Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary

🇲🇾 Malaysia

🦧 Bornean Orangutan Stronghold Along Wild Rivers

🌍 #58 Global · 4.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #3 in Southeast Asia #22 in Tropical Forest

Southeast Asia, Malaysia 1064 spp. recorded

Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary sits in eastern Sabah, Malaysia, protecting a lowland tropical rainforest that follows the winding Kinabatangan River and its flood‑plain swamps. Towering dipterocarp trees, vines and mangrove edges create a mix of riverbank, jungle and seasonal wetlands, supporting both land and water species.

5.495° N 118.131° E

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Bornean Orangutan

Pongo pygmaeus

70–80% · Very likely

Proboscis Monkey

Nasalis larvatus

80–90% · Very likely

Saltwater Crocodile

Crocodylus porosus

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Anthracoceros albirostris

80–90% · Very likely

Crab-eating Macaque

Macaca fascicularis

70–80% · Very likely

Green Imperial-Pigeon

Ducula aenea

70–80% · Very likely

Silvered Leaf Monkey

Trachypithecus cristatus

70–80% · Very likely

Asian Elephant

Elephas maximus

60–70% · Likely

Blue-eared Kingfisher

Alcedo meninting

60–70% · Likely

Stork-billed Kingfisher

Pelargopsis capensis

60–70% · Likely

Southern Pig-tailed Macaque

Macaca nemestrina

60–70% · Likely

Common Water Monitor

Varanus salvator

60–70% · Likely

Great Egret

Ardea alba

60–70% · Likely

Purple Heron

Ardea purpurea

60–70% · Likely

Crested Serpent Eagle

Spilornis cheela

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Bornean Orangutan

Pongo pygmaeus

70–80% · Very likely

Proboscis Monkey

Nasalis larvatus

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Crab-eating Macaque

Macaca fascicularis

70–80% · Very likely

Silvered Leaf Monkey

Trachypithecus cristatus

70–80% · Very likely

Asian Elephant

Elephas maximus

60–70% · Likely

Southern Pig-tailed Macaque

Macaca nemestrina

60–70% · Likely

Maroon Leaf Monkey

Presbytis rubicunda

40–50% · Likely

Prevost's Squirrel

Callosciurus prevostii

40–50% · Possible

Pale Giant Squirrel

Ratufa affinis

30–40% · Possible

Common Palm Civet

Paradoxurus hermaphroditus

30–40% · Possible

Malay Civet

Viverra tangalunga

30–40% · Possible

Sunda Flying Lemur

Galeopterus variegatus

30–40% · Possible

Small-toothed Palm Civet

Arctogalidia trivirgata

30–40% · Possible

Least Pygmy Squirrel

Exilisciurus exilis

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Anthracoceros albirostris

80–90% · Very likely

Green Imperial-Pigeon

Ducula aenea

70–80% · Very likely

Blue-eared Kingfisher

Alcedo meninting

60–70% · Likely

Stork-billed Kingfisher

Pelargopsis capensis

60–70% · Likely

Great Egret

Ardea alba

60–70% · Likely

Purple Heron

Ardea purpurea

60–70% · Likely

Crested Serpent Eagle

Spilornis cheela

60–70% · Likely

Oriental Darter

Anhinga melanogaster

60–70% · Likely

Dollarbird

Eurystomus orientalis

60–70% · Likely

Slender-billed Crow

Corvus enca

60–70% · Likely

Black Hornbill

Anthracoceros malayanus

60–70% · Likely

Storm's Stork

Ciconia stormi

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Saltwater Crocodile

Crocodylus porosus

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Water Monitor

Varanus salvator

60–70% · Likely

Flat-tailed House Gecko

Hemidactylus platyurus

40–50% · Likely

Common Bronze-back

Dendrelaphis pictus

30–40% · Possible

White-banded Narrow-disked Gecko

Gekko albofasciolatus

30–40% · Possible

Ornate Earless Agama

Aphaniotis ornata

30–40% · Possible

Common Mock Viper

Psammodynastes pulverulentus

20–30% · Possible

Rough Mabuya

Eutropis rudis

20–30% · Possible

Spotted House Gecko

Gekko monarchus

20–30% · Possible

Green Crested Lizard

Bronchocela cristatella

20–30% · Possible

Borneo Skink

Dasia vittata

20–30% · Possible

Paradise Flying Snake

Chrysopelea paradisi

20–30% · Possible

Gold-ringed Cat Snake

Boiga dendrophila

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Chasen's Frilled Tree Frog

Kurixalus chaseni

30–40% · Possible

Copper-cheeked Frog

Chalcorana raniceps

20–30% · Possible

Harlequin Tree Frog

Rhacophorus pardalis

20–30% · Possible

Smooth-Fingered Narrow-mouthed Frog

Kaloula baleata

20–30% · Possible

Rough-sided frog

Pulchrana glandulosa

20–30% · Possible

Green Paddy Frog

Hylarana erythraea

20–30% · Possible

Large White-lipped Frog

Chalcorana megalonesa

10–20% · Possible

Crested Toad

Ingerophrynus divergens

10–20% · Possible

Brown-Striped Tree Frog

Polypedates macrotis

10–20% · Possible

Limnonectes finchi

10–20% · Possible

Alpine Cricket Frog

Fejervarya limnocharis

10–20% · Possible

Crab-eating Frog

Fejervarya cancrivora

10–20% · With luck

Animal Events

🦌

Orangutan Nesting and Feeding Season

JanFebMarAprAug

Orangutans build nests and forage heavily in fruiting fig trees, offering prime viewing opportunities during boat cruises.

Bornean Orangutan

Pongo pygmaeus

70–80% · Very likely

🦌

Proboscis Monkey Riverbank Display

MayJunSepOct

Proboscis monkeys gather in large troops along the Kinabatangan River, leaping between trees and displaying their distinctive noses during dawn and dusk cruises.

Proboscis Monkey

Nasalis larvatus

80–90% · Very likely

🐸

Frogging and Amphibian Chorus Wet Season

FebMarMayJulAugOctNovDec

Heavy rains trigger explosive breeding choruses of frogs like the Copper-cheeked Frog and Harlequin Tree Frog, filling the forest with sound and visibility at night.

Copper-cheeked Frog

Chalcorana raniceps

20–30% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

Bornean Orangutan

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

50–60

Proboscis Monkey

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

Saltwater Crocodile

60–70

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

Oriental Pied Hornbill

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

90–100

80–90

90–100

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

Crab-eating Macaque

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

Green Imperial-Pigeon

60–70

60–70

80–90

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

Silvered Leaf Monkey

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

40–50

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

Blue-eared Kingfisher

40–50

50–60

70–80

70–80

80–90

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

Stork-billed Kingfisher

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

Southern Pig-tailed Macaque

70–80

50–60

60–70

60–70

70–80

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

Common Water Monitor

20–30

50–60

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

50–60

60–70

Crested Serpent Eagle

60–70

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

Animal Events

🦌 Orangutan Nesting and Feeding Season

🦌 Proboscis Monkey Riverbank Display

🐸 Frogging and Amphibian Chorus Wet Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent

🦧 Bornean Orangutan Stronghold Along Wild Rivers

🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

584

🐒 Mammals

217

🦎 Reptiles

206

🐸 Amphibians

57

1064 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

116 Threatened 3 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

74%

📊

Coverage (220 species at ≥5% of 1064 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

21%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (6 mammal, 4 bird, 2 reptile)

47% Global avg

81%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

117

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

24

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

33

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