Proboscis Monkey - Meet The Endangered
Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus)
The Proboscis Monkey is a nasally well-endowed primate endemic to the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, where its range extends through Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
It is one of the larger monkeys native to Asia, with males reaching 22.5 kg (50 lbs) and females 12 kg (25 lbs). The male’s comically large nasal appendage appears to serve no critical function, and is simply the result of sexual selection. Females seem to prefer the loud mating calls the extended nose facilitates.
The Proboscis often live in harems - groups with one male, multiple females, and their offspring. They are excellent swimmers and dwell almost exclusively in the coastal mangrove swamps and riverine valleys of lowland rainforests.
The proboscis monkey population has fallen nearly 50% in the last four decades. Habitat destruction has been the primary cause, as both logging and palm oil plantations raze its native forest. Large parts of their range are now protected in sixteen conservation reserves scattered across the island.
IUCN: Endangered (EN)
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