Leeches - On any rainforest walk, the subject of leeches invariably comes up. Actually, you may not encounter any of these slimy little vampires while walking through the Malaysian jungle, but if the trail is leafy and it's been raining, chances are you'll be preyed upon.
The local leeches are maddeningly tiny - so small in fact, they can squeeze through tight-knit socks. They don't stay tiny for long, however, since once leech has attached to your skin, it won't let go until it has sucked as much as blood as it can hold.
Only then will will the bloated, sated little parasite release itself and make its way back to the forest floor. Your souvenir of the experience will be bloody, but consider it a flesh wound.Two species are common in Taman Negara; the brown leeches and tiger leech. The tiger leech is recognizable by its cream and black stripe, but you'll probably feel before you see it. Unlike the brown leech, whose suction is painless, tiger leeches sting a bit. Brown leeches hang around on, or near, the forest floor, waiting to grab onto passing boots or pants. Tiger leeches lurk on the leaves of small trees and tend to attack between the waist and neck, and that can mean any orifice there and around. Keep your shirt tucked in.Leeches are harmless, but bites can become infected. Prevention is better than the cure and opinion varies on what work best.
Insect repellent on feet, shoes and socks work temporarily; loose tobacco in your shoes and socks are also helps. Better yet, invest in some leech-proof socks, which are kind tropical gaiter that covers the foot and boot heel and fastens below knees.Safe and effective ways to dislodge leeches include flicking them of sideways (pulling a leech off by the tail might make it dig in harder), burning them with a cigarette (though you may burn yourself as well), or sprinkling salt on them. Tiger balm, iodine or medicated menthol oil (a common brand is the Axe Brand Universal oil- "minyak Cap Kapak") will also get leeches off. High-pitched screaming!!! doesn't seems to affect them much. Succumb to your fate as a reluctant blood donor and they will eventually drop off.
Birds - There are over 600 species of birds in Malaysia and over 300 species have been recorded in Taman Negara. Some real rarities have been recorded here.As many as 250 species of birds have been identified so far at Taman Negara. The most easily seen and heard are the hornbills. Fireback pheasants are often flushed out when youˇre walking the jungle trails while fishing eagles and kingfishers usually flit along the riverbanks. The Sungai Tahan is a favourite habitat of the masked finfoot. Other exotic species to be found here include the broadbill, drongo and blue-throated bee-eater.
Animal - Animal that can be found inhabiting the lowlands of Taman Negara include Malaysian gaur or seladang, sambar deer, barking deer, wild pigs, tapir, elephants, tigers, leopards, sun bear, and the sumatran rhinocerous. However, sightings of these mammals species are quite rare; due in part to the density of vegetation and the shy nature of these animals.The animal kingdom is well represented in Taman Negara. Visitors will probably hear them and locate their tracks more than they will see the creature themselves. The forests provide natural camouflage for most animals, this makes them difficult to spot .Some 200 species are known to live in Taman Negara from the smallest shrews to the largest elephants. Monkeys are most commenly seen by visitors to Taman Negara. Long-Tail Macaques can often be spotted along the river. The Tiger are much rarer and hardly ever seen.
Insect - Terrestrial life on our planet is closely linked to the existence of insects, and even we, as humans, depend in very large measure upon insects each and every day of our lives. Life on land is domiinated by insects however difficult that may be for us to accept, and our lives would be supremely poorer, even threatened, without the trundling, mindless existence of these inconspicuos little organisms.
What make insects so important? Their diversity and abundant. They are so diverse and so abundance. They are so diverse and impact every imaginable terrestrial habitat, influencing, modulating and exsuring that life's processes proceed smoothly without undue ups and down
Few people are aware that insects are by far the most diversegroup of organisms on this planet. Well over 50% of all the known species of planets, animals and all