The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) established National Elephant Conservation Centre in 1989. The centre is the base for the Elephant Unit, 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 translocate problem elephants from areas where their habitats are being encroached by development. These elephants are then relocated to safer habitats including Taman Negara National Park. Over the past 30 years, this team has helped to resolve human-elephants conflicts and minimised the economic losses caused by such conflicts by relocating more than 700 wild elephants.
In addition of being the home to the translocation team and a herd of resident elephants, the centre also carries out public awareness activities related to the conservation issues of elephants in Malaysia. It also supports research activities which are related to elephant translocation and conservation. The centre is open to visitors throughout the year. The awareness activities strive to educate the public about the importance of the species and habitat protection. Visitors are encouraged to view a video presentation on elephant translocation activity filmed in 1996 together with the National Geographic at the centre. Upon request, special programme can be arranged for school groups. A scheduled visitors programme is available and could be referred under the “Visitor Time Table.
The Resident Elephants at the Centre.
The centre houses a number of trained elephants for the translocation of wild elephant from the conflict area throughout Peninsular Malaysia. These elephants are trained and used in translocation exercise throughout Peninsular Malaysia. Apart from all the activities mentioned earlier, the centre also looks after orphaned elephants.
Deerland is built in a serene and untouched natural environment, you get a chance to interact with the smart yet humble deer. Apart from learning more about them, you also get a chance to feed and stroke the deer. Apart from that, there's also ostrich, sun bear, snake and much more to keep you amused. Other attractions include a dedicated area to cultivate herbs and spices. There are over 40 species of herbs including the ever famous Tongkat Ali which is believed to have medicinal properties.
There is also knotted rope used to swing across the river by the adventurous heart. If not, enjoy the wooden walkway leading up to an observation tower at Bukit Rengit
Nearby attractions include the Elephant Sanctuary at Bukit Gandah and Krau Wildlife Reserve where you can bath and feet the elephants and see more interesting animals in Malaysia. For a more relaxing and cooling climate, head to Bukit Tinggi for a cup of tea and enjoy the beautiful European decoration.
Gunong Senyum or the Smiling Mountain Recreational Park, at 1,549 meters above sea level is an important archeological site. It is located on the Pahang River bank about 68 kilometres away from the town of Temerloh via kampung Awah and Felda Jengka 18.
The park is a part of the Jengka Forest Reserve, which covers an area of 794 hectares. Surrounded by oil palm plantations of the Jengka Felda scheme, there are two main mountains within the park, Gunong Senyum and Gunong Jebak Puyoh, the former being a popular spot to tourist and researchers. Gunong Senyum is made up of limestone and rock, estimated to be around 3,000 years old, whilst the lowlands on the east is made of mudstone and shale estimated at around 2,100 years old.
Taman Negara is the most extensive protected area of pristine, lowland, evergreen rainforest in Malaysia. The stated purpose of Taman Negara is "to utilize the land within the park in perpetuity, for the propagation, protection and preservation of indigenous flora and fauna".
Dating back over 130 million years, Taman Negara is one of world’s oldest tropical rainforest. During the Ice Ages, much of the Earth was covered by immense glaciers that kept the global climate cool. Consequently, many of the planet's tropical rainforests had to wait until the glaciers receded before they could evolve.
Taman Negara rainforest, however, was blessed with a location far enough away from the ice that it developed 130 million years ago - far earlier than those of Africa and Latin America.
The forest itself is one of the most ancient on the planet, far older than the equatorial forests of the Amazon or the Congo. It has for tens of thousands of years been the home of nomadic forest people, and ancient civilizations have flourished as well as disappeared in its vastness. Legends abound & archaeologists have only just begun their efforts here. Equally exciting discoveries are now being made by genetic biologists, who have begun searching the wealth of life in Malaysia's forests for new medicines with which to combat AIDS, cancer, and many other illnesses.
Taman Negara is also a home to Peninsular Malaysia's highest peak ie. Gunung Tahan as well as a home to more than 10,000 species of plants, 300 species of mammals such as the Sumatran Rhinoceros, the Asian Elephant, tigers, sun bear and tapirs; 300 species of fish and over 380 species of birds. With so much to see and to do, a trip to Taman Negara is a must on your itinerary.