MALAYSIA
SITE

Malaysia with Children
-- A'Famosa Water Park
-- Aquaria - KL
-- Bats
-- Birds
-- Black Panther
-- Butterflies
-- Cable Car
-- Cable Train
-- Cable Car
-- Crocodiles
-- Elephants (1)
-- Elephants (2)
-- Escape Park
-- Genting Th. Park
-- Genting Map
-- Hello Kitty
-- Langkawi
-- Lego Land
-- Lost World
-- Orangutans
-- Perhentian
-- Pulau Payar
-- Pulau Redang
-- Rock Climbing
-- Snakes
-- Sunbears
-- Sunway Lagoon
-- Taman Negara
-- Times Sq. Theme Park
-- Under Water World
-- Wildlife
-- Wonderland
-- Zoo KL
-- Zoo Taiping
 
Home
Kids Club
Kuala Lumpur
Jungle
Penang
Langkawi
Melaka
The Highlands
The Islands
Johor
Pahang
Perak
Perlis
Kedah
Kelantan
Labuan
Negeri Sembilan
Sabah
Sarawak
Singapore
Selangor
Terengganu
The East Coast
The West Coast
Car/Bus/Train/Plane
Malaysia with Children

Hotel Reservation
Golf & Green Fees
Malaysia Cooking
Links
Contact
 



 

THE MALAYSIAN ELEPHANT CENTRE
AT KUALA GANDAH (PAHANG)

"We had a great time here. We were impressed with the care and obvious love the guides have for these rescued elephants. Our guide was knowledgeable and passionate about the work they are doing here. The interaction between the visitors is well controlled and designed to eliminate any stress to the elephants. Was able to take part in the washing of the baby elephant in the river. Fantastic! A fantastic activity. Go there you'll learn something and help fund this great Sanctuary."

There's another elephant sanctuary near Terengganu:
Sungai Ketiar (see the menu - left)

The elephant sanctuary is located near Lanchang (there is a small road heading north, just before a BP station), then left at the next intersection. From this point on just head due north and there are enough signposts to guide you. It's in the center of Peninsular Malaysia. About 150 km or no more than 2 hours drive from Kuala Lumpur.

The sanctuary is managed by the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks. This centre was established in 1989. It offers visitors a hands-on introduction to the largest mammal on earth. Worker elephants are trained to help "guide and mother' others during the relocation process to National Park wildlife sanctuaries. Visitors are invited to help bath  them in the shallow river or ride them. The juniors have sense of humour, so watch out for a dunking as you try to clamber up their backs!

A base for the Elephant Relocation Team which started in 1974. Being the only centre in Malaysia, the team is dedicated to locating, subduing, translucent problem elephants from areas where their habitats are constantly being encroached by plantations, to Malaysia's National Parks such as Taman Negara. Over the past 25 years the team has successfully relocated around 400 elephants to national parks, bringing the wild elephant population in Malaysia from an alarming low of 500 to about 1200 (2013).


Approaching the wild elephant

The primary role of the 'Translocation Team' at the centre, is to capture wild elephants that are encroaching on plantations or population centres and to relocate them to national parks.
When a wild elephant is found to be encroaching on farms or population centers, the Elephant Translocation Team is called out. Their first task is to track the wild elephant and tranquilize it, a job that can take days or even weeks. Once the elephant is tranquilized, the next challenge is to move a huge, groggy and generally uncooperative animal out of the jungle and onto a waiting truck. This is when the team relies on their two 50-year-old translocation elephants, Chek Mek and Mek Bunga, to lead the wild elephant out.
Mentompian, a 26-year-old female from Burma, and Abot, a teenage female from Johor, are both being trained to replace the 2 aging elephants.


Chek Mek and Mek Bunga lead the wild elephant out.

xx

Without the help of translocation elephants, it would be impossible to get the wild elephant out of the jungle. The two elephants position themselves on either side of the captured elephant while the team attaches chains around its shoulders. Chek Mek and Mek Bunga then slowly and safely move the captured elephant out of the jungle and onto a waiting truck. The captured elephant is taken by road, and then often by barge, to one of a number of protected natural areas where it is set free.


On the truck

If you're lucky enough to get over there, the guides make every effort to allow visitors to ride and bathe these wonderful mammals.

Make an early visit to enter the compound of the elephants and roam with them while looking closely at their habits - but only with the Elephant Man - the very own elephant expert. Hiring the Elephant Man means that the fees you pay for his services, first hand experience and knowledge means, that you will help him continue his volunteering services during his free time for the 14th year!
All activities begin at 2.15pm. If you head for the sanctuary on your own, or with a tour guide but with the Elephant Man - its really up to you when and what you'd like to be there and do!
Save the Rainforests...and you save the flagship animal of the mighty Rainforests!

 

By Road: From Kuala Lumpur, take the highway to Lanchang.
Exit Lanchang. Pay toll and turn right. Now, it's a straight road to Kuala Gandah. Don't mind the signs: Kuala Lipis or Bentong. Just go straight to Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre.

By Rail: KTM Bhd provides service to Bandar Jengka and Jerantut.

By Bus: A Sri Jengka Express - Kuala Lumpur (Jalan Tun Razak) to Bandar Jengka, Kuantan to Bandar Jengka, Kota Baru to Bandar Jengka, Alor Star to Bandar Jengka.
What to do?
- Ride the elephant
- Feed the elephant
- Bath with elephant

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Ben van Wijnen

 

 

Web Analytics Made Easy -
StatCounter
Copyright © 2001 - 2024 WINT All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malaysite