Proboscis Monkeys are not your ordinary tree swinging monkeys. They don’t eat ripe bananas. And they have webbed feet and swim incredibly!

Distinguished by its prominent nose, the endangered proboscis monkey lives only on the island of Borneo! It may seem hard to believe, but male proboscis monkeys use their fleshy, pendulous noses to attract female mates as it amplifies the monkey’s call therefore intimidating rival males.

Proboscis monkeys are endemic to the jungles of Borneo, never straying far from the island’s rivers, coastal mangroves, and swamps. They live in organized harem groups consisting of a dominant male and two to seven females and their offspring.

As Malaysia prepares for the hosting of its grandest tourism celebration - Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015, the country’s commitment to the protection of its ecological treasures and in particular, the conservation of its many indigenous animals provide a platform of opportunity to share with the world its many fascinating creatures that are so often hidden from the general public.

Malaysia has decided upon one of the most endangered of animals listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List of Threatened Species - the Proboscis Monkey as the official mascot for Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

Among the largest of Asia’s monkeys, male proboscis specimens can reach 50 pounds, although females only grow to about half that size. Adults wear a coat of light brown fur that turns red around the head and shoulders and gray at the arms, legs, and tail. Only males develop the namesake nose.

VMY 2014 is a perfect time to get up close with proboscis monkeys at the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries such as Bako National Park, Klias National Park, Kulamba Wildlife Reserve, Sungai Samunsam Wildlife Sanctuary and Lubuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary.