A nature buff ’s checklist
HOTSPOT HOTSPOT HOTSPOT HOTSPOT
Silvery lutung
Adult silvered leaf monkeys have dark grey fur that shines a shimmery silver in daylight, while the young (below three months) sport bright orange coats. They travel in groups and can be found munching on leaves and fruits within tree brunches. Gunung Bintan Besar
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Watching a stork-billed kingfisher take flight is a sight to behold. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for its cackling call, bright red beak and its vibrant plumage of green, blue and yellow. Mangrove forests
Hawksbill sea turtle
Known for their colourful carapace and bird-like beak, the critically endangered species inhabit the tropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The bustling coral reefs around Bintan, of which they feed on, attract them to nest upon its beaches twice a year. Newborn turtles are released between May and June by conservation teams. Turtle hatcheries at Nirwana Gardens, Angsana Bintan and Clud Med Bintan Island
Giant clam
Spot a coral reef and, chances are, a family of giant clams is nearby. Resplendent in the sunlight’s refraction, it makes for a stunning underwater portrait. It is also known to propagate and maintain coral reefs. Mapur Island, Nikoi Island and Sandy Bay