Five Indonesian Endangered Exotic Mammals

Here I provide a list of five Indonesian exotic mammals threatened with extinction.

Bekantan (Nasalis larvatus) is a monkey with a very unique appearance. Males have a very big and long nose (proboscis monkey). The long and big nose of bekantan is a major sexual attraction for females. Bekantan found only in Kalimantan, Indonesia. The population is very small and constantly decreasing in line with forest encroachment and illegal logging. Adult male bekantan can reach the size of 24 kg, while the smaller females. Another uniqueness of bekantan is a distended belly. The distended belly was caused the amount of gas contained in the digestive tract. Bekantan likes to eat the certain leaves and fruits that produce gas. Animals that can swim are living in forests, on the coasts of Borneo island in groups, consisting of 10 to 32 bekantans.

Image via Wikipedia

Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is the world’s rarest rhinoceros species of the 5 species that still exist. These animals are hunted because of his horn price that about 30,000 U.S. dollars on the black market. Javan rhinoceros horns are used as ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. Javan rhinoceros can reach the age of 30-45 years in the wild.

Orang utan (Pongo pygmaeus) is a species of great ape found only in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Orangutans are very shy animals. There is little difference between sumatran orangutans with orangutans of Borneo. Sumatran orangutan have a more delicate hair.

Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris-sumatrae) is a close relative of Java tiger and Bali tiger, the extinct species. These animals constantly diminished in number due to habitat destruction. Illegal logging suspected as the main cause of the scarcity of these exotic animals. Sumatran tigers are also sometimes found dead due to entry into the villager’s trap set for wild boar.

Tapir (Tapirus indicus) is an animal somewhat similar to the pig, but it has a short trunk-shaped snout. These animals are solitary and eat leaves in the forest. The uniqueness of these animal lies in the black body color, and the back are white. The uniqueness of this color is useful for camouflage. When tapir lie down and sleep, he looked like a stone. These animals mark his territory with urine. He will not allow another tapir entry into its territory, unless the prospective partner.