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MALAYSIA
Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary, Pahang, Malaysia
Peninsula Malaysia
The Department of Wildlife and National Parks established Kuala
Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre in 1989. The centre is a
base for the Elephant Relocation Team, which began the elephant
translocation programme in 1974.
The only one of its kind in Malaysia, the team is dedicated to
locating, subduing and then translocating problem elephants from
areas where their habitats are constantly being encroached by
plantations.
As well as being a base for the translocation team and a home
for a number of resident elephants, Kuala Gandah also aims to
promote public awareness of the elephant’s plight in Malaysian
and to support research into elephants translocation and
conservation. Visitors are welcome throughout the year to ride
the elephant within the centre, help wash them in the nearby
river and participate in feeding them.
The centre also strives to educate the public about the
importance of habitat and environmental preservation. visitors
are encouraged to view a video on elephant translocation and
special programme can be arranged for school groups.
The Elephant at the center
At present, Kuala Gandah house a number of elephant which were
brought in from Thailand an Myanmar. The elephants are trained
and used in translocation process of wild elephants in problem
areas throughout Peninsular Malaysia. The centre also looks
after orphaned elephants to ensure their continued survival.
The Asian Elephant
Currently the Asian elephant is listed as a critically
endangered species, with less than 40,000 wild elephants in Asia
and a maximum of 1,200 wild elephants in Peninsular Malaysia.
Protecting the Asian elephants help safeguard thousands of other
species within its habitat. The elephant creates vital natural
pathways by knocking over trees, allowing smaller species to
feed, as well as dispersing plant seeds in its dung. However,
due to habitat loss, elephants are forced to hunt for food in
convert areas surrounding forest such as plantations, where the
raid crops on a massive scale. This is why the translocation
team has such a dire need to move these elephants, to prevent
them from otherwise being shot by farmers, or simply dying of
starvation.
Visitor Timetable at the Center
Visitors are encouraged to participate in activities from 1.00pm
onwards.
Time Activity
1.00-2.00pm: VIDEO SHOW: Visitors may view a video on issues surrounding wild elephants, diminishing habitat and translocation
2.15pm ELEPHANT FEEDING & RIDERS: Visitors are invited to ride and elephant around the centre. Visitors can participate in feeding the elephants, their dinner of banana, carrot, papaya etc.
2.30pm BATHING: Visitors can join the elephants as they bathe
and swim in the river under staff supervision.
3.45pm VIDEO SHOW: Visitors may view a video on issues
surrounding wild elephants, diminishing habitat and
translocation
* Picture update of 3 baby elephants in the Sanctuary (Date: May 2007) bathing with the visitors.
Getting there and away
By Road : From Kuala Lumpur, proceed to Karak Highway, head to
Kuantan, turn into Lanchang town center and take left turn into
Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre. It's about 2 hours
drive from Kuala Lumpur.
By Rail : KTM Berhad provides train service to Bandar Jengka and
Jerantut, from here you need to take local bus or charted taxi
to the center.
By Bus : Kuala Lumpur to Jengka Town, or Kuantan to Jengka town,
from here you need to take local bus or charted taxi to the
center.
Source from http://www.wildlife.gov.my/
