Page 237 - The Guide To Sarawak

THE GUIDE TO SARAWAK 235
they are encouraged to take advantage of park guides in all national
parks, to enhance the learning experience,
ensure safety and minimize environmental risks.
For enquiries and bookings (except where otherwise indicated), please contact The National Park & Wildlife Booking Office, see listing.
BAKO NATIONAL PARK
(Kuching Division)
In most countries it would take weeks to experience seven completely different natural environments, yet in Bako National Park, just a short drive and boat ride from Kuching, you can stroll through them
in a single afternoon. Bako’s unique geological and climatic conditions have led to the formation
of seven distinct plant ecosystems compressed into an area of only 10.6 sq miles (27.4 sq km). The 5 main vegetation types are Beach, Kerangas (tropical heath forest unique to Borneo), Mangrove,
Mixed Dipterocarp and Peat Swamp. These are complemented by Cliff and Grasslands/Padang vegetation sub-types.
Established in 1957, Bako is the oldest and one of the smallest of Sarawak’s national parks, and certainly one of the most fascinating. Visitors can witness the huge diversity of plant life, and rare, iconic and endangered animal species. Bako’s most famous inhabitant is the remarkable proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus); found only in Borneo, it
long white tail, which they use for balancing. Mostly tree dwelling, they feed on young leaves, shoots, sour fruits and seeds.
The smaller primates comprise the equally rare silvered langurs or silver leaf monkeys, which can
be seen near the park HQ at Telok Assam; marauding bands of long-tailed macaque monkeys who delight in robbing unwary visitors; and nocturnal tarsiers and slow loris. Bako’s other mammals include huge Bornean bearded pigs, delightful hairy-nosed and small- clawed otters, porcupines, mongooses, plantain squirrels, civet cats, pangolins, mousedeer, various bat species and the aerobatic colugo, also known (erroneously) as the flying lemur.
Reptiles are equally well represented, with water monitors, green crested lizards, flying lizards and various pit vipers and tree snakes most easily seen. Birds, too, are abundant
– more than 190 species can be spotted around the park and on the nearby mudflats and sandbars, including the majestic white-bellied sea eagle. Countless amphibians, as well as insects and other invertebrates, complete Bako’s remarkably diverse fauna.
The seven plant ecosystems represent almost every type of
Delightful silvered leaf monkeys or silvery lutungs (Trachypithecus cristatus) like this juvenile can be easily observed around the Park HQ area at Bako National Park.
is the only primate with a multi- chambered stomach, which enables
it to feed on tough, fibrous leaves other creatures cannot digest. Only males have bulbous noses, but both sexes boast a large pot belly and a