Langkawi Nature

The island of Langkawi is still draped in a rich landscape of greenery and surrounded by warm blue waters, indicating a rich wildlife heritage that encompasses both land and sea.

The Telaga Tujuh (Seven Wells) Waterfall is a fantastic place to herp for reptiles.

Trimeresurus fucatus (Pope's pit-viper) in Langkawi differs from the mainland form; both sexes from Langkawi have orange red eyes while males have a red postocular streak and strong dorsal crossbands. They are identical, if not similiar, to specimens sampled from pockets of Trimeresurus fucatus populations in Southern Thailand.

Tokay tokay is one of the largest gecko species in the world. This colourful gecko is found abundantly in Langkawi Island.

Islands ~ Langkawi Islands

Langkawi Island is one of Peninsular Malaysia's most popular tourist islands, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to its shores. Its main allure is the duty-free shopping, which brings in mass numbers of locals from the mainland who want to feast on alcohol, cigarettes and confectionery to their hearts' delight. However, aside from the commercialism, Langkawi, though developed, is still a wonderful place to see some natural heritage and island wildlife.

Due to being an island that's located high up north, and subsequently, the equator belt, the rainforests lean towards being a little more of the dry monsoon type found in Thailand. The jungle canopy is not as thick as rainforests on the mainland and neither are the trees as tall and towering. The vegetation is not very dense and it gets quite hot while herping in the woods during the night. Dry seasons can be quite harsh on the environment, slowing down natural waterfalls to a trickle and hiding wildlife in the deep recesses of their burrows, tree-holes and pits.

However, once the rains come, it becomes a transformed landscape. Soaked in rain, the wildlife begins to teem with life and waterfalls flow with a mighty fury, a sight not seen for months. For herping enthusiasts, this is the time to strike while the iron is hot. The forests, mountains and streams teem with wildlife, including lizards, snakes and frogs in abudance. Herping during the night becomes a pleasant affair as the air does not feel hot and heavy.

In terms of herpefauna, Langkawi Island is rich with lizards. Draco species is common and you see them flying everywhere in the rainforest while Tokay geckos can often be found basking themselves on the road during the night. The Tokay is a large and colourful gecko, identified by its blue colouration and numerous orange dots on the body. The call is unmistakably loud and clear, ringing through the surroundings like a eerie call.

Kraits, especially Bungarus candidus and Bungarus fasciatus, are very common on the island. They can easily be identified by their bold white or yellow with black bandings across the body. These venomous snakes pack a powerful neurotoxic venom and should not be handled at any time, docile as they appear. However, you only see them come out during the night, sometimes onto the roads in lonely places.

Trimeresurus fucatus is another fascinating venomous snake species. Although this species is found on the mainland as well, the form found in Langkawi appears to be different and look almost identical, if not similiar, to some specimens from populations in Southern Thailand. This viper has a venom of moderate toxicity and is instantly recognisable by its bright green colouration. They hunt for frogs, lizards and small mammals in the wild, often leaving the refuge of their arboreal habitats to hunt near or on the ground.

Although much development has transformed the landscape, Langkawi Island is still an excellent place to explore in terms of both nature and wildlife.

The majestic Brahminy Kite is an iconic symbol of Langkawi. This beautiful predatory bird preys on fish and crabs, often found soaring around coastal swamps and marshlands.