Borneo: The Lost World

There are jungles in Borneo, that are so isolated from civilization, so rich in rare wildlife, so full of untouched forests, that it feels like a separate world, locked in a pre-humanity sphere separate from our own. These rainforests have thrived for millions of years, with many bizarre and exotic species found only here.

We only managed to scratch the surface of Borneo, a huge island with many opportunities for exploration. This gallery primarily looks at the wildlife in and around the Kinabatangan river and the surrounding jungle, and area teeming with wildlife, but also an area that has seen deforestation over recent decades in the form of palm oil plantations. Luckily there are protected areas and conservation efforts, and the further you get away from the coastal cities the more you are rewarded with this spectacular lost world.

See some previews below, and the full gallery by clicking here. 

A playful female Orangutan. “Orang Hutang” translates to “People of the forest” in Malay.

Searching for wildlife on the lower Kinabatangan River.

This female proboscis gives us an angry scowl to advise us not to come any closer.

A brightly colored kingfisher patrolling the riverbank.

A cave ceiling covered with bats and swiftlet nests makes for an abstract photograph.

A dominant male orangutan , critically endangered, gorges on vegetation just a few meters from our cottage.

A large crocodile in the Kinabatangan River.

A monitor lizard, well camouflaged on a tree branch, possibly awaits his prey.

Up close and personal with a large male proboscis monkey.

A family of proboscis monkeys move along a sprawling tree.

A young silver leaf monkey calls out for attention from her mother.

The remarkable rhinoceros hornbill of Borneo