Bekantan - The Long-Nosed Monkey

Bekantan (nasalis larvatus) is a type of long-nosed monkey with reddish-brown hair and is one of two species in the genus Nasalis. Bekantan are endemic to the island of Borneo, which are scattered in mangroves, swamps and coastal forests.

A very striking feature apart from having a large nose turns out to have physical differences between females and males. For the male bekantan, the nose is bigger than the female, but the female nose is not as small as the monkey. The male bekantan’s nose is so large that it hangs over the mouth. If he wants to eat, the male has to push his nose out of his mouth to get the food into his mouth.

In addition, bekantan are good at expressing themselves in various conditions, such as when they are angry and happy, their nose will swell and turn red. When in danger, the proboscis monkey will make a loud sound like a car horn as a warning and its nose will stick out straight. For bekantan, the nose functions as a resonator when proboscis monkeys make sounds.

What is the scientific name of bekantan?

• Nasalis larvatus

• Dutch monkey

• Bangkatan

• Monyet Belanda

What are the diets of bekantan?

• Fruits, seeds, leaves, arthropods

• Seeds, fruits, young leaves, flowers   

• plants, seeds, insects

• leaves, seeds and grasshopper

Bekantan is the mascot of South Kalimantan. The capital city of South Kalimantan is ….

Monita          : Did you know that Bekantans are endangered?

Galang          : Oh, no! Why? But, the book says Bekantans can live up to 20 years in the wild. So, what makes them endangered?

Monita          : Well, many predators, such as crocodiles, leopards, pythons, eat Bekantans. But, the major threat is habitat destruction.

Galang          : It means they lose their home--their mangrove trees.

Monita          : Sadly, human activities make their home disappear.

Galang          : To save Bekantans we have to save the mangroves!

Monita            : I agree with you!

  How long is the life span of a bekantan? It’s about …

• 6 – 22 kilograms

• 20 – 23 years  

• 20 – 23 months  

• A.      5 – 10 years

What should we do to save Bekantan?

• By saving their habitat and avoiding poaching

• By saving their babies.

• By keeping the flowers and plants in the park    

• By keeping the predators.

1What is the Indonesian meaning of endangered animals?

What are the main threats to Bekantans?

• Predators like crocodiles, leopards, and pythons

• Loss of habitat due to human activities

• Climate change

• Illegal pet trade

How do Bekantans communicate danger?

• By changing the color of their fur

• By making loud sounds like a car horn

• By running away quickly

• By climbing trees

Where are Bekantans primarily found?

• In the mountains

• In the desert

• In mangroves, swamps, and coastal forests

• In the Arctic

Here are the endangered animals, except

• bekantan

• cat

• Cendrawasih

• Orangutan