PETALING JAYA: If you were out on a boat in sea, you would expect to come across a school of fish or even dolphins if you were lucky. But if there was a monkey swimming in the sea, you would probably rub your eyes in disbelief.
When guests of the Gaya Island Resort saw a proboscis monkey swimming in the sea close to Malohom Bay Thursday evening, they were awestruck. Resident Marine Biologist Scott Mayback and naturalist Justin Juhun were then enlisted to help bring the animal back to shore.
Juhun, who spends much of his time on the resort grounds observing habits and protecting the Gaya Island resident wild proboscis monkey harem, identified the swimming monkey as the 15-year old dominant male of the harem.
“When we found the monkey, it had scratches on its nose signifying that there was some tension with the young males in the harem. “Eyewitnesses also saw these other males driving this monkey away. It then ran into the sea to escape. The incident is no cause for alarm as it signifies a healthy relationship within the harem,” he explained.
The endangered proboscis monkey, identifiable by its large pendulous nose, is endemic to the island of Borneo.
The Gaya Island resort is situated within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park in Sabah. To celebrate this rare sighting, the resort is offering an all-inclusive stay in a contest accessible at www.facebook.com/ytlhotels.
-thestar online.
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