| For finding wildlife in Malaysia you never have to | | | | most likely). The Great Hornbill is imported from |
| travel far. Not many people relate a holiday to | | | | further in the Malaysian peninsula. |
| Pangkor island in Perak with a possibility to see wild | | | | While the Lesser Hornbills come at Pasir Bogak |
| animals. For most people Pangkor is synonymous with | | | | primarily in the morning, at Nipah Bay (and also in |
| beaches, beach fun, ikan bilis (anchovies), dried fish | | | | Pangkor Town) they are more active in the late |
| and fish restaurants. | | | | afternoons. In the morning, you will see plenty of |
| Exploring the animal kingdom is usually not on the | | | | Lesser Hornbills at the Sea View hotel where the |
| program of the average visitors. If you want to see | | | | owner feeds them fruits. |
| wild life, you visit Taman Negara or other nature | | | | You will see (and hear) many in the trees and on the |
| parks; that is the common statement. However, like | | | | beach. |
| other Malaysian islands, Pangkor has its own wild life | | | | The whole day you will see eagle. They are more |
| and it is not difficult to explore some of it. | | | | active on the east coast of the island hunting for the |
| Land animals | | | | fish leftovers of the Pangkor fishing industry. Pangkor |
| Like almost everywhere in Malaysia, Pangkor has its | | | | and especially just on the mainland near Teluk Rubiah, |
| own population of Macaque monkeys and they are | | | | you can spot dozens of eagles in the early morning. |
| not shy. You will find them almost everywhere, at | | | | One day, we spotted over 40 eagles in one place |
| the beach, sitting near your window of your hotel | | | | when we were on the way to Teluk Rubiah. |
| room, close to the restaurant you have your dinner | | | | Water animals and fish |
| waiting for the left over. They are searching for food | | | | A much rarer sight at Pangkor are sea otters. There |
| and if you are not aware, they steal your bags too. | | | | is a family living in between Teluk Batik and Teluk |
| So be careful. | | | | Rubiah in an area which is slightly harder to visit. This |
| A much seen animal is the monitor lizard. They are | | | | family every once in a while visits Pangkor too as |
| common in Malaysia. What is interesting about the | | | | they are excellent swimmers. Interestingly I saw |
| monitor lizard here is that they regularly swim from | | | | them once in a school holiday at Pasir Bogak. |
| Pangkor to the mainland. I have seen them crossing | | | | The sea otters are almost always in the water but I |
| the small straits in between Pangkor and the | | | | have seen them relaxing at the beach too. These |
| mainland. The monitor lizard can be up to 3 meters | | | | magnificent swimmers will surely make your day if |
| long. | | | | you are lucky enough to see them. |
| The lizards you see are usually the younger ones as | | | | You can see turtles when you go diving near |
| the older and stronger animals have their territory | | | | Sembilan islands, a group of small islands 45 minutes |
| usually in the estates and jungle. Do not be surprised | | | | out of the coastline from Lumut. |
| to see a lizard on the beach too. Monitor lizards in | | | | White Tip- and Black Tip sharks can be found on the |
| Malaysia are usually shy, contrary to their cousins on | | | | north part of Pangkor Laut. These magnificent |
| the Indonesian islands Rincon and Komodo. | | | | hunters feed on fish and you can feed them by hand. |
| Malaysia has a wide selection of snakes. I've seen a | | | | The sharks are not dangerous for humans. Outside, |
| few cobras around Lumut and Sitiawan but it was | | | | again in the area of Pulau Sembilan, you can find an |
| always in very quiet areas and late afternoons. | | | | array of fish including pufferfish, barracudas, |
| Snakes are usually shy and you hardly see them | | | | seahorses, angelfish and others. |
| unless the villagers have caught one. | | | | Mudskippers are common, especially at the east part |
| Tortoises are still to be found although the locals | | | | of Pangkor. It's a strange creature, equipped with |
| have caught most of them. You find many at the Fu | | | | airbags to be able to breathe outside the water. |
| Lin Kong Temple at SPK. There are also some on the | | | | At the beaches on the west part of the island you |
| mainland. For the divers and snorkelers, you may | | | | have to be careful when you're in the water. You |
| lucky to see turtles. | | | | may accidently (mostly at Pasir Bogak, step on a |
| North of Pangkor is a Turtle Breeding Station at a | | | | Pinna Incurva, a triangle shaped shellfish that can give |
| beach where turtles lay eggs. Those eggs are dug up | | | | you a serious cut in your foot. The shellfish usually |
| and hatched before setting them back. The station, | | | | only sticks a centimeter above the sand in the water. |
| 35 km north of Pangkor island, is worth a visit. | | | | The shells can be as big as your hand or even bigger. |
| The station has several full grown species which | | | | Jungle trekking |
| makes the visit even more spectacular. These turtles | | | | There are basically 2 treks possible at Pangkor. The |
| came to the station either wounded or caught by | | | | trek on the northern part can start north of SPK. |
| locals and are not set back in the wild. | | | | Take a taxi and ask to be dropped at the jungletrek |
| To reach the Turtle Breeding Station take the road | | | | starting point. The path goes steep up. Bring good |
| from Lumut to Taiping. Pass Segari, after 3 km, take | | | | walking shoes, especially when it has been raining |
| the junction left (sign board "Lumut power plant"). | | | | because there are leeches. |
| Follow this road to the first junction left (first asphalt | | | | There is not much views but there are plenty of |
| road), go to the end. On your right side, you find the | | | | orchids, insects, butterflies and other plants to see. |
| Turtle Breeding Station (no public transport). | | | | The trek takes 1.5 to 2 hours depending on your |
| Families of wild boar still live in the jungle of Pangkor. | | | | physical condition. |
| Many are hunted so hard that there are few left. If | | | | The second path is probably more interesting. It leads |
| you want to see them, your best bet is the Vikry | | | | from Tiger Rock resort to Pasir Bogak. The path |
| Beach Resort at Pasir Bogak. The owners feed the | | | | follows the hills. Plenty of orchid, other plantlife and |
| wild boars in the evenings. | | | | butterflies are to be found here. The path is probably |
| Birds | | | | more interesting because the jungle "breaths" more, |
| The symbol of Pangkor is the Lesser Hornbill. There | | | | it is more open. This trek takes 1 to 1.5 hours. |
| are 3 distinctive different families living at Pangkor. | | | | Conclusion |
| One is living around Nipah Bay, the second near Pasir | | | | Pangkor might not have the name as a wild life |
| Bogak and the third lives south of Pasir Bogak. (to | | | | paradise but there's enough to keep you busy. |
| get an idea where we find them, see the map of | | | | Without much effort you can find yourself |
| Pangkor island on the Pangkor website, below). | | | | surrounded with plenty of wild life. Considering the |
| There is also a Great Hornbill family living in the hills | | | | small size of Pangkor and the amount of jungle to |
| near Tiger Rock. You will need to stay at Tiger Rock | | | | explore, I would certainly not dismiss Pangkor. |
| resort to be lucky enough to see them (evenings is | | | | |