Everyone knows that Asian countries offer countless wonderful nature experiences. But did you know that the continent is also home to many unique animals?
We have put together less than 6 animal destinations where you can get to know the colorful, charming and huge creatures living in Asia better.
Comodos, Indonesia
The Indonesian Comodos Islands are located near Bali, and the name already suggests it: here you can encounter the impressive Komodonvaran eye to eye. Today, the island is a national park and, thanks to its stunning scenery and unique fauna, it has also earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Comodonvaran is in itself an interesting attraction. It is the largest lizard in the world, and is often compared to the mythical dragon – it is also referred to by the English name of the varan, Komodo Dragon.
The comodonvaran can have a respectable length of three meters, and while the lizard’s normal weight is about 70kg, at best it can weigh up to a handsome 165kg.
Comodon Varans are carnivores that hunt by ambush. As a suitable prey passes by, the reserve will attack and kill it by biting. The poisonous glands in the mouth of Varan, which secrete anticoagulant toxin, ensure that even the escaped victim dies of blood loss soon.
Komodonvaran is an agile animal, and it is for this reason that you can only hike to the island with a guide who knows the local conditions and the nature of the animals.
Minneriya, Sri Lanka
Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka is a magical place. According to Countryaah, Sri Lanka is a country located in South Asia.
Established to protect the artificial lake, the lush and lush national park attracts huge herds of elephants every year between May and October.
During Sri Lanka’s dry season, most of the natural drinking places favored by elephants dry out, but there is plenty of water in the Minneriya Reservoir all year round. For this reason, local elephants gather in this time in the national park, attracted by green grass and fresh drinking water.
If you visit the national park during the high season from May to October, you can see up to 300 elephants in one place. These herds of elephants are the largest in Asia in terms of number of individuals.
On warm days, these gray giants hide in the shade of the forests and shrubs surrounding the lake, but at noon you can spot crocodiles, monkeys, deer and many different bird species instead of elephants. Late in the afternoon, when the heat of the worst begins to pass, the elephants emerge from their hiding places and head for the artificial lake.
It is really interesting to observe the behavior of elephants and the interaction between different individuals in the herd.
Menjangan, Bali, Indonesia
The coral reef surrounding the small island of Menjangan on the northeast coast of Bali is well-known among divers and snorkelers around the world.
In the depths of the turquoise waters, a wonderful world of tropical fish and colorful corals opens up.
Menjangan is part of the West Bali National Park, so on the island you can get to experience wonderful nature experiences both on land and at sea. Menjangan is a Javanese language and means deer. The island is named after the Timorese deer, who swim from Java to Menjangan every spring. On the beautiful sandy beach it is fun to lie down and watch the quietly grazing deer around.
The waters around Menjangan are some of the best snorkeling spots in the world. As the island belongs to a national park, the magnificent corals surrounding it are quite well preserved. In addition to corals, exploring other underwater lives is also a tremendous experience. Below the surface you can see, among other things, small seahorses, sea eels, leased fish and many other colorful seafood.
In addition to the beautiful underwater world, the island has a more relaxed atmosphere with fewer tourists than in Bali’s larger cities such as Sanur and Ubud. So head to Menjanga when you are looking for a nice, peaceful break in the scenic scenery.
Sumatra, Indonesia
There are only two places in the world where you can see wild oranges: Sumatra and Borneo.
In Sumatra, the best place to see oranges is Bukit Lawang, located north of the island. Bukit Lawang is a small rural village located in Gunung Leuser National Park. Already in the lush rainforest starting right on the edge of the village, you can come across semi-wild oranges.
The oranges are considered semi-domestic because many of them have been rescued from people who have kept them illegally as pets. Once the animals have been rescued, the aim is to gradually get them into a condition in the orangan rehabilitation center that can be released into the jungle. The rehabilitation center monitors the lives of all released oranges and can, for example, provide food for the animals when they do not seem to be able to cope independently.
Orangutans are very endangered because the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo – that is, the habitats of oranges – are felled, e.g. from the path of palm oil plantations. Palm oil is commonly used, for example, in cosmetics and fast food.
Although the actual rehabilitation program at the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center has been discontinued today, at Bukit Lawang you can still go on a trip to the jungle to explore free-living oranges and, for example, follow their feeding.
It’s an awesome experience to see oranges in their natural environment and notice how much work the center staff does to help the animals.
Mirissa, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has a whale safari season from October to April.
On the south coast you can see a giant of the seas, or blue whale, which can stretch up to 33 meters in length and weigh as much as 170 tons. Every year, massive whales fold a long distance from the cold waters of Antarctica to the warmer conditions of Sri Lanka to breed.
On the whale safari, the captain of the boat helps those involved find out where below the surface the whales are ever staying. The whale is a mammal, so it must rise to the surface from time to time to breathe. Skilled guides on whale safaris can predict when and where at the sea the whale’s breathing behavior will appear. During the high season, you can be almost certain to see whales.
Whales watching from the boat, and the captain will take care of right from a suitable distance, when the whales are not disturbed, however, you can get some great photos.
In addition to blue whales, you can see dolphins, cetaceans, swordfish, devilfish, turtles and many other marine animals.
Chengdu, China
The black-and-white, plush-sized panda can almost be considered the national symbol of China.
Pandas live in the growing mountain forests of western China and use bamboo almost exclusively for food. An adult panda can eat up to 38 pounds of bamboo a day.
The panda is often mentioned when talking about the protection of many other animal species, as the panda, which has been under threat of extinction for years, has become a symbol of nature conservation. Although the panda is still an endangered animal species, in 2015 the WWF was finally able to report the good news that the wild panda population was gaining strength.
If you want to see these charming teddy bears with your own eyes, the Giant Panda Base Research Center in Chengdu, set up to protect pandas, is a great destination. In addition to the research institute, the center includes a 300-hectare bamboo forest nature park. The park is home to 120 pandas, and during the visit you can get e.g. to monitor their morning feeding.
The staff at the center are happy to tell visitors about pandas and the work done to conserve the species. This way, every visitor gets a good picture of this unique and charming animal.
If you love animals, a trip to Asia offers many awesome animal experiences. Here you can see with your own eyes the many species of animals that are found only on this continent.
So pack your bags and explore the fascinating wildlife of Asia.