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Wildlife at Pangkor

There are many people asking me about the wildlife at Pangkor, what animals can be seen. As on many other places in the world there's quite some wildlife to be seen at Pangkor. Here we present some of them. These are the ones you will see regular. Some animals are very curious and do come close to people, like monkeys and hornbill birds.

A Biawak or monitor lizard who found it's way in my home in Sitiawan

Animals like this monitor lizard do not often enter houses but it does very occasionally happen. However, you WILL see them in the wild. They are curious animals and for that reason they are often kill by cars.

On this page we have a look at a selection of animals living in and around Pangkor. Of course there are many animals but there's a good chance you will be able to see the following animals in the wild yourself:

• Hornbills
• Turtles
• Monkeys
• Biawaks or Monitor lizards
• Mudskippers
• Sea Otters
• Crabs
• Sea eagles
• Snakes
• Wild Boar

Hornbills

Of all wildlife at Pangkor, the hornbills belong to the most spectacular one. The Giant Hornbill is a very large bird, roughly 120 cm in total length. The male has a red eye. The female's eye is white. Giant hornbills have a yellow slash in their wings and a big yellow bill. They are often heard before they're seen. If you hear a whoosh, whoosh, whoosh sound, look up!

Two lovers ...

Their wings make this sound when flapping. There's a steady shhhhhh sound when they're gliding. However, the Giant Hornbill is not a natural inhibitor of Pangkor, they were imported from Sarawak. The Giant Hornbill is very shy. Your best bet to see them is to stay at Tiger Rock. In the evenings they will be reasonable easy to spot.

... waiting to feed...

A true original from Pangkor is the Lesser Hornbill, his smaller cousin. It is the Lesser Hornbill you will most likely see when visiting the island. The Lesser Hornbill is not shy, they will come whenever there is food available.

The story goes there are three hornbill families living at the island. One lives around Nipah Bay, the second around Pasir Bogak and the third a bit further south from Pasir Bogak. The photos shown here were the best I could get. At some stage there were a dozen or so hanging around and all were trying t o get a piece of the papayas.

The Hornbills are all fruit eaters though they do eat insects, reptiles etc. The hornbill nests in the higher parts of Pangkor. The jungle here is dense and the trees are big enough for the hornbill to create a nest inside the tree.

The female will stay inside the nest while the male is responsible for the feeding of mate and chicks. Usually they produce 2 or 3 chicks.

The Hornbills do not have many natural enemies. Their worst enemy at Pangkor is probably the biawak who is a good climber and eats virtually everything he can get. The crow who, if he can, will rob the nests and eat the chicks.

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Turtles

Everywhere in Malaysia live turtles. The ordinary land turtles can be found in the jungle or even around the house. During the my time in Malaysia I have had not much luck with turtles.

I saw them only a few times. Usually they are small, between 10 and 20 cm. Turtles are not easy to spot too. In the high crass they are easily overlooked but if you search well enough, you will find some.

On the beach near Segari is the main breeding area of marine turtles located. There are 4 of the worldwide 7 known species breeding in Malaysia.

At the beach side there is a turtle breeding station where the Department of Fishery breeds eggs and set them back in the sea, once the young turtles have a chance to survive.

Although the breeding station is a fantastic way of seeing these beautiful animals alive, the best way to see them, of course is in their natural environment: the sea. Unfortunately there is no diving school anymore in Lumut/Pangkor available. Until last year there was a good dive school in Lumut. With them I have visited the nearby uninhabited Sembilan islands where still a few turtles live. Seeing them in the wild was one of the most impressive things of my underwater experience.

Read more about the turtle breeding station at Segari

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Monkeys

Of all animals at Pangkor, the monkeys are the most common. Most of the monkeys belong to the family of macaque. There are curious and not afraid of humans. In fact they do every now and then steal food from the beach visitors when they have a dip in the Straits of Malacca.

Monkeys are omnivores although they have a preference for fruits which is abundant available in the jungle of the Pangkor hills.

When going around at the circle road at Pangkor you'll see many. On the mainland you find them mostly at the plantations although occasionally they can be seen in the towns.

Monkeys in Pangkor tend to try to rob your bags in search for food. If you go to the beach with food, make sure there is someone with your bags if monkeys are around. As they don't understand the value of your camera, they will smash things around until they have what they want.

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Mudskippers

Mudskippers belong to some of the weirdest animals you can imagine. The mudskipper is a fish but spends much of its life above the water. If you visit a mangrove swamp forest, for example the one near Lumut, Taman Paya Bakau, you will plenty of these strange fish.

To breath they have an airbag. Mudskippers can't live far away from water but they can stay hours above water if necessary.

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A sea otter family at the Pasir Bogak beach

Sea otters

Sea otters can be seen at Pangkor island. I saw them once at school holiday just in front the Pasir Bogak. However, you have better chances to see them when visiting the beaches in between Teluk Batik and Teluk Rubiah where there are a few families living.

Sea otters are not often seen which is mostly because they live much of their time in the sea, away from people. The live on fish and they have excellent fishing techniques. You will not find them easily on the beaches unless it is very quiet.

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Crabs

Sandcrabs belong to some of the most widespread animals to be found at the beach. Just dig a few minutes and the chance is big you find some crabs. The big crabs are usually to be found in the mangrove forest.

Crabs are real survivors. They are the favorite prey of octopus. And if you are really lucky, you might catch one at the beach. The photos below were made after we caught a crab and a little octopus with a little bucket.

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Biawaks or Monitor lizards

A description of wildlife at Pangkor (and Malaysia) is not complete without mentioning the biawak, or monitor lizard.

Biawaks are the slightly smaller cousins of the more well known Komodo Dragon living in Indonesia (Rincon and Komodo islands). The biawaks are by no means as aggressive as the Komodo Dragon. Usually they are running harder then you can chase them.

Biawaks are widespread all over Malaysia. At the mainland they like to live on the estates living on small rodents, eggs, fruits and anything they can get.

Biawaks are very territorial. This means you will most likely see the younger and slightly smaller animals going around (and be killed on the roads) while the older and larger ones stay inside the safety of the plantations chasing all the competition away.

When cycling or motor-biking around the island you'll find them mostly at the northern part of the island since it's a bit more remote. Having said that, biawaks can be found anywhere. Do not be surprised when you open you hotel room and see them running away between the chalets.

A young lizard on the water side

Biawaks can be seen in the Taiping Zoo but when we were in the Zoo, we saw also some wild biawaks going around on the hunt to eggs, fruit and whatever was available. The Taiping Zoo staff had to chase them away.

In many ways biawaks have a similar role as for example crows and vultures. They can be the "garbage men" of the jungle since they feed with anything including other dead animals.

The biawaks are exceptional good swimmers. Biawaks are very curious and not much afraid as long as you don't move much. Fully grown biawaks can be as big as two and a half meter. This is at last the seize I have seen here at a plantation when cycled through. When going around you will find many dead on the roads. In some cities, like Sitiawan, you can even eat biawak meat. It's good and tasty. If you go to Teluk Senangin, and stay for awhile at the beach there, it's most likely you will see huge biawaks coming out of the sea with prey.

Lizard in front of my house in Sitiawan

All along in Malaysia you will find also the little brother of the biawaks: the lizards, sometimes named Ghekko because of the sound the make. You will most likely see many of them. Sometimes you will find them on the walls in houses, stores and offices. The ghekkos are harmless, in fact they are very useful because their favorite food is: mosquitoes!

Lizards live almost everywhere and eat a lot of different things, including snake eggs, dead meat, fish etc. It really depends on the size what they can eat.

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Sea eagles

Wildlife at Pangkor includes quite a few eagles breeding and hunting in and around Pangkor. Visitors at Pangkor are often welcomed by eagles.

The sea eagle is one of the biggest and (to me) most majestic birds of prey in this part of Malaysia. They are quite common here. Some of the sea eagles nest on the mainland (in the hills near Teluk Batik and Teluk Rubiah).

They hunt on fish and smaller animals like mice, rabbits, rats and squirrels if they can get them. You will see the eagles regularly gliding above Pangkor island though you won't easy see them very close.

Eagles, especially Red Eagles are common in and around Pangkor. There's even a spot near Teluk Rubiah where, if you are lucky, you can see 30 to 40 of them hanging out together, playing with the riverwater.

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Snakes

In Malaysia you can find plenty of snakes, some venomous, some are not. Snakes are hardly seen at daytime. Many are shy and silent hunters in the jungle or on the plantations. But in Malaysia, some very well known, and dangerous snakes live. Cobras and boa constrictors have a decent life in jungle or plantation. Still, do you have to be afraid of snakes when visiting Malaysia? Not really. Snakes avoid crowded areas but do go around in the small kampongs, jungle and plantations.

As all animals, snakes will not attack unless they feel themselves in danger. If in case you meet a snake, say simply hello and continue your way. When coming to Pangkor, you may see some dead snakes on the road, these are usually the younger and less experienced snakes and, like the monitor lizard, the older and bigger snakes stay in the jungle or plantations.

I have had my own meetings with snakes, one was especially scary: you can read the full story here about my encounter with a cobra at a plantation near Bruas, not far from Sitiawan.

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Wild Boar

In the jungle of Pangkor and on the main land there wild boar living. The chance you will possibly see them is not very big as they are very shy.

Locals hunt them for their meat (it is much like pig but has a wild taste. If you have ever tasted wild and domesticate rabbit you understand the difference).

Wild boar, like their domesticated cousin eats pretty much everything. One could say they are the garbage men of the jungle as they clean the area.

If you are going out on a hike you most likely find trails of wild boar. Look for areas where the ground is ploughed. This is usually a sign a wild boar has been digging here.

Although wild boar are in principle not dangerous, they do attack quickly and their fearsome tusks can give severe wounds. Stay at distance and you're safe.

Another option to see quite some wildlife is to visit the Taiping zoo.

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Read more about the Turtles in Malaysia

Back to Pulau Pangkor.com homepage

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