Wildlife
The jungle is home to many species of animal, especially in the jungle. There are over 300 species of mammals, 250 species of reptiles, 150 species of amphibians, 1,200 species of butterflies and 831 species of birds. Some of these are critically endangered, such as the pangolin, the Sumatran and Javan rhinoceros and the Malayan tiger. The latter is the emblem of the country, which is investing considerable resources in its preservation. In the 1950s, Malaysia was home to up to 3,000 tigers, but habitat loss caused by rapid development, agricultural expansion and widespread hunting has led to a decline in the population, reduced to just 80 to 120 individuals by 2024. The orangutan is the country's other flagship mammal. Found only on the island of Borneo, it is protected and two reintegration centers have been set up in the Malayan part of the country. The Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre is located in Sabah, while the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is in Sarawak. Both projects work to rescue and reintegrate orangutans that have been abandoned, purchased by private individuals or injured into their natural environment. Proboscis monkeys are one of Borneo's endemic species. The male has a prominent nasal appendage measuring up to 10 cm, while the female has a much smaller one. These monkeys live in groups of 10 to 30 individuals. The species is highly endangered, with an estimated 6,000 individuals living in the wild. The best places to see them are in Sabah's Kinabatangan River, Sarawak's Bako National Park and Brunei's mangrove swamps. Another highly emblematic animal is the Malaysian pangolin. This anteater seems to have come straight from prehistoric times. Its scale-covered body forms a seemingly indestructible suit of armor. But this is not the case. Highly endangered, it is poached as much for its shell as for its flesh. A prized delicacy in Vietnam, China and Cambodia, its scales are said to have therapeutic properties. Rarely featured on the endangered species list, it is nevertheless the most poached mammal in the world. Between 2000 and 2013, an estimated one million animals were killed. In February 2019, Malaysian police seized 30 tonnes of pangolin from a warehouse in Sabah. The pangolin lives in primary forests and feeds on ants. It climbs trees using its long tail, which it wraps around the trunk. Females perpetuate the species, producing one young per year. Despite its great diversity on paper, Malaysia is unfortunately not the ideal country in which to observe mammals. The main reason is the size of the forests. With such vast tracts of unspoilt jungle, animals have all the space they need to lead a peaceful life away from humans. However, human activity poses a serious threat to many species. Tigers, pangolins and rhinoceroses are the prey of choice for poachers. Horns, skins and bones are highly prized by the Chinese. As for monkeys, they are threatened by deforestation.
With over 800 different bird species, Malaysia is a birdwatcher's paradise. Of these, 15 are endemic and 63 are globally threatened. Even if you don't have a particular interest in wild birds, you can't help but fall in love with the shimmering colors of the Malayan peacock, the gurial kingfisher or the red-naped trogon. But the country's emblematic bird is the hornbill, with its funny beak topped by an imposing protuberance. There are no fewer than 10 different subspecies throughout the country. The rhinoceros hornbill represents the state of Sarawak, considered to be "hornbill country", as 8 of the subspecies are found there. Imposing, with ebony-black plumage and an orange beak, it is considered the phoenix of the hosts of these woods. Its feathers were frequently used by indigenous populations in their ceremonial dress. Other examples include the round-helmeted hornbill with its strange orange-yellow beak, the scalloped hornbill with its red eyes and yellow goiter, and the two-horned hornbill, the most representative of the species, which can only be seen on the peninsula. The best places for birdwatching are Kinabatangan Park (Sabah), Taman Negara Park (Pahang), Langkawi Island (Kedah) or the Kelabit Highlands (Sarawak).
A closer look at the country's biodiversity would not be complete without a dive in Malaysian waters. The islands boast some of the finest beaches in Southeast Asia. The islands on the east coast, such as Tioman and Perhentian, offer some of the country's finest underwater diving. On Borneo, the Sipadan site is regularly listed as one of the world's most beautiful diving spots. The east coast of Borneo boasts over 550 different varieties of coral. The underwater world is worth exploring, both for its lush vegetation and its teeming fauna. All the colors of the rainbow can be found here, and the seabed sometimes looks as if it had been created by a Japanese gardener. Observations of reef sharks, hammerheads and whale sharks are particularly worthwhile. But encounters with sea turtles, manta rays, leopard rays and schools of huge, dense fish are also classics. If you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of a dugong, an astonishing marine mammal that looks like a beluga whale. It's also known as a sea cow, as it feeds only on plants growing on the sandy seabed. The species is strictly protected, and is most often seen in northern Borneo. To preserve its marine flora and fauna, Malaysia has established 10 marine protected areas along its coasts, known as Marine Parks. Fishing is strictly prohibited and motorized water sports are banned. An entrance fee is required to enjoy these parks.
The flora
Malaysia's vast forest cover is a source of pride, even if abusive logging has been rampant for several years. This is due to palm oil producers who pride themselves on replacing one forest with another, indigenous populations eager to reclaim arable land, and violent storms. Despite these human and climatic threats, there are more than 15,000 vascular plants, including 8,000 varieties of flowers and 2,500 species of trees and shrubs. Malaysia is truly a land of superlatives when it comes to flora. Imagine 200 types of palm and coconut trees, over 800 varieties of orchid, the world's largest flower called rafflesia, or the world's tallest tropical tree, the meranti, which can reach 90 metres. It is estimated that over 100 different plant species can be found in just half a hectare of forest. The equatorial climate, with its abundant rainfall and high temperatures, plays a key role in the abundance of this natural environment.
The forest can be divided into three different vegetation strata. The lowest stratum comprises swampy areas and mangroves. These are coastal zones with impenetrable forests of palm and mangrove trees, whose raised roots plunge into the shallow waters. The second stratum extends from the coastal plains up to an altitude of 600 metres. Here, trees compete to reach the sky, reaching heights of up to 80 metres. Beneath this dense canopy, which is difficult for light to penetrate, we find sparse vegetation sheltering a multitude of plants and parasites. This second stratum is made up of Borneo ironwood, highly prized in shipbuilding; Malay diospyros, an endemic ebony species; aloe wood, a highly sought-after variety that can fetch US$100,000 per kilo; and kempas, a species widely used for parquet flooring. The last, highest stratum comprises small, gnarled trees, as well as lichens, ferns, mosses and numerous orchid species. This last part of the rainforest is nicknamed the "cloud forest". It is characterized by an almost permanent haze caused by abundant rainfall and a stable temperature. However, the temperature drops steadily, losing 0.6° for every 100 meters of altitude. The result is the creation of tiered ecosystems, among the richest on the planet. This is also where we find the greatest number of endemic species, such as the rafflesia. This is the country's emblematic flower. Named in honor of Sir Stamford Raffles, its Western discoverer, its characteristics are quite astonishing. It can grow up to 1 metre in diameter and weigh almost 11 kilos. But it only flowers for between 3 and 5 days. It can be seen in Belum Royal Park, in Sabah's Gunung Gading National Park or on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu. While this flower breaks all records, it should not overshadow the many other varieties, including orchids. There are over 3,000 different varieties. Delicate and colorful, they need plenty of humidity and warmth to flourish. Orchid enthusiasts should not miss a visit to Kuala Lumpur's Botanical Garden, which looks after 800 species.
The two most common trees in Malaysia are the rubber and the oil palm, both of which are the subject of intense industrial exploitation. The former can be found in huge plantations in the west of the country. The first rubber trees arrived from Brazil in 1876. Today, Malaysia is the world's3rd largest rubber producer, with 700,000 tonnes of natural rubber produced every year. As for oil palms, the visitor is bound to see endless stretches of them, especially when flying over the country in an airplane or driving along the roads on the outskirts of the big cities. You only have to land in Kuala Lumpur to see this. This tree, certainly the most common in Malaysia, is cultivated for its fruit and seeds, which are rich in oil for food and industrial use. Two oils are extracted from the tree's fruit: palm oil, well known to attentive consumers, is extracted by hot pressing and used for frying, or in the manufacture of spreads; palm kernel oil, on the other hand, is obtained from the fruit kernels and ends up in industrial laboratories for the manufacture of soap or biofuels. Malaysia is the world's second-largest palm oil producer and exporter, behind Indonesia, with 39% of global production and 44% of exports.
