WHERE TO ENCOUNTER THE REGION’S UNIQUE INDIGENOUS WILDLIFE
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Let’s be honest, everybody knows about Asia’s wildlife superstars. Be it the majestic Bengal tigers that still roam free in India and Bangladesh and the elephants in destinations like Sri Lanka and Thailand. But the region is replete with other magnificent — and often more elusive—beasts. Here are five of our favorite animals with some tips on where to encounter them.
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Established in 1980 to protect the famous Komodo Dragon—the world’s largest lizard—the Komodo National Park is one of Indonesia’s most precious protected areas. A 603 sq km archipelago, Komodo National Park is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands, dotted between the Indonesian provinces of East and West Nusa Tenggara. Here the remarkable Komodo Dragon – a beastly monitor lizard measuring up to 3m long – thrives on paradisiacal islands surrounded by a sparkling blue sea. In addition to spotting this famed lizard, visitors can enjoy world-class diving and snorkeling, making the most of the rich marine life. These are just a few of the park’s array of nature-based highlights, with visitors also treated to rich marine life, amazing forest hiking trails and pristine swimming beaches with strikingly colored sands.
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Sabah’s jungles offer some of the best opportunities for wildlife spotting in the whole of Asia. Here you are all but guaranteed to run into a Borneo icon; the proboscis monkey. Proboscis monkeys, famous for their floppy, pendulous noses and almost comical pot bellies, are endemic to the jungles of Borneo, never straying far from the island’s rivers, coastal mangroves, and swamps. They are a highly arboreal species and will venture onto land only occasionally to search for food. One of the best places to encounter proboscis monkeys (and other species including orang-utans) is on the Kinabatangan River in eastern Sabah, located in Malaysian Borneo.
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Snow leopards have evolved to live in some of the harshest conditions on Earth and are notoriously difficult to spot. But the likeliest places to catch a glimpse of the elusive felines are in Himalayan destinations such as Nepal, Bhutan, and North India. Indeed, the latter region is considered prime territory for tracking the animal. Sightings are common in Himachal Pradesh and in Ladakh. Travelers can make their home with The Ultimate Travelling Camps of Thiskey and Diskit, but those keen to lay eyes on the shyest big cat in the animal kingdom will opt for the simple Snow Leopard Lodges in Mangyu and Ulley in Ladakh.
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The takin is a national symbol of Bhutan and one of the world’s most remarkable animals. Its distinct features give it the appearance of a cross between a cow and a goat. But it is its association with Bhutanese religious history and mythology that make it stand out. Legend has it that in the 15th century, a Tibetan saint, Drukpa Kunley (better known as the “Divine Madman”) created this unique animal. Takins are not easy to spot in the wild, but you can easily see them in a large takin enclosure in the capital city of Thimpu. The population of takin in the wild is roughly 5000. They live in groups of approximately 20 members and are found above 4000 meters on the north-western, and far north-eastern parts of the Kingdom.
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No animal more symbolizes China than the adorable giant panda, and the Chinese government expends considerable effort to protect its endangered national emblem. Sanctuaries have been established in Sichuan province in southwestern China to nurture the animals, and guests can do their bit to assist in conservation efforts. Visitors can spend time as volunteers, feeding bamboo to the bears, preparing their baths, and taking part in their daily weigh-in. This hands-on encounter provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the preservation of these endangered animals and create lasting memories. Stay in the luxurious Temple House hotel in Sichuan’s capital city of Chengdu.
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