Proboscis Monkey - The 'Dutchman of Borneo'
Few primates are as unusual and charismatic as the Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis Larvatus). They are fondly known as the 'Dutchman', since these monkeys reminded the native people of Borneo of early European explorers. It is the largest primate found in Borneo, with large males weighing up to 23kg. Alongside its large size, two additional features also mark the Proboscis Monkey out as a unique - its large nose and it's big pot belly.Their stomachs are relatively twice the size as those of any other primate, meaning they always look pregnant.
No-one is really sure why the Proboscis Monkey has such a large nose. There are numerous theories - it acts like a snorkel when they are swimming, it helps regulate body temperature. The most likely explanation is it is a result of sexual selection - females prefer, and mate with, males with larger noses.
One other unusual feature of a Proboscis Monkey is that they have partially webbed back feet. Their forest homes are criss-crossed with river channels. Where these channels are two wide to leap across they will swim across.The species live in groups of up to 30 monkeys. You get two types of groups:
- Bachelor groups which include juvenile, adolescent and adult males
- Family groups - this is led by one large alpha male and includes females, their young and younger males that have not yet been forced out by the alpha male.
- During a river cruise in the late afternoon along the Kinabatangan River (part of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary)
- During feeding sessions at Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, near Sandakan
- During a river cruise in the late afternoon at Klias Wetlands / Garama (south of Kota Kinabalu)