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Wildlife of Borneo

Sunda silvery langur

Trachypithecus cristatus

The Sunda silvery langur lives on Borneo, with documented populations in Bako National Park and Lower Kinabatangan.

Vulnerable
Species details & taxonomy
Species
Trachypithecus cristatus
Genus
Trachypithecus
Family
Cercopithecidae
Order
Primates
Class
Mammalia
Sunda silvery langur — Trachypithecus cristatus
Sunda silvery langur (Trachypithecus cristatus).Hamas Fathani · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original

Borneo range and habitat

The Sunda silvery langur lives on Borneo, with documented populations in Bako National Park and Lower Kinabatangan. Its relative on the Malay Peninsula, the Selangor silvery langur, is a separate species. This distinction makes Borneo's populations part of a more specific island and Sunda-region distribution.

Sources & references · 4American Society of Mammalogists, Mammal Diversity Database v2.5 · Trachypithecus cristatus: taxonomy and linked conservation categoryBorneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology · Diet Analysis of Sympatric Colobine Monkeys from Bako National Park, Sarawak, BorneoUniversity of Michigan, Animal Diversity Web · Trachypithecus cristatus: natural historyEcology and Evolution · Molecular characterization of nodule worm in a community of Bornean primates

Feeding and ecological role

Leaves are central to the diet, with fruit also eaten. A Bako study examined leaf, fruit and faecal samples from silvery langurs and proboscis monkeys sharing the forest. This is local evidence of feeding ecology, rather than an assumption based on all leaf-monkey species.

Sources & references · 4American Society of Mammalogists, Mammal Diversity Database v2.5 · Trachypithecus cristatus: taxonomy and linked conservation categoryBorneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology · Diet Analysis of Sympatric Colobine Monkeys from Bako National Park, Sarawak, BorneoUniversity of Michigan, Animal Diversity Web · Trachypithecus cristatus: natural historyEcology and Evolution · Molecular characterization of nodule worm in a community of Bornean primates

Activity and social life

Adults have dark, silver-tipped fur and a crest; newborns have conspicuously orange fur. These tree-dwelling monkeys are active by day and live in social groups. Coastal and river-edge forest observation is compatible with their ecology, but a particular group may move away from the visitor route.

Sources & references · 4American Society of Mammalogists, Mammal Diversity Database v2.5 · Trachypithecus cristatus: taxonomy and linked conservation categoryBorneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology · Diet Analysis of Sympatric Colobine Monkeys from Bako National Park, Sarawak, BorneoUniversity of Michigan, Animal Diversity Web · Trachypithecus cristatus: natural historyEcology and Evolution · Molecular characterization of nodule worm in a community of Bornean primates

Recognising the animal

Adults have a dark face, a crest of hair and grey fur with pale tips that give a silvery appearance. The long tail supports balance in the trees. Newborns look strikingly different: their orange coat gradually changes to the adult colour. An orange infant beside a grey adult is therefore a normal stage of growth.

Sources & references · 1University of Michigan, Animal Diversity Web · Trachypithecus cristatus: natural history

Forests and observation

At Bako, researchers examined leaves, fruits and faecal samples to investigate the nutrition of silvery langurs and proboscis monkeys living together. This shows why leaf feeding is more than picking any green material: plant parts differ in their nutrients. Mangrove and riverine trees provide both food and connected branches for these canopy-dwelling monkeys.

Sources & references · 1Borneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology · Diet Analysis of Sympatric Colobine Monkeys from Bako National Park, Sarawak, Borneo

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 discoveries

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
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

Destinations

Primary rainforest in Danum Valley.
Destinations

Borneo

Borneo rewards a journey built around a few contrasting places: a river city, a forest stay, a highland community or an island coast. Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei share the island, but each part has its own gateways, languages and travel arrangements. Start by choosing the landscapes and experiences that matter most to you; the country and regional guides below turn that choice into a workable route. Sabah combines mountain, forest and sea journeys, Sarawak connects river towns with caves and living heritage, Kalimantan opens five very different provinces, and Brunei offers a compact capital-and-rainforest combination. You can enjoy a substantial first trip within just one of these regions. Seeing the whole island is a much larger undertaking.

Gido (gidovd) · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · Cropped · Original

Sources & references

Ecology and Evolution · Molecular characterization of nodule worm in a community of Bornean primatesAccessed: 2026-10-04

American Society of Mammalogists, Mammal Diversity Database v2.5 · Trachypithecus cristatus: taxonomy and linked conservation categoryAccessed: 2026-10-04

University of Michigan, Animal Diversity Web · Trachypithecus cristatus: natural historyAccessed: 2026-10-04

Borneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology · Diet Analysis of Sympatric Colobine Monkeys from Bako National Park, Sarawak, BorneoAccessed: 2026-10-04

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