long hair, Asia’s only two-horned rhino has a reputation for being so elusive that even rangers spending all their lives in the forest rarely see one. It’s unknown how many remain, but estimates suggest less than 100 live in northern Sumatra and the heart of Borneo.

Bornean Slow Loris

The Bornean slow loris, or Nycticebus borneanus by its scientific name, is classified as a primate but looks more like a tiny lemur. Living a nocturnal existence, this animal in Borneo can be quite challenging to spot in its natural habitat. Relatively large populations live in central Borneo, and new species of slow loris are still being discovered today.