Exploring The Wildlife Native To The Heart Of Brunei

Brunei is a small country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is home to a rich diversity of wildlife, including birds, monkeys, rare creatures, and mammals that swim and fly. The rainforests and coasts of Brunei are home to a wide variety of animals, some of which are unique to the region. The national animal of Brunei is the white-bellied sea eagle, or fishing eagle, which is an adept hunter of fish. Other notable animals native to Brunei include the proboscis monkey, the Sunda clouded leopard, the Bornean horned frog, the saltwater crocodile, the dugong, and various species of hornbills.

Flying lizards

The flying lizard is a master of camouflage, with brown and green hues that blend seamlessly into its forest habitat. Its large eyes provide excellent vision, allowing it to spot prey and potential threats from afar. When threatened, the flying lizard can quickly escape by leaping from trees and gliding using the flaps of skin on its body, which act as wings.

The diet of the flying lizard consists mainly of insects, such as ants, termites, and beetles. They are also known to feed on small lizards and frogs. These lizards are diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon.

The breeding season for flying lizards typically occurs during the dry season, when the weather is cooler and there is less rainfall. Male flying lizards engage in elaborate courtship displays to attract females, including push-ups, head-bobs, and wing displays. After mating, the female will lay a single egg, which she will glue to a leaf using a sticky substance produced by her body.

Dugongs

In Malaysia, dugongs are traditionally eaten as a delicacy in feasts and weddings, and their products are believed to treat various ailments. They are protected from trade and hunting under various laws, including the Fisheries Act of 1985 and the Wildlife Conservation Enactment of 1997. A proposal for a Dugong Sanctuary in Johor, encompassing approximately 150,000 hectares, is pending a decision by the Malaysian government. This would be the first of its kind in Malaysia.

In Brunei, dugongs can be found in the coastal waters, particularly in the Brunei Bay area. They are one of the most unique mammals in the world and can be observed by snorkelling or scuba diving in the oceanic reefs.

Hornbills

The island of Borneo, where Brunei is located, is home to eight species of hornbills:

• Asian Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus)
• Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)
• Bushy-crested Hornbill (Anorrhinus galeritus)
• White-crested Hornbill/White-crowned Hornbill (Berenicornis comatus)
• Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros)
• Wrinkled Hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus corrugatus)
• Helmeted Hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil)
• Wreathed Hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus)

The first two species are considered a single folk species by the Iban ethnotaxonomy, which recognises seven folk species of hornbills. The Iban people of Brunei possess a wealth of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) about hornbills, including their diet, reproductive behaviour, and conservation status.

The Rhinoceros Hornbill is an endangered species that inhabits the Ulu Temburong National Park, Peradayan Recreational Forest, and certain areas of Kuala Balai. It holds cultural significance in Sarawakian native cultures and is associated with the god of war in Iban legends and folklore.

Saltwater crocodiles

Locally known as 'buaya katak', the saltwater crocodile is one of two types of crocodiles found in Brunei. The other type is the Tomistoma Schegelii, or Buaya Penjulung, which has a narrower snout compared to the Buaya Katak's more rounded snout.

Proboscis monkeys

The proboscis monkey is native to the island of Borneo and can be found in all three nations that divide the island: Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. It is one of the most endangered creatures in the world and is a traveller favourite. The proboscis monkey is a large species, being one of the largest monkey species native to Asia. It is an arboreal Old World monkey with an unusually large nose, reddish-brown skin and a long tail. The fur on its back is bright orange, reddish-brown, yellowish-brown or brick-red, and its underfur is light grey, yellowish or greyish to light orange.

The proboscis monkey is endemic to the southeast Asian island of Borneo and is found mostly in mangrove forests and on the coastal areas of the island. It is most common in coastal areas and along rivers, and it is perhaps the most aquatic of the primates, being a fairly good swimmer. It is known to swim across rivers and is largely arboreal, moving quadrupedally and by leaps. It is known to jump off branches and descend into water.

The proboscis monkey is a seasonal folivore and frugivore, eating primarily fruit and leaves. It also eats flowers, seeds and insects to a lesser extent. It is a good swimmer and is known to swim up to 20 metres underwater. It is also a social creature, living in groups composed of one adult male, some adult females and their offspring. All-male groups may also exist. Monkey groups live in overlapping home ranges, with little territoriality, in a fission-fusion society, with groups gathering at sleeping sites as night falls.

The proboscis monkey is named for its large, comical nose. It is sought after by sightseers due to its strange appearance. The monkeys' distinct features make them easy to spot, even to the untrained eye. They typically congregate in groups along the mid-tree to canopy level.

The best way to distinguish a male proboscis monkey from a female is by the nose size. A male monkey's nose is more pronounced and droopier than a female's. Nose size plays a part in the proboscis monkeys' social hierarchy and is a criterion that females use during mate selection. The nose can display health and virility, and the alpha male often has the largest nose of all the males.

Frequently asked questions