Viewing proboscis monkeys and silver leafed monkeys close up but in the wild at Labuk Bay; followed by totally captive crocodiles and little animals at the crocodile farm.
Mother and child proboscis monkey. The female has a smaller upturned snubby nose.
The bigger male proboscis monkey. The males have larger noses.
The mother Silver Leafed monkey makes a grab for all of the vegetable stalks.
Proboscis monkeys are endemic to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo, and occupies coastal areas and riversides, feeding on fruits and leaves. They are an endangered species dwindling in numbers because of the loss of their habitat.
Silver leafed monkey.
We visited the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary in the morning after a sumptuous seafood breakfast at the famous Sim Sim restaurant.
Mother and child silver leafed monkey. Taken with Olympus PEN E-P3 with Soft Focus effect.
There are a number of seafood restaurants at Kampung Buli Sim Sim, the original site of Sandakan.
We were at the one at Bridge 8.
Now back to the proboscis monkeys.
Years ago, the private plantation owner at Labuk Bay had discovered the proboscis monkeys on his estate and gotten the necessary permits from the Sabah government to develop the area into a sanctuary. The whole place was pretty well designed.
A hornbill paid a surprise visit when we were at Labuk Bay.
A sheltered viewing platform allows visitors to watch the proboscis monkeys from about ten metres away when the monkeys emerge from the forest during meal times to feast on the food placed on the feeding areas.
This must be the most undignified and BL looking crocodile I've ever met.
We could see clearly the big dangling noses, reddish flat-top hairstyles, white tails and markings, and pot bellies.
This is one son of a croc.
A couple of silver leafed monkeys came into the shelter and afforded us an even closer view of these fine specimens.
There was this mother and child couple wondering along the railings waiting for the staff to hand out vegetable stalks to them.
The child kept on jumping onto my daughter’s lap to be cuddled. The mother didn’t seem to mind although the staff was concerned that the mother would become over-protective and hostile.
After lunch, we visited the crocodile farm. There was crocodile feeding and a short crocodile show when three Timorese keepers kissed the reptiles, laid on them and put their fists into their wide open jaws.
To take macro photo of crocodile's eyes, simply mount camera on mini-tripod and place the tripod on the croc's snout. Try not to get eaten in the process.
Some of the crocodiles on display were gigantic. There was this 17-feet long fellow that was 60 years old, weighed 800 kg, who had eaten four residents before checking into the crocodile farm.
Ces't la vie! A great way to take an afternoon nap.
This is the life! Just behold this prostrate otter.
There were also other smaller animals kept in enclosures and cages on display. The kids were particularly thrilled feeding them.