Wildlife of Northern Sumatra

Wild lives of Gunung Leuser

Meet the remarkable animals, birds and rainforest ecosystems that make northern Sumatra one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.

Gunung Leuser National Park Northern Sumatra Wildlife & conservation

Gunung Leuser is far more than a place to see orangutans. It is a living rainforest filled with primates, elephants, bears, rare birds, reptiles, insects and countless forms of plant life.

The Leuser landscape

Why visit Sumatra?

The rainforests surrounding Gunung Leuser National Park protect one of Southeast Asia’s most important wildlife habitats.

Gunung Leuser National Park forms part of the wider Leuser Ecosystem, a vast rainforest landscape spanning northern Sumatra.

Its forests provide habitat for orangutans, elephants, tigers, rhinos, bears, gibbons, monkeys and hundreds of bird species.

The park contains lowland rainforest, mountain forest, rivers, waterfalls and high peaks. These connected habitats are essential because wildlife does not recognize administrative park borders.

Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. That uncertainty is one of the most important signs that the forest and its animals remain genuinely wild.

7,927 Approximate square kilometres of national park.

130+ Mammal species associated with the landscape.

285+ Bird species found within the rainforest region.

3,119 m The elevation reached by Mount Leuser.

Rainforest residents

Iconic wildlife of northern Sumatra

Open each profile to learn about the animal’s habitat, behaviour, conservation status and the threats it faces.

Sumatran orangutan

Pongo abelii Critically Endangered

Sumatran orangutans are native to northern Sumatra and are among the rainforest’s most intelligent residents. They spend most of their lives in trees.

Orangutans build sleeping nests from branches and foliage and have been observed using tools to obtain insects, seeds and other food.

Habitat Tropical, riverine and swamp forests.

Behaviour Mostly arboreal and highly intelligent.

Threats Deforestation, hunting and wildlife trade.

Visitor rule Never touch, feed, chase or crowd them.

Thomas’s leaf monkey

Presbytis thomasi Near Threatened

Thomas’s leaf monkey is endemic to northern Sumatra. Its dark face, pale cheeks, grey body and distinctive crest make it one of Bukit Lawang’s most recognizable primates.

These monkeys live in social groups and communicate through calls, facial expressions and body postures.

Habitat Lowland, secondary and mountain forests.

Diet Leaves, fruits, seeds and flowers.

Social life Usually found in family groups.

Threats Forest loss, hunting and illegal capture.

Sumatran elephant

Elephas maximus sumatranus Critically Endangered

The Sumatran elephant is a smaller subspecies of the Asian elephant and plays an important role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration.

Elephants live in matriarchal family herds and may travel long distances in search of food and water.

Habitat Lowland rainforest and peat swamp forest.

Diet Grass, leaves, bark, fruit and vegetation.

Social life Family herds led by an experienced female.

Threats Habitat loss, conflict and illegal poaching.

Sumatran rhinoceros

Dicerorhinus sumatrensis Critically Endangered

The Sumatran rhino is the smallest living rhinoceros and one of the world’s rarest large mammals.

Visitors should not expect to see one. Remaining animals are closely protected in remote forest areas.

Habitat Dense, remote and often hilly rainforest.

Diet Leaves, fruit, shoots and twigs.

Behaviour Mostly solitary and highly elusive.

Threats Fragmentation, poaching and slow reproduction.

Sumatran siamang

Symphalangus syndactylus Endangered

Siamangs are the largest gibbons. Their large throat sacs amplify powerful calls that carry across the rainforest.

They live in close family groups and move through the canopy using their long arms and powerful hands.

Habitat Primary and secondary rainforest.

Diet Fruit, leaves, flowers and insects.

Communication Loud family duet calls mark territory.

Threats Logging, agriculture and illegal pet trade.

Sun bear

Helarctos malayanus Vulnerable

The sun bear is the world’s smallest bear species. It has black fur and a distinctive yellow or orange chest marking.

Sun bears are excellent climbers with long tongues, strong claws and powerful jaws adapted for extracting insects, honey and fruit.

Habitat Tropical lowland and mountain forests.

Diet Fruit, insects, honey and small animals.

Behaviour Usually solitary and an excellent climber.

Threats Deforestation, hunting and wildlife trade.

Sumatran tiger

Panthera tigris sumatrae Critically Endangered

The Sumatran tiger is the smallest surviving tiger subspecies. Its dark coat and dense black stripes provide camouflage in rainforest vegetation.

Tigers are solitary and extremely elusive. Visitors should not expect to encounter one on a normal jungle trek.

Habitat Lowland, mountain and peat swamp forests.

Diet Deer, wild boar and other forest animals.

Behaviour Solitary, territorial and highly secretive.

Threats Habitat destruction, poaching and conflict.

Wildlife is never guaranteed

Orangutans and monkeys are among the species most commonly encountered around established trekking routes. Tigers, rhinos and elephants are rare, elusive or generally found in other parts of the wider Leuser landscape. Responsible guides never chase, feed, call or corner animals to create a sighting.

Birdlife of Gunung Leuser

Birds of the Leuser rainforest

Gunung Leuser supports an extraordinary variety of birdlife, from hornbills and pheasants to colourful trogons, secretive pittas, kingfishers, raptors, owls and countless smaller canopy species. Open a bird group to explore its species and photographs.

Rhinoceros Hornbill in the Leuser rainforest — **Rhinoceros Hornbill** Buceros rhinoceros

**Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant** Polyplectron chalcurum

Wallace's Hawk-Eagle — **Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle** Nisaetus nanus

**White-winged Duck** Asarcornis scutulata

Storm's Stork — **Storm’s Stork** Ciconia stormi

Birdlife and forest soundscape of Gunung Leuser — **Forest Soundscape** Canopy and undergrowth birdlife

Some Leuser birds are recognised by brilliant plumage. Others reveal themselves through wing beats, repetitive calls or a brief movement deep inside the forest canopy.

Hornbills

Iconic birds of the Leuser rainforest canopy 9 species

Hornbills are among the most iconic birds of the Leuser rainforest. The powerful sound of their wings can often be heard from a considerable distance as they fly above the forest canopy.

Rhinoceros HornbillBuceros rhinoceros
Helmeted HornbillRhinoplax vigil
Great HornbillBuceros bicornis
Wreathed HornbillRhyticeros undulatus
Black HornbillAnthracoceros malayanus
Oriental Pied HornbillAnthracoceros albirostris
Bushy-crested HornbillAnorrhinus galeritus
Wrinkled HornbillRhabdotorrhinus corrugatus
White-crowned HornbillBerenicornis comatus

Bird records from Gunung Leuser include nine species of hornbill. Among them is the Helmeted Hornbill, a remarkable species that is now critically endangered.

Pheasants and Ground-Dwelling Forest Birds

Secretive birds of leaf litter and dense undergrowth 5 bird groups

These birds spend much of their time on or close to the forest floor. They can be surprisingly difficult to observe, even when their calls carry clearly through the rainforest.

Great ArgusArgusianus argus
Red JunglefowlGallus gallus
Forest QuailsGround-dwelling forest birds
Fireback PheasantsRainforest pheasant group
Bronze-tailed Peacock-PheasantPolyplectron chalcurum

The Great Argus is more often heard than seen. The male has exceptionally long wing and tail feathers decorated with beautiful eye-like patterns.

Trogons

Brilliant colours hidden among still forest leaves 6 species

Trogons are known for their striking colours. However, they often remain motionless among the leaves, making them surprisingly difficult to spot.

Sumatran TrogonApalharpactes mackloti
Red-headed TrogonHarpactes erythrocephalus
Red-naped TrogonHarpactes kasumba
Diard’s TrogonHarpactes diardii
Orange-breasted TrogonHarpactes oreskios
Scarlet-rumped TrogonHarpactes duvaucelii

The Sumatran Trogon is one of Sumatra’s distinctive bird species and has been recorded in Gunung Leuser.

Kingfishers

Birds of rivers, forest streams and humid habitats 8 species

Gunung Leuser supports kingfishers associated with open rivers, shaded forest streams and humid habitats deep inside the rainforest.

Blue-eared KingfisherAlcedo meninting
Small Blue KingfisherAlcedo coerulescens
Blue-banded KingfisherAlcedo euryzona
Stork-billed KingfisherPelargopsis capensis
Rufous-backed KingfisherCeyx rufidorsa
Black-backed Dwarf KingfisherCeyx erithaca
Banded KingfisherLacedo pulchella
Collared KingfisherTodiramphus chloris

Eagles and Other Birds of Prey

Powerful hunters of forest, river and open sky 9 species

Raptors occupy an important position in the Leuser food web. Some hunt beneath the canopy, while others soar above the forest.

Wallace’s Hawk-EagleNisaetus nanus
Blyth’s Hawk-EagleNisaetus alboniger
Black EagleIctinaetus malaiensis
Crested Serpent EagleSpilornis cheela
Grey-headed Fish EagleIcthyophaga ichthyaetus
Rufous-bellied EagleLophotriorchis kienerii
Crested GoshawkAccipiter trivirgatus
White-bellied Sea EagleIcthyophaga leucogaster
Oriental Honey BuzzardPernis ptilorhynchus

Broadbills and Pittas

Colourful birds of the canopy and dark undergrowth 9 species

Pittas usually live on the forest floor and in dark, dense undergrowth. Their plumage can be extremely colourful, but they move quietly among fallen leaves and are difficult to observe.

Green BroadbillCalyptomena viridis
Black-and-yellow BroadbillEurylaimus ochromalus
Black-and-red BroadbillCymbirhynchus macrorhynchos
Long-tailed BroadbillPsarisomus dalhousiae
Garnet PittaErythropitta granatina
Giant PittaHydrornis caeruleus
Schneider’s PittaHydrornis schneideri
Blue-winged PittaPitta moluccensis
Black-headed PittaForest-floor pitta

Barbets and Woodpeckers

Distinctive calls and tree-trunk specialists 9 species

Barbets are often easier to recognise by their repetitive calls. Woodpeckers can frequently be seen climbing trunks and branches.

Fire-tufted BarbetPsilopogon pyrolophus
Red-crowned BarbetPsilopogon rafflesii
Red-throated BarbetPsilopogon mystacophanos
Gold-whiskered BarbetPsilopogon chrysopogon
Orange-backed WoodpeckerReinwardtipicus validus
White-bellied WoodpeckerDryocopus javensis
Crimson-winged WoodpeckerPicus puniceus
Yellow-crowned WoodpeckerForest woodpecker
Rufous WoodpeckerMicropternus brachyurus

Parakeets and Hanging Parrots

Small green birds moving through the canopy 3 species

These birds usually move through the forest canopy, feeding on fruit, flowers, nectar and other plant resources.

Blue-crowned Hanging ParrotLoriculus galgulus
Long-tailed ParakeetPsittacula longicauda
Blue-rumped ParrotPsittinus cyanurus

Nocturnal Birds

Usually detected by calls rather than direct sightings 7 species

Nocturnal birds live in the canopy, tree cavities and areas close to rivers and streams. Most are first detected by their calls.

Mountain Scops OwlOtus spilocephalus
Rajah Scops OwlOtus brookii
Sunda Scops OwlOtus lempiji
Buffy Fish OwlKetupa ketupu
Barred Eagle-OwlKetupa sumatrana
Brown Wood OwlStrix leptogrammica
Barn OwlTyto alba

Small Birds of the Canopy and Undergrowth

The hidden diversity of Leuser’s forest layers 12 groups

Leuser is home to many smaller bird groups. Some are easy to hear, while others remain concealed in the canopy or dense undergrowth.

BulbulsRainforest songbirds
FlycatchersSmall insect-feeding birds
Spiderhunters and SunbirdsNectar and insect feeders
White-eyesActive canopy birds
BabblersUndergrowth forest birds
Shortwings and Forest RobinsBirds of dense cover
LeafbirdsGreen canopy birds
ShrikesPerching hunters
Minivets and FantailsActive mixed-flock birds
Whistling ThrushesMelodic forest species
Sumatran LaughingthrushGarrulax bicolor
White-rumped ShamaCopsychus malabaricus

Every bird sighting is a moment inside a living rainforest

Together, these birds contribute to the extraordinary biodiversity of the Leuser rainforest. Patient observation and responsible guiding give visitors the best opportunity to experience this birdlife without disturbing it.

Protecting the rainforest

Conservation requires long-term cooperation

Protecting wildlife means safeguarding habitat, supporting nearby communities and helping visitors understand responsible behaviour.

Habitat protection

Protected forests and wildlife corridors allow animals to move, feed and reproduce.

Wildlife protection

Anti-poaching patrols and enforcement reduce illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking.

Research and education

Monitoring improves knowledge about animal populations, behaviour and emerging threats.

Community involvement

Local employment connects livelihoods with keeping the rainforest standing.

Responsible jungle trekking

The best wildlife encounter is one the animal controls

Travel with care

How to explore wildlife responsibly

Ethical wildlife tourism does not promise staged encounters. It gives animals space, supports local guides and protects the forest from unnecessary disturbance.

Use certified local guides Experienced guides understand animal behaviour and responsible viewing distances.

Never feed or touch wildlife Feeding changes natural behaviour and increases disease and conflict risks.

Keep noise and movement low Walk calmly, keep phones silent and avoid flash photography.

Leave no waste behind Carry every tissue, wrapper and food scrap out of the rainforest.

Support local businesses Local guides, accommodation and village businesses keep tourism income close to the forest.

Discover Gunung Leuser

Experience Sumatra’s wildlife with patience and respect

Join certified local guides for a responsible jungle experience that supports local livelihoods and always puts wildlife welfare first.

Explore jungle treks → Contact our local team