There are a lot of good websites about Malaysian Wildlife on the internet.
According to a report by the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2020 Malaysia, Malaysia is one of the most bio-diverse places on Earth with vast swathes of virgin and secondary forests giving home to more than 306 species of wild mammals, more than 742 species of birds, 567 species of reptiles and 242 species of amphibians.
Malaysia is also rich in marine fish, freshwater fish and invertebrates.
Other websites will tell you that rapid deforestation due to legal and illegal logging, planting of oil palm plantations and urban development is threatening the habitat of these creatures. Hunting and the pet trade have also taken their toll.
In Borneo for example (shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei) only half of its forest cover remains, down from 75% in the mid-1980s according to the UN Environment Programme.
Malayan Tiger
According to WWF the Malayan tiger is critically endangered with less than 200 left in the wild and facing extinction. The only place you will see one is in captivity like this one in Melaka Zoo.
Orangutan
Orangutans are also critically endangered with the population across the whole of Borneo having fallen rapidly to perhaps 100,000.
In Sabah the Tabin Wildlife Reserve and Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary have small populations but for most people the only chance to see orangutans in semi-free conditions is in places like Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre or in the Danum Valley Conservation Area.
Macaque
These cheeky creatures have adapted well to being around humans and have learnt to scavenge and snatch human food.
You will be sure to find some at Batu Caves, Kanching Waterfall, Bukit Gasing, Taman Botani Negara Shah Alam, Tanjung Piai and countless other places.
Siamang Gibbons
These gibbons are shy around people but it’s not uncommon to hear them crashing around high in the trees, making their distinctive whooping calls. Bukit Putih is a good place to spot them.
Sumatran Rhinoceros
The last seven in Peninsular Malaysia died in 2003 and they may be extinct in Sabah too. Try a zoo.
Malayan Tapir
Once found throughout southeast Asia, these gentle short-sighted creatures are close to extinction in the wild. Now found only in zoos and at the Malaysian Tapir Conservation Centre (Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre).
Sun Bears
Malayan sun bears are the smallest bears in the world. They are classified as vulnerable. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre provides a rare chance to see them in natural forest surroundings.
Wild Pigs
Some wild pigs have been spotted in Putrajaya Present 15 (the abandoned Diplomatic Precinct area), Bukit Ketumbar and Gemas. A family of Bornean bearded pigs also live at Bako National Park.
Mouse Deer (kancil)
It is hard to spot these tiny timid deer in the wild. Taman Rusa & Kancil in KL Lake Gardens is a good place to see them.
Elephants
Probably only a thousand or two left in the wild. Sometimes they hit the newspapers when they emerge from the jungle and wreck farmers’ crops. Some have been relocated to Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary and the Kenyir Elephant Conservation Village for their own protection.
Keep a lookout for the next batch of wildlife and where you can spot them in Malaysia.
This article first appeared in Malaysia Traveller.