Photo: WWF
Borneo is rich in diversity, with 15,000 flowering plants, 420 bird species, and 221 terrestrial
mammals. Some of its most rare and famous creatures include the Borneo orangutan, the pygmy
forest elephant, and the Sumatran rhino. However, the unique plants and animals of Borneo are
increasingly under threat from changes to
the island’s forest structure. According to WWF-Worldwide Fund for Nature, today only half of
Borneo’s original forest cover remains, down from 75% in the mid 1980s. In addition to Borneo’s
habitat loss, its wildlife is also suffering at the hands of the illegal wildlife trade. Threatened
species including orangutans, sun bears, and clouded leopards are sold for pets, meat, and traditional
medicines.
Learn more about
Borneo Conservation Issues.