Proboscis Monkeys at Lubuk Bay

One of the highlights a recent trip to Sandakan last year was a visit to the Lubuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. These unique cousins of the Homo sapiens have long noses which droop over the mouth in the males. The females have similiar trademark noses but are much smaller. Pot bellies are also very much in evidence in all adult monkeys.

A male Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) settled down to munch on sliced fresh fruit on humungous roots from the mangrove swamps.

The entrance to Lubuk Bay sanctuary which is set inside an oil palm plantation.  There are some grammatical and spelling errors in the English version :I 

The herd chilling off on dried mangrove roots.

A nice picture of cosy domesticity.

Meal time was presided by the head of the household, a dominant male with several consorts and their offspring.

This Alpha male gorged on watermelon wedges to cool off from the tropical heat.

A female got hold of a bunch of grape-like fruits to indulge in.

A contented female perched prettily on a wooden strut of the platform.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs seems to be showcased here, fulfilling very basic needs, at the physiological level. He straddled without a word and she obliged silently.

"As soon go kindle fire with snow, as seek to quench the fire of love with words" - William Shakespeare

Matrimonial duties can be energy-sapping so taking a brief respite from those chores must be a welcome relief.

“There are 193 species of monkeys and apes, 192 of them are covered with hair. The exception is a naked ape self-named Homo sapiens” - Desmond Morris

Monkey see, monkey do.

 
A baby monkey scrounging for food ...

under the watchful eyes of mum.

 
and other adults.


This trio were getting ready for the three wise monkeys' act of "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"  They were at this stance for a long while.


When the crowd thinned out, this youth summoned the courage to snarl at the few of us who remained behind.
  

There were many Hornbills at the Sanctuary. They hanged around and perched close by to beg for morsels of fruits. Its eye bags need working on with heavy dabs of night cream but ...

its long eyelashes would be the envy of many of us, females. Blue mascara would enhance them further and complement the blue eyeshadow on the eyelids.