Wild side of Bali: A tropical island that hosts wide variety of exotic animals!

Yes, you read that right. Aside from famous for its touristy spots, Bali is a home to tons of wild animals!

Bali is a beautiful place and several exotic and magical creatures enjoy its natural habitat. However, this tropical paradise isn’t always too kind for wild animals and there are threatened species in Bali and some species have already been extinct.

The good news is that many Balinese families have built businesses around protecting the natural habitat and animals of the island now and you can see many wild animals in Bali, while ensuring that you do some good for the future propsects of the fauna here in Bali.

Our guide will introduce you to the most common creatures in Bali and to where you can see them during your holiday here!

Monkeys

The long-tailed macaque is Bali’s most famous monkey and there are monkeys all over the island. The best-known refuge of Balinese monkeys is the Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest but you can find them at Uluwatu Temple, Lempuyang Temple and many other places too. They are famous for their acts of mischief and vindictiveness and if you go near a monkey here in Bali, be warned it may steal anything that it can get its hands on. We also warn you not to get into a fight with a monkey. It will bring the other monkeys and you will get bitten and possibly seriously hurt. Incredibly, the monkeys that live at the temple in Uluwatu are unique, in that they have devised a system of bartering what they steal from you, in exchange for locally purchased tasty treats. These are the only monkeys in the world to have developed a skill set like this.

Snakes & Sea Snakes

Head ready to strike, White lipped Pit Viper, scientific name: trimeresurus albolabris

Bali is home to a tons of snakes and many of them are indeed venomous. However, it’s important to realize that, by and large, most snakes are more scared of you than you are of them. If you do encounter a snake, it’s best to back away from it slowly, keep an eye on where it’s going (if it’s on your property) so you can get a snake catcher to remove it.

Under no circumstances should you attempt to kill or catch a snake, let the professionals handle the business. The deadly venom of snakes such as king cobras or kraits is no joke, it’s best to avoid being bitten on this Indonesian island particularly as the local supplies of anti-venom are not always available and not very good.

Sea snakes are most likely found in the waters around Bali but they are, generally speaking, very timid and tend to avoid divers, swimmers and snorkelers. This is good news because they are much more venemous than regular snakes. But don’t fool yourself, because some of these snakes can be curious and approach you, be aware!

Tokay Local Gecko

There are two lizards that it’s hard to avoid when you visit Bali. The gecko which is a tiny little lizard that can’t do you any harm and which snacks on mosquitoes while you sleep. And there’s the tokay. This gecko is a bigger, harder version of the smaller creature and makes a loud noise. They are considered to be good luck in Bali and are seen as protectors of a home. So, don’t chase it out. If you really must chase it out, use a broom, tokays can give a pretty severe bite. 

Crocodiles

Crocodiles are a bit of a rarity here in Bali, but the saltwater crocodile’s territory includes Bali’s beaches. They are not an endangered species, far from it, in fact. The good news is that while crocodile attacks do take place in Indonesia, they don’t take place in Bali. Visit East Timor, though, and you will find you’re ten times more likely to be eaten by a crocodile than you are to get malaria and un-alive!

Cats & Dogs

Who doesn’t love when small fluffy dog running by the Bali beach at colorful sunset?

Bali has a few stray cats wandering the streets but the biggest issue is the street dogs. The Bali dog, which is also known as the Kintamani Dog, is thought to be one of the oldest continuously domesticated species of dog on the planet. This knowledge won’t help you if you get bitten by one, though, mammals in Bali can carry rabies and dogs are the highest risk for human contagion. Sadly, as lovable as Bali’s dogs appear, it’s best to leave them alone, unless you meet one in a setting with its owner present.

Cows, Pigs And Wild Pigs

Balinese cows are a unique bread of cow, the locals call it Sapi Bali which means literally Balinese Cows, in fact. Bali cows are used to help plow rice fields and to keep grass at bay. Unfortunately, they are no longer really needed on farms as modern technology has replaced them. The good news is that because Bali is a Hindu territory, the cows are considered to be sacred animals and are taken care of. You won’t find anyone selling milk from these cows though as they do not produce enough to make it worth milking them. There are also pigs (often wild pigs) that are commonly used in meat production.

Birds

Pair of Bali myna birds on a branch, scientific name: leucopsar rothschildi. Bali is home to a lot of bird species, 280 in fact, and some of them are native and others migrate from outside of the island. Following a rapid decline in bird populations, local conservation groups have geared up their efforts to protect birds here and bird numbers are now increasing on the island.

Turtles

Hawksbill sea turtle current on coral reef island, Bali. Turtles are a big deal in Bali. These attractive and interesting acquatic creatures bring in a lot of interested tourists. Sadly, this has led to some questionable ethics in the turtle tourism business and we’d recommend that you do your research before you support any turtle-related event in Bali. You can find Hawksbill, Green, Loggerhead and Olive Ridley turtles in Bali.