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  Bernama 29 Aug 06
Beaufort's Proboscis Monkey
By Muammar Kamarudin

BEAUFORT, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- The endangered proboscis monkey has now joined the ranks of its popular cousin the orang utan as another tourism asset for Sabah.

Found only on the island of Borneo, the proboscis monkey has reddish-brown fur on its back and shoulders, and darker red fur on the head. It is creamy on the chest, around the neck, waist, buttocks and tail while its arms and legs have long gray gloves and stockings.

It gets its name from its long fleshy nose with the males having larger noses that hang over their mouths. It is also known locally as "monyet Belanda", meaning Dutch monkey, as the colonised natives then saw the proboscis monkey as a caricature of the big-nosed, pot-bellied and hairy Europeans or more specifically the Dutch.

However, the bizarre-looking primate is enjoying "celebrity" status now as tourists from as far as Australia, Japan, Taiwan, China and Europe are flocking to take a closer look at it.

Basically a tree dweller, the elusive proboscis monkey is said to prefer to live in the mixed dipterocarp-kerangas forests, mangrove forests and lowland forests near fresh water and rivers. It feeds mainly on leaves, seeds and green fruits. In Sabah, it was initially thought to be confined to the mangrove forests of Sukau in Sandakan.

It was feared that they were on the verge of being extinct with only about 3,000 remaining. However, of late they were also found in the Klias wetland, some 120km from Kota Kinabalu, the state capital.

The discovery has led to a sudden surge in ecotourism activities in the Klias wetland, Beaufort district. After all, Klias is just a two-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu and tourists no longer have to go far to Sukau in Sandakan to watch them.

A BOOST TO LOCAL ECOTOURISM

It now even appears that the popularity of the Klias proboscis monkeys has gradually surpassed that of the orang utan in the Sepilok sanctuary in Sandakan.

This prompted tourist guide Gilbert Sie, who recently took the writer and a group of visitors on a cruise along the Klias river, to propose that protective measures be taken immediately to ensure the well-being of the Klias bands of proboscis monkeys.

"The mangrove forest along the river must be left undisturbed because unlike their other cousins, the proboscis feeds mainly on the leaves of the pedada tree. Feeding them bananas, nuts or other fruits will only endanger them," Sie said.

ODD FEATURES

But why are these rare primates that shun humans so alluring?

It is all in their odd features, among others, the snout-like nose, pot belly and the honking calls. Another bizarre feature is the male sexual organ is always in the erect position.

"It would be interesting for researchers to conduct a study on why the male has that ceaseless erection," Sie told the visitors in jest. Their bands usually comprise of a dominant male with four or more females.

RIVER CRUISE PROVIDES GOOD VIEW

The river cruise that day started about 5pm, the time when the proboscis ventures out to scavenge for young mangrove shoots besides early morning. Long-tailed macaques are also occasionally spotted along the river banks hunting for mangrove crabs. Visitors are encouraged to bring along binoculars to get a closer look at the feeding session.

The newly discovered proboscis community along the 10km-stretch of the river banks has become a source of joy for the locals in Beaufort because tourist influx to the area means additional income for them, especially the boat and tour operators, guides as well as big and small-time businessmen.

MORE INFRASTRUCTURE BEING BUILT

The authorities and local entrepreneurs have built jetties, chalets and restaurants to cater to the ever-increasing visitors to the Klias wetland to watch them or participate in white-water rafting in the famous nearby Padas river.

The proboscis monkey is now considered one of the wonders of Borneo.

To the tourist, having the opportunity to see them in their natural habitat could be an unforgettable experience. Negoro Yoshiko of Kyogo, Osaka, who was travelling in the same boat with this writer said: "Cruising along the river is a whole new experience, and it is fascinating to watch the proboscis monkey swinging from branch to branch in search of edible leaves."

Another tourist, Allan Swinburne of Adelaide, said it was a dream come true for him to be able to see the rare monkeys enjoying their freedom in the wild. "They are truly unique animals which may not be found anywhere else on this planet except in Borneo. They are nature's gift to Sabahans, hence they must be protected at all costs," he said.
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