Discover the Wild Side: Top 8 Astonishing Fun Facts About Borneo You Never Knew

1. When Pigs Fly, Frogs Glide

When pigs fly, they'll join Borneo's airborne frog brigade: Borneo is home to four gliding frog species – Wallace's Flying Frog, Borneo Flying Frog, Harlequin Tree Frog, and Jade Tree Frog – which, along with flying snakes and geckos, have adapted to rainforest life by becoming skillful gliders, making up for a decided lack of winged pigs.
Source => 1stopborneo.org

2. Batman and Robin's Borneo Escape

If Batman and Robin ever needed a vacation from Gotham, Borneo's Gunung Mulu National Park would be the perfect underground getaway: housing the monstrous Sarawak Chamber, the world's largest cave chamber at 600 meters in length, 415 meters in width, and 80 meters high; Deer Cave, the largest cave passage measuring a whopping 120 to 150 meters in diameter; and the Clearwater Cave System, stretching an impressive 110 kilometers as the longest cave in Asia. No bat-signals required!
Source => whc.unesco.org

Did you know that the colorful and iconic Blue Curaçao liqueur is made from the island's unique laraha fruit, which also lends its flavor to chocolate, coffee, and more delicious concoctions? Discover the tasty secrets behind this tropical treat! 🍹🏝️

=> Fun Facts about Curacao

3. Borneo's Animal Big Brother House

Meet the wild roommates of Borneo's animal Big Brother house: At the Matang Wildlife Center, rescued Malayan Sun Bears share living quarters with Orangutans, deer, birds, civet and bear cats, where volunteers help the animal keepers provide top-notch care while gaining an unbeatable wildlife rehabilitation experience.
Source => malaysianwildlife.org

4. Iban Tribe: Real-life Pirates minus Rum

Before they were rocking skulls on their mantles, the Iban tribe of Borneo was basically a living, breathing Pirates of the Caribbean movie: Like Captain Jack Sparrow, minus the rum, they had a penchant for headhunting and tattooing life's milestones on their bodies. Nowadays, they've traded in their headhunting days for a fusion of traditional and Western tattoos, but some families still boast of an eerie, skull-filled past in their longhouses.
Source => medium.com

5. Aquaman's Flat-headed Feline Friends

What do you get when you cross a feline with Aquaman? The flat-headed cat of Borneo! This unique kitty has mastered the art of waterbending and snags slippery fish and crustaceans like a pro: In fact, their exceptional morphological adaptations enable them to feast on aquatic delicacies and occasionally nab land-dwelling treats like rats and chickens. Sadly, however, their very own kryptonite – habitat destruction – has left fewer than 2,500 of these water-loving wildcats paddling through the wilds of Borneo.
Source => thainationalparks.com

6. The Batman Cave of Borneo Wildlife

Welcome to the Batman cave, where the only caped crusader you'll find is a rhinoceros hornbill flapping its wings: Borneo's Deer Cave hosts not just rare sambar deer, but also an astonishing lineup of lesser bentwing and naked bats, sun bears, bearded pigs, and gibbons, making it a nature-enthusiasts' playground full of limestone formations and wonder.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Rafflesia: World's Largest Sneaky, Stinky Flower

If the Rafflesia flower were a dinner guest, it would sneak up on you like a master spy, steal your food, and regale your guests with a scent that is truly the life of the party: Borneo’s Rafflesia is not only the largest flower in the world, but a parasitic plant that grows undetected on the vine Tetrastigma, sapping nutrients and water, and enticing carrion flies with the aroma of rotting meat for pollination.
Source => harvardmagazine.com

8. Borneo's Ancient, Mini Elephant Royalty

If you think being the largest mammal on your block is a big deal, just imagine having a 300,000-year-old reigning title: Bornean elephants, the tiniest elephants in all of Asia, are not only native royalty on their stomping grounds but also weigh a colossal 5,500-6,600 pounds while standing at an impressive 8.2-9.8 feet tall. Cue the trumpets!
Source => worldwildlife.org