SIGHTINGS

Exotic Animals in Indonesia

23 June 2022

The great diversity of Indonesia extends beyond its people, culture, and ethnicity. The archipelago also has a diverse range of unique species. Many of Indonesia's thousands of islands remain uninhabited and untouched by the outside world, making them ideal breeding grounds for unique and rare wildlife and a haven for animal lovers. Discover incredible Indonesian creatures ranging from birds to monkeys. Visitors to Indonesia can get up close and personal with these creatures.

The forests of Indonesia are home to thousands of animal species and makeup 10% of the world's surviving tropical rainforests. More than 300,000 different species of wildlife are known to exist. Despite making up just 1.3 percent of the planet's land mass, Indonesia is home to 17 percent of the world's fauna.

 

Birds of Paradise

Source: made-blog.com

The species are found in eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and eastern Australia. These birds are recognizable by their vibrant yellow, blue, red, and green plumage, and startling hues. These hues set them apart as some of the most striking and alluring birds. When displaying for females, males use their vivid colors and unique ornamentation. They put on a fantastic show for female birds and humans fortunate enough to be in the area with their intricate dances, stances, and other rituals that highlight their attractiveness.

Bali Myna

Source: rumpelstiltskin1 | Flicker

Bali mynas live on Nusa Penida and its adjoining islands, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan, which are 14 kilometers off Bali's southeast coast. The Rothschild's mynah (Leucopsar rothschildi) is also known as the Bali starling or Jalak Bali. See the stunning snow-white bird with black wing and tail feather tips and vivid sky-blue flesh spots around its eyes. Bali mynas eat insects such as ants and termites, caterpillars, dragonflies, grasshoppers, and fruit such as figs, papayas, and nectar.

Komodo Dragon

source: britannica.com

Komodo dragons are the world's giant live lizards, reaching 3 meters in length and weighing up to 70 kilograms. They are endemic to only five Indonesian islands. Komodo dragons are apex predators that have complete control over their environments. They ambush and hunt insects, birds, and mammals, and they are known to have a toxic bite. Komodo dragons not only can climb and dash (nearly as fast as humans), but they can also swim. Whether myth or reality, these ancient monsters have earned their status as real-life dragons.

Sumatran Tiger

Source: factsofindonesia.com

The Sumatran tiger is a subspecies of tigers native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. They live in Sumatra's dense jungle. With only a few hundred living in Indonesia, these legendary cats are now critically endangered. The Sumatran tiger's skin is darker, and their black stripes are much closer together. Although a tiger's stripes appear similar at first glance, they are genuinely as distinctive as a person's fingerprint. Sumatran tigers are the smallest species of all tigers, and they may grow to be 2.5 m long from head to tail and weigh up to 140 kg.

Bornean Orangutan

Source: treehugger.com

The Bornean orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus, is a species of orangutan native to the island of Borneo. There are three recognized subspecies of orangutans, each of which is only found in a particular region of Borneo: Northwest Bornean orangutans, Northeast Bornean orangutans, and Central Bornean orangutans. The unique body structure of the Bornean orangutan and its unusually long arms—which may reach 1.5 meters in length—set it apart from other primates. It has grey skin, coarse, hairy reddish fur, and prehensile, grasping hands and feet.

Javan Rhino

Source: pixabay.com

Only 75 Javan Rhinos remain alive today, making them the rarest rhino species. They are only found in Indonesia and concentrated in Ujung Kulon and nowhere else. The Javan rhino is smaller and lighter than the giant one-horned rhino, and at the shoulder, it measures between 1.4 and 1.7 meters tall. The Javan Rhino is a quiet animal, which has made it challenging to study. The Javan Rhino uses dung mounds and urine spraying to communicate its sense of smell instead of sound.

Yaki

Source: goodnewsfromindonesia.id

The Sulawesi crested black macaque (Macaca nigra), commonly known locally as Yaki, is one of seven macaque species exclusive to the island of Sulawesi and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The distinctive feature of the yaki is that its entire body is black, has crest-shaped hair on top of its head, and has a pink bottom. This species is polygynous, meaning that each individual can cohabit with numerous mates at once. Foraging, breeding, and movement account for 59% of their time.
 

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