Pictures of Kalimantan, Indonesia

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All images are the property of Rhett A. Butler / mongabay.com, copyright 2006. Contact me regarding use and reproduction.

The world's third largest island, Borneo, is shared by three countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia. Kalimantan is the name for the Indonesian part of Borneo.

At one time, most of Borneo was forested with tropical rainforest but today this has been greatly reduced by logging and agriculture. Today less than half of the island is forested and even a smaller portion can be classified as untouched, or primary forest.

Despite this forest loss, scientists believe that Borneo may house 6 percent of the world's biodiversity. Researchers from the World Wildlife Fund report that 361 species of animals were discovered on the island between 1994 and 2004.

Pictures: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12


Indonesia: travel guides | environment | forestry stats

Swamp forest along the Seikonyer River Rhinoceros Hornbill Long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) peeking over a roof so only its head is visible Adult male Proboscis monkey Aerial view of rainforest that has been slash-and-burned for agriculture Rain forest along the Seikonyer River Pandanus palms and blooming water lillies along river leading to Camp Leaky Water lillies in bloom along river Blackwater river in Tanjung Puting National Park Adult male Borneo Orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus) at Pondok Tanggui Ex-captive adult male Borneo Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) Adult male Orangutan at Pondok Tanggui Baby orangutan clinging to mother orangutan Rehabilitated orangutan lost in thought Young orangutan feeding while hanging from tree Orangutan climbing while holding a bunch of bananas in its mouth Adult male and baby proboscis monkeys in a canopy tree along the Seikonyer River Blood-sucking leech on deck of “klotok” (the traditional long boat of this part of Borneo) Water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator) on a branch above the Seikonyer River Green Tree Python Yellow-, green-, and orange-spotted butterfly in leaf litter Brachydiplax dragonfly on blade of grass Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella) Nepenthes rafflesiana, a large pitcher plant commonly found in swampy forests of Borneo Large black beetle in Borneo Large black beetle on clothing Red weevil-like insect with yellow and black legs Yellow butterfly in Borneo Blue and black butterfly in rainforest of Borneo Yellow-, green-, and orange-spotted butterfly with blue underparts Orange butterfly on forest floor in Borneo Black and white butterfly feeding on flower nectar Bright green cicada Brown cicada Grasshawk dragonfly (Neurothemis fluctuans) Red Grasshawk (Neurothemis fluctuans) Brachydiplax dragonfly species Thomas standing among charred remains of tropical rainforest in Borneo Pitcher plant, Nepenthes reinwardtiana, in rain forest of Borneo Sunset in the Borneo rainforest Patch of jungle that has been slash-and-burned in Borneo Tree frog in the tropical forest of Borneo Villager employed as a conservation worker at a reforestation project in Tanjung Puting National Park Hardwood canopy tree seedlings at reforestation project in Tanjung Puting National Park Baby orangutan learning the ropes at the Orangutan Care Centre and Quarantine in Pangkalan Workers with Orangutans at the Orangutan Care Centre and Quarantine in Pangkalan Young orangutans going through the rehabilitation process Forest clearing project sponsored by the Indonesian government Deforested landscape on the boundary of Tanjung Puting National Park Abandoned homestead in deforestated area Abandoned cabin just outside Tanjung Puting National Park Slash-and-burned patch near Tanjung Puting National Park Section of rain forest that has been cut for subsistence agriculture in Borneo Slash-and-burn agriculture in the rainforest of Borneo Canal dug to drain the swamp forest before it was slash-and-burned Deforested plain just outside Tanjung Puting National Park Section of jungle that has been cut for swidden agriculture in Borneo Charred remnants of a section of rain forest that has been unsuccessfully slash-and-burned for small-scale agriculture