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Elephant Sanctuary in Sungai Ketiar
Another Elephant Sanctuary (beside Kuala Gandah) is Sungai Ketiar.
Here you can meet Suria, one of the host elephant
(9) at the Sungai Ketiar
Elephant Sanctuary. It's opened to the visitors since 2008. Suria and
her mate Chahil, help captured and relocate wild elephants lost from
their herd in the surrounding jungles.
It's lovely to be able to see elephants in Sungai Ketiar.
However, the word sanctuary reminds us that we are destroying the
elephants habitat.
The sanctuary is located along the Gua Musang - Kuala Berang road. The
sanctuary has a commanding view of the Tasik Kenyir Lake in Terengganu.
It's 1047 meters above sea level and it's about 52
kilometres away from
the city of Kuala Terengganu.
The natural habitat of elephants is preserved to
ensure sustenance of its species. The sanctuary provides fun
and excitement for the whole family. The best is to explore
and observe the nature’s exotic flora and fauna while having
the opportunity riding on the domesticated elephant’s back.
Chalil is a bull elephant captured in Gua
Musang (in Kelantan noted for its wildlife including tigers)
in 2003 while Suria, the female jumbo, was ensnared in
Bandar Permaisuri, Setiu in 2005. They are trained to be host elephants. Both are now
tame enough to give free rides to visitors.
They are fed with fruits,
such as banana, sugar cane, bread, pellets and rice. Five times a day!
There are also four trained rangers to look after the two
elephants. The rangers let Suria and Chalil roam in the
nearby jungle every four days. This enables the mammals to
familiarise themselves with the jungle surroundings and also
helps them to herd with the wild elephants in the area. |
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The sanctuary is an attraction, especially for motorists plying the Gua
Musang - Simpang Pulai, Perak route.
Since the opening it has attracted a lot of tourists, including those
from Japan, the Netherlands, Germany and France.
The 15,000ha sanctuary has special viaducts for the animals passage
along the road to protect them from being hit by vehicles. Visitors are
advised not to be alarmed if they come across a herd of
elephants roaming in the area, particularly between the
early morning hours from 4.30am to 6.30am
The Terangganu Forestry Department, which manages the sanctuary, is also
protecting several salt licks for wild animals in the Simpan Tembat
jungle.
The public can visit the sanctuary from 9am to 6pm daily.
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