Often seen as a high-tech destination, the outskirts of the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur still have some of the best nature trails and wildlife. One such place to visit is the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary.
The sanctuary was built in 1989 and is managed by the Malaysian Wildlife authorities. Located in a small village known as Lanchang , many orphaned elephants are raised and given shelter. However after tourist discovered this sanctuary the town has evolved into a busy tourist destination. Visiting the sanctuary is one of the top things to do in Sepang. Visitors to the sanctuary can visit it directly or visits to the sanctuary are included in tour packages and are offered by some of the resorts in Sepang as well. One such resort is AVANI Sepang, which organises a full day tour to the sanctuary. In the sanctuary one could find a sub-species of an elephant that is known as “Pygmy”, they are small compared to the other Asian elephants and are gentle and harmless. There are around 1500 of them found in Borneo.
Due to extensive agricultural activities and humans taking over large forest areas , the endangered Asian Elephant species are often found in plantations that were once forests where they fed and in small towns where they once lived but are now inhabited by humans. The wildlife authorities urge people not to hurt or kill these animals instead to report them to authorities so they could be rehabilitated and relocated. In the past 25 years over 400 elephants have been relocated. The conservation center is becoming a popular tourist attraction losing its initial inception cause, however, the centre plays a significant role in creating awareness among the public. It is a great place to take kids as they get a chance to come face to face with one of the most treasured species on this planet.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
