14-8-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Two avid anglers on a fishing excursion were surprised when they spotted a stranded proboscis monkey floating in the waters near the Kuala Selalang river mouth. The monkey seemed to be swimming towards the forest on the opposite bank, prompting the two anglers to extend a helping hand by inviting it onto their boat.
Norman and Lawrence, both Iban men working in Tanjong Manis, recounted the incident. Norman revealed that during their fishing trip early yesterday morning, they came across the stranded proboscis monkey as they navigated the waters near the Kuala Selalang river mouth. Nearby, there was an island covered in mangroves. Believing the monkey intended to swim towards the island, they noticed it was a considerable distance away.
Concerned for the monkey’s safety in the water and the potential threat of crocodile attacks, they decided to extend their kindness. The two men steered their boat closer to the proboscis monkey, offering an oar as assistance. The monkey grabbed onto the oar, suspending itself on the water’s surface for a moment before boarding the boat. It mimicked the anglers by sitting on the boat’s edge.
However, the monkey remained cautious. During the journey across the river, it twice leaped back into the water. Yet, Norman and Lawrence persevered, repeatedly offering the oar with patience until they successfully guided it back onto the boat. As they approached the shore, the proboscis monkey eagerly leaped off the boat, heading into the forest without looking back.
With the monkey safely onshore, the two anglers continued their fishing expedition with a sense of relief. Norman expressed that encountering a proboscis monkey was a rare and unique experience for him. He believed that such a remarkable creature deserved protection and felt compelled to aid its safe return to land.
