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Jungles Of Sarawak

Jungles Of Sarawak

By James Smith

One of the two Malaysian states on the lush green island of Borneo, Sarawak is home to some of the best rainforests in Southeast Asia.

If you want to see one of the area's most famous residents, the famously large nosed Proboscis Monkey, head to Bako National Park.  Beautifully dense rainforests are the main feature of Bako, and these are home to a assortment of flora and fauna such Macaques and the indigenous Bearded Boar.  The common Monitor Lizard can grow to two metres in length so you shouldn't have any trouble spotting them.  Flying Lizards take to the air from the canopy over head, so make sure to look up as well as down. 
 
Most kinds of vegetation in Sarawak can be found in the park due it's variety of environments, and some of the carnivorous plants are highly distinctive and colourful.  The wildlife is generally most active just before dusk, so be sure to experience Bako at that time to take in the widest range of animal life.
 
Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is an Orang-utan rehabilitation centre, one of just four in the world.  The park is open to the public in order to educate the public about the dangers of deforestation and live animal trade which have had a huge impact on the primate population.  Less than 30,000 specimens are thought to remain in the wild today, with over two thirds living in Borneo.  They are solitary creatures, so it would be a rarity to see a group or even a pair.  Semenggoh's aims include rehabilitating animals that have been orphaned or injured as well as conducting research and captive breeding programmes.  These have been largely successful, and many of the graceful creatures which populate the trees owe their existence to the centre.  Semenggoh offers a once in a lifetime experience to see semi-wild Orang-utans, from tiny infants to noble adults.
 
The Matang Wildlife Centre is home to a range of endangered animals which are kept in large rainforest enclosures.  Among them are Civet Cats, Sun Bears and Samba Deer.  There are also three large aviaries housing Hornbills and Eagles, but this park feels a little more like a safari park than Semenggoh.  It is still worth seeing despite this, and it also has an Orang-utan centre where the animals are taught to adapt to the wild after being in captivity.
 
The jungle of Sarawak is home to thousands of species of flora and fauna and places of great natural beauty.  If you like to see landscape which has been unchanged for hundreds of years and want to test your trekking skills, try the jungles of Borneo.
 
 

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