Named Borneo by the Dutch during colonial times, the area comes straight out of a Joseph Conrad novel with its dense rainforests and the longhouse-dwelling Dayak natives. Chunks of the island are owned by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei—the area represents almost 85,000 square miles. Although the timber and oil industry hasn’t been good for the forest, the heart of Borneo is still home to the some of the world’s most diverse wildlife.
A visit to Borneo lets your attendees see some of the rarest and strangest creatures (and plants that act like creatures) on the planet. Most wildlife tours of Borneo depart from Balikpapan, on the eastern coast of the island.
Asian elephant
Found on the northeast corner of Borneo, this is Asia’s largest land mammal. These herbivores can often be found in clearings and on the edges of the forest using their long trunks to pick leaves and fruits from high branches.
Sumatran rhino
This three-toed species is the smallest rhinoceros in the world. It can be seen resting in the shade or in mud puddles.
Orangutan
In the evenings, look for nests of leaves and sticks in the trees. These restless apes build a new home each night.
Dipterocarp trees
Not quite an animal, these trees bear two-winged fruit that use their “wings” for pollination across the forest.
Proboscis monkey
Only found in Borneo, these monkeys have very large noses—many of them bear a remarkable resemblance to the late comedian Jimmy Durante. Although they live in trees, you can sometimes see them in the water. They’re great swimmers, and water is the only thing these rummy-looking primates drink, promise.
Bearded pig
Named for the long whiskers that grow on their lower jaw, they are often spotted with groups of macaques. Both male and female pigs sport whiskers.
Sun bear
Although the sun bear is the smallest species of bear in the world, it’s one of the fiercest animals in the Asian jungle. Barking loudly on attack, the bear uses its long claws and powerful jaws to drive off threats or attach the flora. One of its favorite things to do is tear apart trees to get at beehives. Ummm, honey.
Bornean gibbon
These long-armed apes swing quickly from branch to branch. At dawn, visitors can hear gibbons sing in pairs.
Sambar deer
This is the largest deer in Southern Asia, weighing up to 770 pounds.
Flying fox
In the evening, trekkers can sometimes spot this fruit-eater. The largest of the 90 bat species on the island, it has a wingspan of more than four feet.
Clouded leopard
This is the largest cat species on the island and has the longest teeth of any feline species in the world. Unfortunately, hunting enthusiasts are threatening its survival. This crazy cat exhibits squirrel-like behavior, and has been known to hang from trees by its hind legs to drop down on prey.
