Spending time with the proboscis monkeys of Borneo

Proboscis monkey feeding time

Lunch at the Labuk Bay Proboscis monkey sanctuary is a little below par. The prices are higher than Sandakan, as one would expect at a resort. But the food was not near resort quality. Not that I know much about resort quality food. But this was a little bland, a little cold, and the orders often mixed up.

This was however all countered by some great staff, educational facilitation and lots of information.

The proboscis monkeys themselves are fed pancakes … I could have swapped meals a few times. But …

Good staff make a difference

The staff at Labuk bay were exceptionally friendly. From bus and boat drivers, to guides, waiters, and kitchen staff. They seemed well-informed about everything in the area.

Many of the ladies wear traditional dazzling silky kampong dresses. Not for any sort of “cultural dance” or the like, but just as part of their normal everyday attire. Omar the bus driver should also be commended for going above and beyond the call of duty on many an occasion. Including when I left the cover of my phone by a seat. He kept it safe, and made a telephone call to locate me and get the cover back.

RSS & Email subscribers, there is a video inserted here of Proboscis Monkeys  from Borneo, please click here to view it.

Small things like this added to this “resort”, and my reluctance to leave.

Platform feeding for photographing wildlife of all types

A ranger began squawking out to the trees in an attempt to attract the monkeys for their own lunch.

A few young females appeared in the grass as a Egoret gulped down a fish. It was all so much better without the human element around. The trees up above crashed to the sounds of an Alpha male arriving for some sugar-free pancakes that the rangers had ready.

A scattering of lower ranked primates cleared the way as the alpha male proboscis monkey marched up passing the feeding platform and over to the lower

walkway.

Did you know: The unusual eating habits of the Proboscis monkey

The ranger handed out pieces of pancake from the walkway and slowly the Alpha male accepted them. It was here I learned that the proboscis monkeys have a very unusual diet.

They don’t like ripe fruit

The proboscis monkeys main diet consists of young leaves, dry starchy fruits, and seeds.

The food the proboscis monkeys eats sits and ferments in their stomachs.

Hence, they have such big protruding stomachs!

The way to a Proboscis monkeys heart is through their stomach

Still chewing and with a powerful saunter the male proboscis monkey walked over to me and firmly grasped my pancake offering. Our hands touched and I felt the cold calluses of a well toughened hand.

Not something you expect from such a “cute” little monkey. And an all too real reminder, that these are indeed wild creatures.

More ignorant dangerous tourists in Sabah

“Look daddy, look. Can I feed it.”

“Sure sweety. But, let mom take a picture first.”

“Easy honey, this is a wild animal remember.”

Common sense at last.

I stood under the main feeding platform with a ranger and we looked on at the family above as they seemed to be showing some form of evolutionary sense. That is until the mother uttered the words.

“Honey, is it alright if I use flash on it?”

The art of being a stupid primate

Now, if  the whole place had no ‘do not use flash’ signs written up all over the place I would not have minded so much. But the place did have signs. I wanted to say

“Would you like it if I flashed my camera in your face?”

Instead I watched as the rangers all shouted “No flash…”

At least here the rangers, or guards, were well on the look-out for the well-being of the Proboscis monkeys. They also took the time to explain to the family why they should not use flash.

I don’t know if I’d have the patience to do that as often as they have to.

Feeding over with, it’s back to mating

The Alpha male next to us looked at us in the eye, then to our empty hands. Snorted. Swung down to the walkway, and sauntered off.

We were of no more use to him.

After a quick groom, he once again engaged in expanding his DNA reach with his many wives.

Recap on visiting & staying at the Proboscis monkey at Labuk Bay

While not as ‘overwhelmingly grand’ as visiting the Orangutans at Sepilok, the Labuk bay sanctuary seemed to have a far better administration.

There’s also an option to stay there, where dorm rooms and privates are easily available.

For me, it offered that rare type of place. It’s away from the city, but close enough to get back to in a morning. It’s not overcrowded. The staff are nice. And, you can avoid the day tripping tourist crowds by staying there.

More info on their website: http://www.proboscis.cc/

Staying longer &  learning more

The longer I stay in a place like this, the more attached I get to it. It’s not perfect, but then few places are. Home it is not, a temporary abode, it sure can be.

I learned more about the Proboscis monkey here than I have anywhere else. More to the point, I found myself putting my camera down and enjoying a hands on learning experience about ecology as a whole. Something I never quite enjoyed as much anywhere else before.

I’m only guessing, but I think that must mean they are doing something right. And, I wonder how many other places are there like this in the world?

Coming Soon:

Big opinion article on wildlife in Borneo; and then it’s nearly time to move on