ENIDDENL
Wildlife of Borneo

Proboscis monkey

Nasalis larvatus

Adult males have a much larger projecting nose than females.

EndangeredEndemic to Borneo
Species details & taxonomy
Species
Nasalis larvatus
Genus
Nasalis
Family
Cercopithecidae
Order
Primates
Class
Mammalia
Size
ADW reference body length: males about 70 cm; females about 60 cm
Weight
ADW reference adults: males 16–22 kg; females 7–12 kg
Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus).
Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus).Nina Lsera · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original

Identification

Adult males have a much larger projecting nose than females.

Sources & references · 1University of Michigan, Animal Diversity Web · Proboscis monkey: natural history

Daily life

These social monkeys eat leaves, fruit and seeds. They are strong swimmers and are closely associated with rivers and wetland forests. Groups often gather near the riverbank to sleep.

Sources & references · 1University of Michigan, Animal Diversity Web · Proboscis monkey: natural history

Range on Borneo

Published research has documented this species at Sebangau NLPSF; Tanjung Puting. These observations provide a historical picture of its Bornean forest range.

Sources & references · 2Mires and Peat · Husson et al. (2018), Biodiversity of the Sebangau tropical peat swamp forest, Indonesian BorneoUNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme · Tanjung Puting Biosphere Reserve

Forest and habitat

The peat-swamp forests of Sebangau are part of this animal’s documented habitat in Central Kalimantan.

Sources & references · 2Mires and Peat · Husson et al. (2018), Biodiversity of the Sebangau tropical peat swamp forest, Indonesian BorneoUNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme · Tanjung Puting Biosphere Reserve

Mothers and young

A female generally gives birth to one infant after a gestation reported at about 166 days. Infants remain close to their mothers during their first year. These are species-level reference observations, not a breeding calendar for a particular park.

Sources & references · 1University of Michigan, Animal Diversity Web · Proboscis monkey: natural history

Food and social life

Proboscis monkeys live in groups that commonly contain one adult male, several females and their young; all-male groups also occur. Separate groups can gather near rivers toward evening. Sleeping trees at the water's edge are therefore part of a wider social landscape, rather than the territory of one permanent herd. During the day the monkeys move through the canopy to feed. Their leaves, fruits and seeds provide a varied diet, and a specialised stomach helps process plant food. Females usually bear a single infant, whose bluish face contrasts with the adults.

Sources & references · 2Mammalian Species 47(926), 2015 · Nasalis larvatusUniversity of Michigan, Animal Diversity Web · Proboscis monkey: natural history

Where to look

A recorded occurrence does not guarantee a sighting or visitor access. Read the area and experience guides for habitat, responsible observation, guiding and current access before choosing a trip. Keep wildlife at a distance and follow local restrictions.

Places with documented occurrence

Related wildlife trips

Related discoveries

Important plants

Show all · 8

Habitats

Nature areas

Coastal rock formations in Bako National Park.
Nature areas

Bako National Park

Bako National Park puts coastal rock, mangroves and several very different forests within reach of Kuching. Its appeal is the transition between them: a shaded trail can lead towards exposed sandstone and a tidal shore, while proboscis monkeys use forest edges without following a visitor timetable. This is a managed national park with a visitor headquarters, trails and bookable accommodation, rather than an unrestricted stretch of coastline. Getting there involves a road journey to Kampung Bako followed by a boat; sea conditions and the return arrangement are part of the day's planning. A full day allows a focused introduction, while a confirmed overnight stay gives more time for the forest. Choose routes with the park guide and staff, and leave space for weather, rest and observation instead of trying to complete every trail.

Borneo mobilegrapher · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Dry-season wetland landscape at Danau Sentarum.
Nature areas

Danau Sentarum National Park

Danau Sentarum is a national park and Ramsar wetland in the upper Kapuas basin of West Kalimantan. Lakes, connecting channels and seasonally flooded forest form a changing landscape rather than one permanent sheet of water. Its distinctive experience is seeing how rainfall and river levels reshape the boundary between land and water. Communities use this wetland as a living landscape, so boats and local knowledge are central to understanding it. Visits are possible, but a current boat route and overnight base need confirmation. Plan through the Kapuas Hulu region and Putussibau, then agree on the actual lakeside departure point; the city and the wetland are not interchangeable locations.

Rendika Wijayanto · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Walking infrastructure in Bontang Mangrove Park, Kutai National Park; current access must be checked separately.
Nature areas

Kutai National Park

Kutai National Park protects a mosaic of lowland rainforest, swamp, heath and coastal habitats in East Kalimantan. Orangutans and large ironwood trees are important parts of its identity, but neither represents every corner of the park. Visitors need to choose a named visitor sector: a river approach to Prevab is different from a forest walk at Sangkima. The park is not one attraction reached from a single central marker. Current park information describes guided facilities at Prevab, while route conditions and entry arrangements still need confirmation for your dates. Use nearby local access towns for the final approach rather than treating a hotel in Balikpapan or Samarinda as accommodation inside the forest.

Gunawan gtp · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
The Kinabatangan River at Kampung Sukau.
Nature areas

Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary

The Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary protects parts of the forested floodplain along eastern Sabah’s best-known wildlife river. Here the visitor experience is shaped by water: boats follow forest edges, tributaries and river bends while guides look for movement in the canopy and along the banks. Proboscis monkeys are strongly associated with the landscape; orangutans, elephants and many birds also occur, without any sighting being guaranteed. This is not one enclosed park with a single entrance. Lodges and village bases around Sukau, Bilit and Abai serve different stretches of the river, usually with transfers arranged through Sandakan. Choose the base and programme together rather than booking a boat trip against a generic map pin. Two nights give useful space for both morning and evening outings. The sanctuary is also part of a lived-in landscape where river communities, agriculture and wildlife conservation meet.

CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cropped · Original
Show all · 9
Nature areas

Pulau Kaget Wildlife Sanctuary

Pulau Kaget is a wildlife sanctuary in South Kalimantan, important as documented proboscis monkey habitat. Its role in this guide is conservation context, not a ready-made island excursion. The conservation authority uses the designation Suaka Margasatwa and has reviewed the area's ecological function. Those facts establish a protected landscape and management concern; they do not establish a public landing, opening hours or a tourist boat service. Banjarmasin provides regional orientation, but a boat trip from the city should not be assumed to include lawful access. Read this page to understand the sanctuary and its limits, and obtain specific authority advice before considering any visit.

Sekonyer River in Tanjung Puting National Park, Central Kalimantan.
Nature areas

Tanjung Puting National Park

Tanjung Puting is a national park in western Central Kalimantan, where rivers lead into a mosaic of lowland, swamp, heath and coastal forest. Orangutan conservation is its best-known story, but the landscape also supports proboscis monkeys and distinctive wetland vegetation. Visitors normally plan through Pangkalan Bun and Kumai, then travel by boat along an agreed route. The park is larger than its familiar visitor corridor: a booking for particular sites does not open every research or rehabilitation facility. Choose the visit length, boat and overnight arrangement together, and confirm park reservations before departure. This is a guided river-and-forest experience, not a guarantee of close wildlife encounters.

Nanosanchez · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Mangrove conservation area in Tarakan.
Nature areas

Tarakan Mangrove and Proboscis Monkey Conservation Area

Tarakan's Mangrove and Proboscis Monkey Conservation Area, usually shortened to KKMB, brings coastal forest conservation into an urban setting in North Kalimantan. Its value is the close relationship between tidal habitat, city life and the bekantan, or proboscis monkey. This is a local conservation and education area, not a national park or a substitute for a remote forest expedition. A short walk can focus on roots, water and animal behaviour as much as on photographs. Tarakan is the practical base, but current opening and boardwalk conditions should be checked locally. A documented ministerial visit establishes conservation activity here; it does not supply a permanent opening schedule or guarantee wildlife sightings.

Ezagren (Arief R. Randan) · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Lake and pavilion at Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park, Brunei (2009).
Nature areas

Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park

Tasek Merimbun is a blackwater lake and surrounding wetland forest in Brunei’s Tutong district. The lake, forest margins and Dusun heritage make it a different nature experience from a summit climb or an offshore excursion. Its ASEAN Heritage Park recognition concerns conservation and cultural value, not UNESCO World Heritage status. For visitors, the useful focus is the accessible lakeside and interpretation area, with walks or other activities depending on what is operating when you arrive. Do not assume that every path, boat service or facility described in an older park account is available today. Plan the road journey and return together, then confirm the sections open to visitors. A quiet lakeside visit can make sense even without a boat trip; wildlife records describe the broader habitat and are not a checklist of animals you should expect to see beside the boardwalk.

Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand · Wikimedia Commons · CC0 · Cropped · Original

Destinations

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Activities

Show all · 10
Blackwater and riparian forest along the Sebangau River in Sebangau National Park
Activities

Choosing a forest wildlife experience in Central Kalimantan

Forest wildlife watching in Central Kalimantan can begin with a small boat from a city-edge jetty or become a multi-day journey along a forest river. The choice affects much more than your hotel: it changes how you observe animals, how much walking is involved and how long you spend within the landscape. Sebangau and Tanjung Puting offer two established visitor settings, each reached through a different gateway. This guide helps you choose between them rather than presenting wildlife watching as one fixed excursion. Both are rewarding when you enjoy looking closely, listening and learning about habitat as well as finding mammals. Come prepared for moments when the forest seems quiet. A guide's interpretation and the time spent understanding the place can matter as much as any single sighting.

Mankdhay rahman · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Mangrove conservation area in Tarakan.
Activities

Walking through Tarakan's mangrove conservation area

Tarakan offers an unusual nature stop within an urban stay: a walk through the city's mangrove and proboscis-monkey conservation area, commonly known as KKMB. Raised walkways bring visitors into a tidal forest setting where roots, mud and vegetation create a different landscape from the streets nearby. The interest is both ecological and local: this is a managed conservation site within a working island city, rather than a remote rainforest expedition. It is particularly useful for travellers with limited time in Tarakan, families who enjoy observing animals quietly and visitors curious about mangroves. Give the walk enough time for pauses. Looking at the structure of the roots and watching the forest edge can be as rewarding as moving directly towards an animal sighting.

Ezagren (Arief R. Randan) · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
The Kinabatangan River at Kampung Sukau.
Activities

Wildlife watching on the Kinabatangan River

A small boat moving along the forest edge is the defining Kinabatangan experience. From the water, you can scan riverside trees for proboscis monkeys, watch birds crossing between banks and see how the river connects patches of lowland and swamp forest. Most visitors stay at a river lodge and take several outings rather than attempting one long excursion from Sandakan. Dawn and late afternoon bring different light, sounds and animal activity, while time between cruises lets you rest or join an available nature walk. This is an appealing choice for wildlife travellers and photographers who prefer boat-based observation to continuous jungle trekking. Its particular strength is the repeated opportunity to watch the same river landscape over several days, with a guide interpreting what is happening around you. The river is a habitat, not a scheduled animal show.

CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cropped · Original

Sources & references

Mires and Peat · Husson et al. (2018), Biodiversity of the Sebangau tropical peat swamp forest, Indonesian BorneoAccessed: 2026-10-01

University of Michigan, Animal Diversity Web · Proboscis monkey: natural historyAccessed: 2026-10-01

American Society of Mammalogists, Mammal Diversity Database · Nasalis larvatus: taxonomyAccessed: 2026-10-01

UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme · Tanjung Puting Biosphere ReserveAccessed: 2026-10-01

Mammalian Species 47(926), 2015 · Nasalis larvatusAccessed: 2026-10-04

KSDAE, Ministry of Forestry · Mengenal flora dan fauna Taman Nasional KutaiAccessed: 2026-10-01

Ministry of Forestry · World Wetlands Day 2026 in TarakanAccessed: 2026-10-01

Ramsar Secretariat · Indonesia annotated Ramsar sitesAccessed: 2026-10-01

Sabah Forestry Department · Wildlife ManagementAccessed: 2026-10-02

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak · Population and Density Estimation of Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) at Bako National Park, Sarawak, MalaysiaAccessed: 2026-10-02

Government of Brunei Darussalam / Forestry Department · Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Brunei DarussalamAccessed: 2026-10-02

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