The proboscis monkey in Bako National Park
Proboscis monkey is the goal at Bako
One of my goals in coming to Sarawak, Borneo was to see the odd looking proboscis monkey. When I arrived at Bako National Park, I did not have long to wait. Right in front of the sign for the Proboscis Lodge only a few steps from the Visitor’s Center a troop of these funny looking creatures were delighting tourist by hanging out in low hanging trees.
The male monkey looks like a cross between Jimmy Durante and Homer Simpson. At any moment you expect them to either break out into cha-cha-cha or dooooooh. They are pot-bellied with a big phallic looking nose and a long tail. Despite their odd appearance, they can be nimble when they want to. The troop in the trees suddenly had enough posing and quickly moved out. When they move, they can hustle and fly through the trees. Check out the air proboscis photo below.
Casually eating while tourists gawk and photograph
Proboscis monkeys everywhere in Bako
The proboscis monkey was found throughout the park. I saw them in the trees on several of the trees and even saw two walking on the ground. The telltale crash in the trees is a good signal that one is around. I also spotted one up in a tree because I had this eerie feeling something was watching me. I whirled around to see one high up in a tree looking at me with a curious glance.
Proboscis monkey – Bako National Park
Bako National Park
A female monkey on the move
Bako National Park
Bako National Park
Air proboscis
Bako National Park
Bako National Park
Being watched by a curious monkey
Feeding monkey
A close up of a male
Bako National Park
Bako National Park
Bako National Park
Enjoy these photos and be sure to put Sarawak and Borneo on your next Southeast Asian itinerary. I was a guest of Planet Borneo during my stay in Kuching. I made the trip to Bako on my own, but I highly recommend staying and booking tours through them. Although I was a guest of Planet Borneo, the thoughts, pictures, and love of this jungle park are purely my own.
Read other post on Bako:
Bako National Park Photo essay
Adventure on!
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I’ve been there – great photos – I was in Sarawak last October – amazing. L x
Family Affairs recently posted..RED SOCKS
Sarawak is definitely a great place and Bako was my favorite spot during my stay.
It’s so fun to see monkeys in the wild like that. Never seen the proboscis, though. Their noses… OMG, comical.
Francesca (@WorkMomTravels) recently posted..Pizza, pasta & Nutella – oh my! An afternoon at Eataly Chicago.
Certain monkeys are a pest and become a nuisance, but these are wild monkeys and very fun to see in the wild like monkeys in Costa Rica. Semi-tame monkeys are not so fun to see.
i so wish i could say these monkeys are cute, but???
the lazy travelers recently posted..nyc brewery tour with @urbanoyster (or, the time the wino went day-drinking with her dad)
Only cute to their mother.
That’s a crazy nose. I like the Homer reference. I can see it.
Trips By Lance recently posted..Geocaching Trips: An Interview With Peanuts or Pretzels
I could see one of these monkeys on a couch drinking a beer saying doooohhh.
All I can think to say is… ha cha cha cha…. a la famed Hollywood actor Jimmy Durante. Love it
That is all there is to say for these monkeys 🙂
Being a wildlife guy myself, I can’t but not, compliment you for the wisdom you share here. Kudos!
Great shots, Ted. I visited Bako long ago and really enjoyed my visit — it’s a hidden treasure. Unfortunately, I only saw the monkeys in the treetops. They’re one of the most interesting animals in Southeast Asia. Apparently that pot belly helps them digest the tough leaves they live on — don’t know what the Jimmy Durante nose is for ;).
Paul (The Travelling Boomer) recently posted..Monkey shines: pictures of monkeys from the road
Perhaps that allows them to smell those leaves they need to find or just something to bait the lady monkeys with.