Animals in Malaysia

Geography

Malaysia, located in Southeast Asia, consists of the Malaysian Peninsula and the States of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo. (Borneo is shared with Brunei and Indonesia). The Peninsula is bordered by Thailand in the north; the island of Singapore lies to the south. Singapore is linked to Johor, in Malaysia, by a causeway. Kuala Lumpur, known as KL, is the capital of Malaysia.

Environment

Much of Malaysia is still heavily forested, despite its major timber industry. A mountain range running down the centre of the peninsula divides east from west. The rubber plantations which make Malaysia the world's largest rubber producer cover much of the coastal plains and hills of the west. The climate is hot and humid, although it is cooler in the highlands. The jungles of Malaysia are said to be the oldest in the world. They cover more than two thirds of the country and play a vital role in both its economic life and its climate.

The forests stretch from the mangrove swamps of the west coast, through freshwater swamps to lowland hardwood forests, heath forests and mountain forest. There are believed to be around 8,500 species of flowering plants and ferns and 2,500 species of trees, in Malaysia's forests.

Around 450 species of birds are native to Malaysia and many migrating species winter there. Among the most famous are the hornbills, native to Sarawak. Other species of birds include egrets, herons, kingfishers, kites, mynahs, and pheasants.

One of the world's most endangered animals is also unique to this part of the world - the orang utan, found only in Sumatra and Borneo, is the only great ape living naturally outside Africa. Other animal species of Malaysia include bears, crocodiles, elephants, leopards, monkeys, panthers and rhinoceroses. Borneo has over 160 species of snakes, including the venomous cobras, kraits and sea-snakes. All seven known species of turtles, including the giant leatherback, lay their eggs on Malaysia's beaches.

Malaysia is a major world exporter of timber. In recent years concern has grown about the rate of timber extraction. New forest management policies are being implemented to ensure the preservation of the forests. River pollution has also been the subject of recent control measures.

A system of National Parks has been established to help preserve the country's flora and fauna and their habitats. Gunung Mulu National Park and Kinabalu Park are World Heritage sites. Malaysia's marine environment is also in need of protection. Coral reefs and other fragile marine ecosystems are protected by the system of designated Marine Parks.

Animals in Malaysia

Malaysia is rich in wildlife. The country's equatorial climate has encouraged the evolution of an exceptional number and variety of animal species, in Sabah and Sarawak as well as Peninsular Malaysia. This volume introduces the animals of Malaysia in a way never done before.

There are many different environments for animals in Malaysia, including mangroves, mountainsides and rivers, former mining land, primary and secondary forest and open fields. The resulting diversity includes over 1000 species of butterflies, more than 600 species of birds, 280 species of mammals, 140 species of snakes and 165 species of frogs and toads. Many of the species are endemic to Malaysia-they are not found anywhere else in the world. New species are constantly being identified, especially in the depths of the rainforest. The Animals volume explores this exciting world of animals, many of which are not only important economically, but valuable as part of the world's gene bank.

The animal kingdom in the broadest sense covers 'all living organisms which cannot be classified as plants', though popularly the term 'animal' has acquired a more restricted meaning, namely mammals. In this volume, the term is used in its wider sense, as shown by the contents which represent all forms of animal life found in Malaysia.

Here are some pictures of animals that can be found in Malaysia.