These are some of the most fascinating wildlife destinations in Asia, bursting with rare and endemic species. From the sunlight depths of coral reefs to looming mountains, these destinations are a nature aficionado’s dream come true. Happy wandering!
1) Similan Islands, Thailand
Say “Similan Islands” to any scuba diver, and you will probably elicit a dreamy, wistful look from them – for very good reasons. This group of islands in the Andaman Sea hold a stunningly diverse and plentiful array of marine life, with over 3,000 fish species and 500 coral species catalogued in the Similans to date. The Similans are one of the top 10 diving destinations in the world, partly due to the diversity of marine life found here, and partly because of the huge difference between the east and west Similan coasts in terms of reef topography. If you don’t dive or can’t dive, don’t worry – there are plenty of snorkelling sites for a leisurely exploration of the Similan islands.
Wildlife in the Similan Islands
Sharks, Rays and Bony Fishes: Leopard shark, whale shark, blacktip and whitetip reef shark, Kuhls stingray, blotched fantail ray, giant moray
Fish: Big-eye trevally, blue-barred parrotfish, powder-blue surgeonfish, blackfin barracuda, whitespotted boxfish, tomato anemonefish, dash-dot goatfish, cleaner wrasse
Sea urchins, Crusteaceans and Molluscs: Diadema sea urchin, white-spotted hermit crab, squamose giant clam
Reptiles and Cephalopods: Banded sea snake, hawksbill turtle, marbled octopus
2) Danum Valley, Malaysian Borneo
Borneo has long been a popular wildlife destination, as it is home to several species found nowhere else in the world. The Danum Valley Conservation Area in Sabah comprises 438 square km of primary rainforest. Apart from housing endangered species such as the Asian elephant, orang utan, clouded leopard, and proboscis monkey, it also contains the Danum Valley Field Centre, one of the most established rainforest research centres in Southeast Asia. Trekking in the untouched rainforests of Borneo under the shadow the hornbill is a truly magical, otherworldly experience, so put this on your bucket list if you love nature!
Wildlife in the Danum Valley
Mammals: Over 120 species of mammals including 10 primate species and five deer species. Mammals here include the orang utan, Bornean pygmy elephant, banteng, Malayan sun bear, clouded leopard, and bearded pig. In addition, the critically endangered Sumatran rhino can be found here.
Birds: More than 300 species of birds, including seven species of pittas, Bulwer's pheasant, the Borneo Bristlehead and all eight hornbill species found in Borneo
Fish and Reptiles: Wallace Flying Frog, soft shelled turtles, skinks, vipers, over 40 species of fishes
Insects: Butterflies, including the Rajah Brooke butterfly
3) Ranthambore National Park, India
This sprawling national park in Rajasthan once served as the hunting grounds of the maharajas of Jaipur. The park is now home to a wide variety of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, wild boars, vipers, and turtles and is considered one of the choicest spots in the world to glimpse tigers in the wild. Tours of the park are conducted as in-vehicle safaris or jungle walks with a local guide. Also worth a visit is the Ranthambore Fort, located within the park itself. The fort is a UNESCO heritage site, and saw the laying of its first foundation stone in 944 AD. History, leopards, and tigers, oh my!
Wildlife in Ranthambore National Park
Mammals: Bengal tiger, leopards, striped hyenas, sambar deer, chital, nilgai, langurs, macaques, jackals, jungle cats, caracals, sloth bear, black buck, wild boar, chinkara, common palm civets or toddy cat, common yellow bats, desert cat, Indian flying fox, long-eared hedgehog, ratel, small Indian mongoose, small Indian civet, common mongoose.
Reptiles: Snub nosed marsh crocodile, desert monitor lizard, tortoise, banded krait, cobra, common krait, Ganges soft-shelled turtle, python, North Indian flap-shelled turtle, rat snake, Russell’s viper, saw-scaled viper, chameleon.
4) Rajah Sikatuna National Park, Philippines
The Rajah Sikatuna National Park in Bohol spans a vast 9,000 hectares of forest and grassland, including the largest tract of virgin molave forest in the world, and contains over 100 caves. The national park is a prime bird-watching site: over 120 bird species have been spotted within this protected area, including endangered species such as the streaked reed warbler and Philippine cockatoo. If the bird-watching makes your heart flutter with excitement, then this is the wildlife destination for you.
Wildlife in Rajah Sikatuna National Park
Birds: Philippine hawk-eagle, Visayan broadbill, Samar hornbill, Mindanao bleeding-heart, Philippine eagle-owl, Philippine oriole, Philippine frogmouth, azure-breasted pitta, silvery kingfisher, yellow-breasted tailorbird, yellow-bellied whistler, black-crowned babbler, Philippine hanging parrot, Philippine fairy-bluebird, Philippine trogon, Philippine leaf warbler.
Mammals: Philippine tarsier, long-tailed macaque, Philippine flying lemur, Malayan civet, Asian palm civet, Philippine warty pig, Philippine forest rat, rice-field rat, Mindanao hairy-tailed rat.
5) Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia
Rounding up the list is the Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumatra. Apart from wildlife, the park also houses an orang utan rehabilitation centre, where over 5,000 orang utans released from captivity are gradually re-integrated back into the wild. Head to the heart of the jungle for the sights (and sounds) of black gibbons, exuberantly acrobatic Thomas Leaf monkeys, or even a hornbill. Close encounters with a Sumatran tiger or Sumatran rhinoceros are unlikely due to their low numbers, but traipsing around the forest with a guide will ensure that you are alert to dangerous wildlife and you don’t miss out on the more affable jungle inhabitants.
Wildlife in Gunung Leuser National Park
Mammals: Orang utans, black gibbon, Thomas Leaf monkey, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran rhinoceros, clouded leopard, slow loris, ocelot, sun bear.
Reptiles: Several python species, king cobra, black cobra, banded krait, Sumatran pit viper, mangrove snake, crocodile
Birds: Hornbill, pheasant, parrot, eagle, kingfisher, bee-eater, owl, woodpecker.
Fauna: Giant trees, mangrove trees, rafflesia, orchids, bamboo.