6 places you can see animals in Asia

It’s no secret that the Asian countries offer a wealth of unique nature experiences.

But were you aware that the continent is also home to a lot of unique animals?

Below, you can read about six places where you can experience some of the colourful, charming and enormous creatures found around Asia.

Komodo Island, Indonesia

On the Indonesian island of Komodo close to Bali, you have the chance to see the impressive Komodo Dragons. Today, the island is a national park and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its stunning landscapes and unique wildlife.

The Komodo Dragon is a huge attraction in itself. It is the world’s largest living lizard and is often compared to the mythical dragons – hence its name.

The large lizards can grow to a length of up to 3 metres and a weight of 165 kg, but the average weight is around 70 kg.

Komodo Dragons are carnivores and hunt by lying in wait. When the next prey comes by, the lizard subjects it to its poisonous bite, and then it is just a matter of time before the animal dies from the infection from the bite.

The Komodo Dragon is a cunning lizard, and for that reason, you may only explore the island in the company of a guide who knows the conditions and the animals’ temperament.

Minneriya, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s Minneriya National Park is a magical place.

In addition to being a lush, green nature park, the man-made reservoir is also the gathering place for huge herds of Asian elephants every year between May and October.

In Sri Lanka’s dry season, most of the elephants’ natural waterholes dry out, but in Minneriya National Park, there is water in the reservoir all year round. So, the country’s many elephants flock there in search of green grass and drinking water.

If you visit the park in peak season, from May to October, you may be lucky to witness up to 300 elephants gathered in one place. This is the highest number of elephants observed in one place in the whole of Asia.

On hot days, the large mammals seek the shade of the surrounding forests and bushes, but on these days, you have a good chance of spotting crocodiles, monkeys, deer and numerous different bird species. Late afternoon, when the heat of the sun abates, the elephants begin to move out into the open and make their way to the reservoir.

Watching the elephants socialise with each other in the big herds is an amazing experience.

Menjangan, Bali, Indonesia

The reef by the small island of Menjangan, which is located off the north-west coast of Bali, is known by divers and snorkellers worldwide.

Beneath the surface of the turquoise water, there is a colourful world of tropical fish and coral.

Menjangan comes under West Bali National Park, and you can therefore enjoy unspoiled nature experiences both in the water and on land. The island’s name means deer in Javanese and has been given to the island because, every spring, rusa deer swim to Menjangan from Java. It’s a very special experience to lounge on the beautiful sandy beaches while the deer potter about on land.

The highlight of a visit to Menjangan is without doubt snorkelling. The island has magnificent corals, which, due to its status as part of a national park, are well preserved. The marine life is also a huge experience. Beneath the surface, you may be lucky enough to spot small seahorses, garden eels, clownfish and many, many more.

In addition to the fantastic life under the waves, there is generally a more relaxed and quieter atmosphere on Menjangan than in Bali’s larger towns and cities such as Sanur and Ubud. So if you need a break, the island is sure to be a hit.

Sumatra, Indonesia

There are only two places in the world where it is possible to see wild orangutans: Sumatra and Borneo.

In Sumatra, you can visit Bukit Lawang in the northern part of the island. Bukit Lawang is a small town in Gunung Leuser National Park, and from here, it doesn’t take long to get out into the lush rainforest, where you can spot semi-wild orangutans.

The orangutans are referred to as semi-wild, as they have normally been rescued from humans who have kept them illegally, for example, as pets. Once rescued, the animals are slowly rehabilitated to ensure they can survive in the wild before being released into the jungle. All the orangutans released are monitored by the rehabilitation centre, so they can provide food for the red-haired apes should they have trouble fending for themselves.

The orangutans are a highly endangered species as the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo – and hence their home – are being felled to make way for palm oil plantations, among other things. Palm oil is used in certain cosmetics and snacks.

The centre’s rehabilitation programme is now closed down, but you can still go out into the rainforest to see the released orangutans and watch them being fed on the feeding platforms.

It’s an amazing experience to see the orangutans and witness the huge efforts made by the employees to help the orangutans return to their natural habitat in the rainforest.

Mirissa, Sri Lanka

From October to April, it’s whale watching season in Sri Lanka.

If you sail out from the south coast, you can spot the giant of the ocean: the blue whale, which can grow up to a staggering length of 33 metres and weigh up to 170 tonnes. Every year, the huge whales migrate from the cold waters around Antarctica to the warmer currents of Sri Lanka to breed.

On a whale watching trip, the captain helps to spot the giants on the surface of the water. Whales are mammals, which means they come up to the surface for air, so you need to know the whales’ breathing patterns to know when they’ll be surfacing. In the high season, you are actually in with a really good chance of seeing them.

You can see the beautiful whales from the boat, where the captain takes special care of the whales by not getting too close, yet close enough to allow you to take some unique pictures.

In addition to blue whales, you may also be lucky enough to see dolphins, sperm whales, killer whales, manta rays, turtles and many, many more marine animals.

Chengdu, China

The big black-and-white panda is practically a national symbol of China.

The pandas live in the bamboo-rich mountain forests of western China, where their diet is almost exclusively bamboo. An adult panda can reportedly eat up to 38 kg bamboo in a single day.

The panda is often mentioned in connection with the conservation of all species of animals, as it has been threatened with extinction for many years. Although the panda is still an endangered species, there was good news from the WWF back in 2015, when they reported that the population of wild pandas was finally rising.

If you wish to experience these charming bears, you can visit them at Chengdu Panda Base, a conservation centre set up to save the pandas from extinction. The centre functions both as a nature park consisting of 300 hectares of bamboo grove and as a research centre. 120 pandas live in the park, and during such a visit, you can watch the morning feeding.

The employees at the centre are very keen on informing the visitors about the pandas and conservation of the species. This way, every visitor gains a better understanding of this unique animal.

If you’re an animal lover, there is every opportunity to enjoy fantastic experiences on a tour to Asia, where you can see several animal species that are unique to this continent.

So pack your suitcase and head off in pursuit of enchanting animal experiences in Asia.

You are going to love it!

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller