How to save the rainforest: Build a health center
Photos:
Brunei – In the northeast corner of Borneo, an island off the southeast coast of Asia, lies the tiny kingdom of Brunei. It may be a small country, with a population of just over 400,000, but there's an excellent reason for travelers to make a stop there: its rainforests are home to some of the animal kingdom's rarest creatures, many of which can only be found in the region.
A wonder to behold, their scarcity also means they're not always easy to find. Some of Brunei's wildlife is so precious that conservationists take care not to share detailed locations of animal sightings or typical habitats such as steaming waterfalls and shallow streams to ensure the safety of the animals.
Here are 10 of Brunei's most amazing animals, which any wildlife tourist should consider themselves privileged to see.
A wonder to behold, their scarcity also means they're not always easy to find. Some of Brunei's wildlife is so precious that conservationists take care not to share detailed locations of animal sightings or typical habitats such as steaming waterfalls and shallow streams to ensure the safety of the animals.
Here are 10 of Brunei's most amazing animals, which any wildlife tourist should consider themselves privileged to see.
Hide Caption
1 of 16
Photos:
Borneo horned frog – One such species is this creative little amphibian, who has figured out how to hide from predators by blending into its surroundings. Its shape and color have evolved to look just like the dead leaves on the forest floor. Sometimes also called the long-nosed frog, it has a pointed snout and what look like horns on its head, also part of the camouflage. This comes in handy when hiding in the undergrowth to catch its prey. The species is endemic to Borneo says Muhammad Shavez from 1StopBrunei, a group of local conservationists and eco-tourism operators.
Hide Caption
2 of 16
Photos:
Praying mantis – Due to the way it holds its front legs together as if saying prayers, this insect is named after the Greek word mantis which means prophet or fortune teller. Hardly a picky eater, the carnivorous mantis feasts primarily on other insects, but has been known to eat small reptiles, mammals and even other mantids, especially after mating, when females may decide to eat their partners.
Hide Caption
3 of 16
Photos:
Borneo keeled pit viper – Brightly colored and venomous, this snake is a patient predator and can stay put for weeks on end as it waits for the perfect opportunity to snatch its prey -- usually birds or rodents, according to 1Stop Brunei.
Hide Caption
4 of 16
Photos:
A paradise for lovers of the natural world, nearly three quarters of Brunei lies under a dense layer of tropical rainforest. While deforestation and habitat loss is a problem in rainforests around the world, and other parts of Borneo, Brunei has made efforts to preserve its flora and fauna, says Shavez. "Brunei has preserved 70% of its forest, and 58% is legally protected because of the Heart of Borneo Initiative." The Heart of Borneo Initiative is a joint effort by the governments of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, who in 2007 initiated a joint declaration to protect the Borneo's biodiversity through creating protected areas and promoting sustainability on the island.
Hide Caption
5 of 16
Photos:
Pangolin – The pangolin, one of the most poached animals in the world, also live here. There are eight species of pangolins in total -- four in Africa and four in Asia -- and all are either endangered or critically endangered. Habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade are among reasons for some of its decline.
Hide Caption
6 of 16
