Animals in Kalimantan: What You Can Spot, Learn, and Collect
Kalimantan wildlife guide: Tanjung Puting orangutans by klotok, proboscis monkeys on the Sekonyer, Derawan turtles and mantas, and Kakaban's jellyfish lake.
Quick answer
Start with the direct answer, then use the sections below to see why the location matters and which animals are actually realistic to spot there.
Kalimantan is the Indonesian three-quarters of Borneo. Tanjung Puting's Camp Leakey shows Bornean orangutans and proboscis monkeys from a klotok houseboat, the Mahakam river has Irrawaddy dolphins near Muara Pahu, and the Derawan islands off East Kalimantan add green turtles, mantas and the stingless jellyfish of Kakaban lake.
The three classic Kalimantan trips are a klotok up the Sekonyer river in Tanjung Puting (Central Kalimantan), a river journey on the Mahakam from Samarinda (East Kalimantan), and a dive trip to Derawan, Maratua, Kakaban and Sangalaki.
Between them lies a lot of peat swamp and oil palm, and some of the best remaining forest is in the Heart of Borneo around Betung Kerihun and Kayan Mentarang, which few travellers reach. Users in South Kalimantan mostly log water monitors, which tells you how much of daily life happens on the rivers.
Why this location matters
Good location pages explain why the place is worth your time, not just which names belong on a destination checklist.
Kalimantan holds most of the world's Bornean orangutans, and the 2015 and 2019 peat fires showed how quickly that habitat can go. Camp Leakey has run since 1971 and is the longest orangutan study anywhere.
The Derawan archipelago is one of Indonesia's most important green turtle nesting areas, with turtles coming ashore on Sangalaki and Derawan itself most nights of the year.
Where to look
Wildlife map of Kalimantan
This guide covers the region shown below. Zoom in to get your bearings before planning a trip.
Positions are geocoded from OpenStreetMap. Habitat access and opening times change — check locally before travelling. Smaller pins are public AnimalDex captures, placed to the nearest kilometre.
Field proof
Found in Kalimantan by AnimalDex users
Real captures logged in the AnimalDex app inside this area and shared publicly by their collectors, with the animal confirmed by the app's identification. Places are shown to the nearest region, never the exact spot.
- 5
- public captures
- 3
- species recorded
- 2
- collectors
- 5
- wild sightings
Recent captures from the field
Species people have actually logged here
Every name links to its species guide. The count is how many public captures of that animal sit inside this area.
Collectors choose to share these captures on Discover and can withdraw them at any time. Coordinates are rounded to about a kilometre and refreshed with each site build.
Animals to spot
These are intentionally practical species picks, balancing accessibility, excitement, and what travelers can realistically notice in the location.
Bornean OrangutanA
Wild and ex-captive orangutans visit the feeding platforms at Camp Leakey, Pondok Tanggui and Tanjung Harapan along the Sekonyer river.
Spotting note: Near-guaranteed on a two-night klotok trip in Tanjung Puting.
Read species guide
Proboscis MonkeyB
Troops of big-nosed monkeys settle in riverside trees at dusk on the Sekonyer and the Mahakam, leaping into the water when alarmed; logged by users in West Java zoos too.
Spotting note: Reliable from the boat in the last hour of light.
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Bornean Bearded PigC
Bearded pigs root around the Camp Leakey feeding platform for dropped bananas and wander the camp paths.
Spotting note: Common at Camp Leakey; scarce in logged forest.
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Sun BearB
Claw-scarred trees along the Tanjung Puting trails and the Samboja Lestari sanctuary near Balikpapan, which rehabilitates rescued bears.
Spotting note: Wild sightings rare; Samboja Lestari shows rescued bears by arrangement.
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Rhinoceros HornbillB
The Dayak sacred bird flies over the Sekonyer and the upper Mahakam with loud wingbeats and a honking call.
Spotting note: Regular in Tanjung Puting and the Heart of Borneo forest.
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Silvery LutungC
Grey langurs with orange babies feed in riverside trees in Tanjung Puting, often near proboscis troops.
Spotting note: Common along the Sekonyer.
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Water MonitorC
The most-captured animal by AnimalDex users in South Kalimantan, swimming the Barito and Martapura canals in Banjarmasin.
Spotting note: Guaranteed on any river journey.
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Saltwater CrocodileA
Big crocodiles live in the Sekonyer and Kumai estuaries and the Mahakam delta; guides forbid swimming for good reason.
Spotting note: Occasional on night spotlighting from the boat.
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Green Sea TurtleC
Derawan island turtles graze seagrass off the jetties in a metre of water and nest on the beach most nights.
Spotting note: Guaranteed at Derawan; dozens nest on Sangalaki each night.
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Manta RayA
Mantas feed on plankton at the surface off Sangalaki island and are watched from boats and on snorkel.
Spotting note: Regular at Sangalaki, best around the full moon.
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Whale SharkA
Whale sharks gather at the bagan fishing platforms off Talisayan, north of Derawan, feeding on the anchovy bycatch at dawn.
Spotting note: Reliable at Talisayan on early-morning boat trips.
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JellyfishC
Kakaban island's brackish lake holds four species of stingless jellyfish that have lost their sting over thousands of years of isolation.
Spotting note: Guaranteed in Kakaban lake; swim with no fins and no sunscreen.
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Long-tailed MacaqueC
Camp guards, boat raiders and mangrove foragers along every Kalimantan river and in Balikpapan's city forest.
Spotting note: Guaranteed.
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Bornean Slow LorisD
Spotlighting from the klotok at night picks up the orange eyeshine of lorises in riverside tangles.
Spotting note: Rare; try a night walk at Camp Leakey or the Rimba lodge.
Read species guideBest for
Use this section to decide whether the location fits your travel style, skill level, and AnimalDex goals.
- Klotok houseboat trips in Tanjung Puting
- Turtle and manta diving around Derawan and Sangalaki
- Whale sharks at Talisayan
- River journeys on the Mahakam
Spotting tips
These tips are meant to make the page useful in the field, not just readable on the page.
- 01Book a two-night klotok from Kumai so you reach Camp Leakey for the 2 pm feeding and sleep on the river for proboscis monkeys at dusk.
- 02At Derawan, snorkel off the village jetty at high tide for turtles; Kakaban and Sangalaki are a short speedboat hop.
- 03Talisayan whale sharks are a dawn activity; leave Derawan at 4 am or stay in Talisayan.
- 04Ask your boat crew to spotlight the banks after dark for crocodile eyeshine, lorises and tarsier-sized surprises.
Virtual Wildlife Guides
Wildlife guides to Kalimantan
AnimalDex builds virtual guides from explorers' own wild sightings: which animals they found, how rare they are, and when. A guide is advice from someone who has been there, not a tour. Buying one unlocks the author's notes for every animal, a chat with the author, and introductions to local people they met. Wildlife is never guaranteed.
Checking for virtual guides to Kalimantan...
How to choose a local wildlife guide in Kalimantan
- Ask what they usually find in the season you are visiting. A good guide gives an honest answer, not a promised sighting.
- Check how they treat animals: no baiting, calling in, handling, or close flash photography for a better shot.
- Confirm the meeting area, duration, group size, total price, and how you pay before the day, plus any permits or park fees the place requires.
Track the animals you find in Kalimantan
Build your collection while you travel through Kalimantan, from easy wins to the species worth planning around.
Related locations
Keep exploring with nearby or similar destinations that support the same kind of AnimalDex discovery.
Animals in Borneo: What You Can Spot and Why the Region Matters
A structured Borneo wildlife guide focused on realistic rainforest, river, and sanctuary-linked spotting with strong links into species pages and broader AnimalDex discovery.
Read location guideAnimals in Sulawesi: What You Can Spot, Learn, and Collect
Sulawesi wildlife guide: tarsiers and crested macaques at Tangkoko, babirusa and anoa at Nantu, knobbed hornbills, and the reefs of Bunaken and Lembeh.
Read location guideAnimals in Sumatra: What You Can Spot, Learn, and Collect
Sumatra wildlife guide: orangutans at Bukit Lawang, Way Kambas elephants, tigers and tapirs in Kerinci, hornbills, and the macaques and monitors you will see.
Read location guideLocation FAQ
Short direct answers to the questions travelers usually ask before choosing a wildlife destination or zoo day.
What wildlife is there in Kalimantan?
Kalimantan has Bornean orangutans, proboscis monkeys, bearded pigs, sun bears, hornbills and crocodiles in its river forests, and green turtles, mantas, whale sharks and stingless jellyfish in the Derawan islands off the east coast.
What animals can be found in Kalimantan?
Tanjung Puting is the place for orangutans, proboscis monkeys, silvery lutungs and bearded pigs. Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban and Talisayan cover turtles, mantas, whale sharks and jellyfish. Water monitors and macaques are everywhere along the rivers.
Where is the best place to see orangutans in Kalimantan?
Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan, reached by klotok boat from Kumai near Pangkalan Bun. The feeding platforms at Camp Leakey and Pondok Tanggui bring wild and rehabilitated orangutans close almost every day.
Is it safe to swim in Kalimantan rivers?
No. Saltwater crocodiles live in the Sekonyer, Kumai and Mahakam systems and have attacked people. Swim at the sea islands instead, or in Kakaban lake where the jellyfish cannot sting.
Have AnimalDex users found animals in Kalimantan?
Yes. AnimalDex users have publicly logged 5 captures of 3 different species in Kalimantan, including water monitor, asian weaver ant, red imported fire ant. Each one was photographed in the app at the moment of the sighting.
How do I find a wildlife guide to Kalimantan?
Check the Wildlife Guides section on this page or browse Wildlife Guides on AnimalDex. Each one is a virtual guide built from an explorer's own wild sightings around Kalimantan: the animals they found, how rare they are, and when. It is advice from someone who has been there, not a tour. If you want someone with you on the day, compare local guides on wildlife knowledge, how they treat animals, and clear pricing before you go.