BINTAN MANGROVE DISCOVERY TRAVEL GUIDE

Fishing is done from stilts or by laying traps known as "bubus"

In the village of Sungei Kecil, there is an elder, Bapak Leman, who can communicate with a three-legged crocodile spirit of Sungei Sebung. The spirit roams along the river and has its resting place on this particular boulder.

Mangrove wood is used to make charcoal for cooking and potting mix for orchids. Mangrove trees are harvested and fired in closed kiln. The wood from the Rhizophora species of mangrove tree produces more heat than other types of wood.

Fireflies are a type of beetle that are attracted to the "Kacang Kacang" mangrove plant. They produce light by means of a bioluminous element, and feed on small snails. The "Kacang Kacang" plant is a salt secreter.

The perspiration of the leaves is the secreted salt that will crystallize and be removed by the wind. Fishermen buil huts as their resting place and storage space for fishing traps. The huts are all constructed of materials from the mangrove.

These seldom-seen creatures dig extensive catacombs leaving volcano-like mounds.

These are plants that grow on other plants and are often found in the mangrove forest. Orchids are a group of Epiphytes and are commonly cultivated using mangrove charcoal.

A common plant of the freshwater head of the river. Its leaves are used for making woven floormats. The Nipah Palm produces seeds known as "attap chee" eaten in local desserts. The leaves are used for roofing, cigarette paper, and the sap is made into an alcoholic beverage.

The fruits look delicious but are poisonous and known to cause blindness when eaten. It is a common tree used in roadside landscaping.

Common to sandy shorelines, the Avicennia mangrove has pencil-like breathing roots and small yellow flowers. Avicennia has the largest salt tolerance of the mangrove trees.

The Rhizophora species grow in the salt water zone. The stilt roots allow free flow of the tides by hovering above the ground while still providing coastal protection. Bruguiera species grow where there is a mix of salt and fresh water. They can grow up to 30 meters tall and some species are characterised by red flowers.

These local fishing huts are made from the mangrove trees while the roofs are from the leaves of the Nipah Palm. Operated at night, squid and small fish ("ikan bilis") are attracted to the bright lights of the kelong.

Also known as Sea Gypsies, they are nomadic people that live in small boats and make their living by catching fish and shellfish.

The Yellow Banded Mangrove Snake, the Python and the Tree Snake are all local residents of the mangrove.

The Xylocarpus species grow where it is predominantly fresh water. Try spotting a Xylocarpus Granatum fruit. It's about the size of a soccer ball and can weigh up to 2 kg!

Macaque monkeys are the most common species in Bintan. Silver Leaf monkeys are notable for their black faces lined with white. One of the largest birds in Asia, they have dagger-like beaks for stabbing fish. They can be found among the mud flats at low tide.

Crabs, snails, clams, prawns, fish are all common marine life in the intertidal area of the mangroves.

Catching a glimpse of one or a family would be a rare sighting.

Monitor Lizards can grow to 1.5 meters long. They can swim, run and climb.

The Mud Skipper is a type of fish that can live on both land and sea. They have a reverse scuba gear to keep their gills moist on land. There are seven species of Kingfisher in Bintan. Some are migrants from northern countries.