Rainforest Mammals of Malaysia

"A Jungle of Wild Animals"

Tropical rainforest mammals in Malaysia display a full range of sizes and take advantage of the variety of habitats throughout Malaysia.

With about 280 mammal species, rainforests showcase the extraordinary diversity of animals living in the layers and niche habitats of the jungle.

Large mammals, like the tapir and rhinoceros, forage on plants of the forest floor, while the Malayan tiger stalks pigs and deer.

But it's the smaller mammals that dominate. Rats and mice, together with treeshrews, make up a major portion of this group of deep forest dwellers. And bats comprise the most number of species.

Cruising along sturdy tree trunks and limbs, squirrels, civets and monkeys loiter in the safety of the middle canopy. Jungle cats, like the leopard and leopard cat, await the night to search for prey, as do the big-eyed tarsier and scaly pangolin.

Orangutans make tree nests at night and spend the day munching fruits and leaves. Other active daytime species include the Malayan sun bear, the langur monkeys and muntjak.

Asian elephants usually move at night to feed but can be seen in small groups crossing the road in Temenggor or near the Kinabatangan River during the dry season.

Of course you need a bit of luck to see the big, shy mammals. So grab a pair of binoculars and watch for the tree dwelling animals. At night a strong torchlight illuminates the eye shine of the slow loris or catches a flying lemur gliding in eerie silence.

If the jungle proves to be too difficult, then visit a wildlife rehab center to see the rare gaur and other wild animals.

Flying lemur at night
Bornean pygmy elephants

List of Rainforest Mammals

Take the time to learn about the behavior of some of Malaysia's mammal fauna. With knowledge of their habitats and habits you'll be better prepared to find them in the jungle.

Many large mammals are endangered species and require animal conservation projects to save them from extinction.

For more information on protecting wild animals and how to get involved in volunteer programs, check out some of Malaysia's environmental organizations.

• Asian Elephant Species
• Malayan Tiger
• Orangutans
• Sumatran Rhinoceros
• Jungle Cats
• Malayan Tapir
• Malayan Sun Bear
• Flying Lemur
• Flying Squirrels
• Slow Loris
• Pangolin
• Civets
• Tarsier
• Gaur-Seladang
• Bearded Pig
• Mouse Deer
• Sambar Deer
• Barking Deer