Page 232 - The Guide To Sarawak

230 NATURE
The world’s largest reptile and largest terrestrial predator, the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is commonly found along Sarawak’s mangrove- fringed coastline.
553 of the 580-plus bird species recorded in Borneo. The best places to enjoy bird life are Sarawak’s national parks. Bako NP
is home to more than 150 species, with a further 40 species of shorebirds on the coast of Bako- Buntal Bay. Similajau NP offers the visitor more than 180 species, and
the most diverse of all is Mulu NP with more than 260 species, including all eight species of hornbill found in Borneo. Local tour operators conduct specialist birding tours.
Mammals
Sarawak’s mammals are amongst its biggest visitor attractions. Borneo has a total of 221 wild terrestrial mammals and 91 marine,
of which roughly 90% can be found in Sarawak. The 92 bat species
are difficult to see individually, but can be observed in their millions emerging from caves at sunset, particularly at Niah NP and Mulu NP. The rodents (61 species) comprise mostly rats and mice but also 4 porcupines, 12 flying squirrels, and Asia’s second largest rodent, the cream-coloured giant squirrel, which reaches a length of over 80cm.
Reptiles
Sarawak’s reptiles are also highly diverse, with over 150 species, comprising more than 100 lizards, 4 marine turtles, more than a dozen land or freshwater turtles, almost 40 snakes and 2 crocodiles, including the world’s largest reptile,
the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), which can reach over 6 metres in length. Crocodile watching tours are offered from both Kuching and Miri.
Birds
Birdwatchers will find Sarawak a paradise, with
The Wagler’s pit viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri) is one of Sarawak’s more venomous snakes, but presents little threat to humans as it hunts only at night, using the two ‘pits’ (heat-sensitive organs) on its nose to detect small mammals.
The Dulit frogmouth (Batrachostomus harterti) is the only member of this remarkable bird family (the Pogaridae or frogmouths) that is endemic to Borneo. Found only in the Bornean Mountains Endemic Bird Area, it is regularly sighted in parts of Northern Sarawak.