You’ll never have to travel far to find wildlife in Malaysia. Not many people call a holiday on the island of Pangkor in Perak with the opportunity to see wild animals. For most people, Pangkor is synonymous with beaches, beach activities, ikan bilis (anchovies), and dried fish and fish restaurants.
The study of the animal world is usually not included in the program of average visitors. If you want to see the wild life, you visit Taman-Negara or other natural parks; This is a general statement. However, like other Malaysian islands, Pangkor has a wild life, and it is not difficult to explore some of them.
Land animals
Like almost everywhere in Malaysia, Pangkor has its own population of macaque monkeys, and they are not shy. You will find them almost everywhere, on the beach, sitting near the window of your hotel room, next to the restaurant you will have your lunch waiting for the left. They are looking for food, and if you do not know, they also steal your bags. So be careful.
A famous animal is the monitor lizard. They are common in Malaysia. It is interesting that the monitor lizard is here, that they regularly swim from Pangkor to the mainland. I saw them crossing the small straits between Pangkor and the mainland. Monitor lizard can reach 3 meters.
The lizards that you see are usually younger, since older and stronger animals usually have their own territory in the estates and the jungle. Do not be surprised to see a lizard on the beach. Monitor lizards in Malaysia are usually shy, contrary to their cousins on the Indonesian islands of Rincon and Komodo.
Malaysia has a wide selection of snakes. I saw several cobras around Lumut and Sityavan, but he was always in very quiet areas and at the end of the day. Snakes are usually shy, and you are unlikely to see them without the villagers doing it.
Turtles can still be found, despite the fact that most of them have a majority. You will find many in Phu Ling Kong temple in the SEC. There are also some on the mainland. For divers and snorkelers you are lucky to see turtles.
To the north of Pangkor is Turtle, bred on the beach, where turtles lay eggs. These eggs were dug and hatched before returning them. It is worth visiting the station, located 35 km north of Pangkor Island.
The station has several fully grown species, which makes the visit even more impressive. These turtles came to the station either injured or caught by local residents and did not return to the wild.
To get to the turtle station, take the road from Lumut to Taiping. Go through Segari, after 3 km, take a left (sign "Lumut Power Plant"). Follow this road to the first intersection on the left (first asphalt road), go to the end. On the right side you will find the Turtle Breeding Station (there is no public transport).
Wild boar families still live in the Pungkor jungle. Many of them hunt so much that they are few. If you want to see them, the best option would be the Vikry Beach Resort in Pasir Bogak. Owners feed wild boars in the evenings.
birds
The symbol of Pangkor is the Little Hornbill. In Pangkor live 3 different families. One lives around Nipa Bay, the second near Pasir Bogak, and the third lives south of Pasir Bogak. (to find out where we find them, see the map of Pangkor Island on the Pangkor website, below.)
There is also a large family of Hornbill, living in the hills near the Tiger Rock. You will need to stay at the Tiger-Rock resort to be lucky enough to see them (parties, most likely). The Great Hornbill is imported from further on to the Malaysian Peninsula.
While the Minor Hornbills arrive at Pasir Bogak primarily in the morning, in Nipah Bay (as well as in the city of Pangkor) they are more active at the end of the day. In the morning at Sea View, you will see a variety of Small Hornbills, where the owner feeds them fruit.
You will see (and hear) a lot in the trees and on the beach.
All day you will see an eagle. They are more active on the east coast of the island, hunting for fish leftovers from the Pangkor fish industry. Pangkor, and especially on the mainland near Teluk Rubia, you can find dozens of eagles in the early morning. Once we noticed more than 40 eagles in one place when we were on our way to Teluku Rubia.
Aquatic animals and fish
In Pangkor, sea otters are much less common. There is a family living between Teluk Batik and Teluk Rubiah in an area that is a bit more difficult to visit. This family visits Pangkor from time to time, as they are excellent swimmers. Interestingly, I saw them once on a school holiday in Pasira Bogak.
Sea otters are almost always in the water, but I saw them relax on the beach. These magnificent swimmers will surely make your day if you are lucky enough to see them.
You can see turtles when you go diving near the Sembilan Islands, a group of small islands 45 minutes from the coastline from Lumut.
In the northern part of Pangkor Lauta, shark-acupuncture and black sharks can be found. These gorgeous hunters eat fish and you can feed them by hand. Sharks are not dangerous to humans. Outside, again in the Pulau Sembilan region, you can find a variety of fish, including pufferfish, barracuda, seahorses, angels, and others.
Mudscripts are common, especially in the eastern part of Pangkor. This is a strange creature, equipped with airbags to breathe out of the water.
On the beaches on the western side of the island you must be careful when you are in the water. You may accidentally (mainly on Pasir Bogak, step on Pinna Incurva, the triangular shape of mollusks, which can give you a serious reduction in your leg, like your hand or even more.
Jungle
In Pangkor 2 campaigns are possible. The hike in the northern part can begin north of the SEC. Take a taxi and ask to be dropped at the starting point of jungletrek. The path goes cool. Bring good walking shoes, especially when it rains, because there are leeches.
There are not many views, but there are many orchids, insects, butterflies and other plants. The hike takes from 1.5 to 2 hours depending on your physical condition.
The second path is probably more interesting. It leads from the resort of Tigr Rock to Pasir Bogak. The trail follows the hills. Here you can find a lot of orchids, other plants and butterflies. The path is probably more interesting, because the jungle "breathe" more, it is more open. This hike takes from 1 to 1.5 hours.
Conclusion
Pangkor may not have a name as a paradise of wild life, but this is enough to keep you busy. Without much effort, you can be surrounded by a lot of wild life. Given the small size of Pangkor and the amount of jungle to explore, I would certainly not miss Pangkor.
