Wildlife & Birdwatching
Orangutans are the stars, but Tanjung Puting teems with life. The slow river cruise is a perfect way to watch wildlife from a safe, respectful distance.
Mammals & Primates
- Proboscis monkeys — the endemic “Pinocchio” monkey of Borneo
- Long-tailed macaques and agile gibbons
- Wild boar, deer, and giant squirrels in the forest
Birds
- Rhinoceros and other hornbills
- Stork-billed and other colourful kingfishers
- Storks, eagles, and kites along the river
Reptiles & More
- Estuarine crocodiles sunning on the banks
- Monitor lizards and snakes
- Fireflies lighting the nipah mangrove at night
Bring binoculars and a zoom lens — your guide knows exactly where to look.
Home of Unique Animals
Tanjung Puting is covered by a complex array of diverse lowland habitats. It contains 3,040 km2 (1,174 square miles) of low-lying swampy terrain surrounded by blackwater rivers which flow into the Java Sea. Clouded leopards, civets, Malayan sun bears, three deer species, and wild cattle (referred to as banteng) live throughout the park. The most popular of the animals however are orangutans, due to the long-term efforts of the Orangutan Research and Conservation Program.
Tanjung Puting is also home to the unique looking proboscis monkey, seven other primate species, and over 230 species of birds. The park, known for its bird lakes and seasonal rookeries, also features the only known Bornean nesting grounds for white egrets. In addition, Tanjung Puting has two species of crocodiles, dozens of snakes and frogs, and numerous threatened species, including the highly endangered dragon fish thought to bring good fortune.