The male monkey's prominent nose earned this species its name--also known as Monyet Belanda (Dutch Monkey). Photo: Ann Savage

The clown-faced proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) have become something of an icon for Borneo. This species is characterized by the male's pendulous nose, which helps to resonate and amplify its calls. The large, red nose and paunchy belly earn the monkey its Malaysian name, Monyet Belanda (Dutch Monkey). They are also the only primates to have partial webbing on their hind feet, which helps them swim and walk across mud flats in their mangrove and wetland habitats.

These monkeys are found in the coastal and riparian forests of Borneo. Only in the Menanggul River, a small tributary of the Kinabatangan in Sabah, have they become accustomed to human presence and do not shy away from visitors and wildlife enthusiasts. The monkeys travel in groups of about five to fifteen, usually made up of a dominant adult male with a harem of up to ten females and some juveniles. Bako National Park in Sarawak also attracts many tourists wishing to see proboscis monkeys.

Attempts to keep these monkeys in zoos, such as the orangutan sanctuary at Sepilok, Sabah, have not been successful. Many have died in captivity. Proboscis monkeys are listed as Vulnerable species under Appendix I of CITES (Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species).