After several week of absence from the visiting the jungle, several of us nature trackers decided to go for a short trip to the Elephant Scantuary at Kuala Gandah, near Lanchang in Pahang about 30 minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur.
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The morning starts off with rain, and we were initially hesitant about going. |
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By the time we reached the Elephant Conservation Center it was already blazing hot sun |
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Although free, all visitors are required to register at the main office |
This 3430 hectare of elephant sanctuary was established by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in 1989 in a rainforest forest reserves setting in Lanchang, Pahang. While waiting for the events to begin at 2pm we settled for lunch at a nearby foodstall.
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At the back of the Complex compound, behind electified fences are a herd of Asian Elephants. |
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The sight of a group of brown coloured elephants is quite strange. |
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Upon closer inspection, they were having their mud bath. |
The mud bath was meant to get rid of all the firefly bites on their skins |
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The juvenile was seen literally rolling in the shallow mud bath. |
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The dried golden brown colour of the mud on their skins truely gives them such a majestic aura |
There are altogether 11 elephants in captivity at the Center. Only five or six were exhibited to interact with the public, while the rest is still wild and held in safer captive enclosure at the rear of the Center.
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The muddy raw hide of the elephants needs to be cleaned before interacting with the visitors |
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6 year old Suria is truely enjoying the water jet as their keepers cleanse of the mud from their body |
A cleaned Myan is in contrast with still patchy looking Abot by her side |
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A look of sheer satisfaction in the eyes of Myan |
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Myan and Abot eagerly awaiting for their feeding time from the visitors |
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Ema's baby girl (pink pants) feeding Myan with watermellon. |
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The oldest Myan Thon Pyan (33 years old elehant bought from Myanmar) leads the elephant walks |
Ema's brother and hubby with baby girl squezzed in between. |
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Abot (11 years old female elephant, captured in Johor) carries Dila and her son |
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Dila's hubby with youngest son riding on Myan |
There was quite a huge weekend crowd of visitors that came to the Elephant Scantuary, and everyone is seen having a really good time with the animals. It is opened everyday and access is free to the public, although voluntary donation from the public is welcomed.
Just a short drive from the Elephant Conservation Center at Bukit Rengit is the Deerland Animal Park and Educamp privately run by Mr. Abdullah and family on a plot of 10 acre. As many as 25 deer, several samba deer, mousedeers, ostriches, peacocks, snakes and many other animals can be hand fed by the visitors.
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Entrance to the Deerland Animal Park |
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A female Javan Rusa (Cerous timorensis) resting under the shade after feeding time. |
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Manja, the playful Honey bear climbing up a tree |
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I surrender man.........you win! |
While feeding on his milk bottle, Manja allows children to stroke on him. . |
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Muda is the father to Manja, an adult Honey bear (Ursus malayanus) - also called as the Sun bear, Malay bear or dog bear |
A Python curling snuggishly around my neck |
Also at the Deerland Park is a natural Educamp site usually frequented by school childrens and universities for group adventure outing into the rainforest jungle at Bukit Rengit, Lanchang. Mr. Abdullah, the owner can arrange for a guided trekking from here up to the Kuala Gandah Elephant scantuary and back. An overnight or weekend camping facilities is also available to the public, and he can be reached at 013-9676242 or email him for further information at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Ema crossing the river on tight rope to the opposite river bank. |
Climb up the ladder and take a thrilling Flying-fox sliding back. |
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Prior to reaching KL, a quick stop over for a dip at the stream near Lancang Nature Park for the childrens (... and parents too!!) |
That was quite an interesting weekend trip for all of us, and we all felt refreshed and rejuvinated again to face the hectic city life again.