Guest guest Posted August 10, 2002 Report Share Posted August 10, 2002 ***************************Advertisement*************************** eCentral - Your Entertainment Guide http://www.star-ecentral.com ***************************************************************** This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling. Comment from sender: This article is from thestar.com.my URL: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2002/8/3/features/soeco & sec=feat\ ures ________________________ Saturday, August 03, 2002 Nature in a nutshell A three-hour drive from the Klang Valley took us to the tranquil Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, near Taiping, Perak. Fronting a 7,000-acre (2,833ha) lake renowned as an anglers & #8217; haven, teeming with toman (a sub-species of the snakehead that & #8217;s terrorising America), kalui and arowana, the resort is a mere 45-minute & #8217;s drive from Penang and 30 minutes from Ipoh. Launched in 1997, the resort & #8217;s motto is, “The one resort that has it all!” And indeed, it does try to cater to everyone in the family. Kids get to frolic in the largest water park in the northern region or just savour an ice cream as they thump their fingers frantically away at the videogame centre. Mom can shop to her heart & #8217;s content at the Marina Village outlets while dad can set out in a boat to fish for the prized Golden Arowana. Best of all, this is a resort where you can mix leisure with education, and this is what gives Bukit Merah Laketown Resort an edge. Aside from the resort & #8217;s eco-friendly park and orang utan sanctuary, visitors can also check out the nearby Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, 30 minutes & #8217; drive away at Kuala Sepetang for a glimpse of the charcoal industry established in the area since the 1930s. Eco Park Wedged in a natural forest on a gentle slope, the Eco Park with three main enclosures houses a myriad of bird species, reptiles and primates. Visitors stroll on an elevated wooden boardwalk and get a close view of more than 60 species of local and exotic birds and animals in a simulated natural habitat. Carefully selected trees, shrubs, creepers, ferns and grass have been added to the original vegetation, while ponds and paddocks have been built for the water birds. The soothing sounds of trickling water from the man-made waterfall, the flapping of wings, and the occasional tweet and shriek lend a tranquil mood to the place. We were given a self-explanatory map at the entrance so we could wander around on our own. First up was the Bird Park. There were numerous information boards, which helped us to identify the feathered inhabitants. You learn about each bird & #8217;s habitat, physical characteristics, habits, and distribution in the wild. We thought perhaps the management should also include information about the threats the birds encounter. We spotted the Great Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, “Peaceful” dove (merbuk aman) and Javan sparrow (ciak jawa). Some visitors hurried through the place commenting crossly that, “There & #8217;s nothing to see!” But waiting patiently at different spots, we managed to see many of the birds in flight. here. It & #8217;s easy to lose yourself for hours watching their antics. You can offer them birdseeds and watch them come to feed at the feeding platforms along the boardwalk. Visitors are only allowed to feed some of the animals with appropriate food bought within the park. After the aviary, we came upon the binturong (Asian bearcat) which were lazing around in the sweltering afternoon heat. Classified as an endangered species, the binturong is from the musang family but resembles the cat. Since they are nocturnal creatures, they look listless and lethargic in the day. The monkeys came next, swinging from tree to tree, as we looked on from the elevated walkway. Perched on the railing, some of these primates reached out boldly for treats. The Borneo gibbons, however, looked quite sad in their cramped mesh wire cage. When queried about their plight, the park staff said the gibbons were too wild and could pose a danger to visitors. As we trudged on, we saw a Tanzanian hornbill perched on a branch, albino squirrels scuttling down the trees and otters (memerang licin) splashing about in a pond. At one point, I was taken aback to see some empty drink cans and snackfood wrappers scattered atop the canopy net. Some unscrupulous character must have flung the litter onto the canopy from the chairlifts that circle the park outside. We continued towards the insect section. It looked quite dreary as we peered into glass boxes and saw only dead scorpions (which really aren & #8217;t insects). But stepping into the reptile park, we had a pleasant surprise when we spotted a beautiful green iguana (slightly longer than one metre) lounging on the boardwalk. Another one was gliding lazily amongst the visitors. In the snake house, the Burmese pythons and albino cobra seemed a tad too large for their claustrophobic glass enclosures. We looked down into the bear enclosure which had an area of about 650sq ft (60sq m) with a dirt floor and some trees. A brick wall with electric wires enclosed the area. The sun bears would get a light jolt if they attempted to clamber up the walls. Even the trees are covered with live wires to keep the agile bears from climbing. The smallest sub-species of the bear family, the sun bear is an endangered species found only in the rainforests of South-East Asia. The two cuddly bears at the park looked well fed and had a nice sheen to their black fur. But one kept pacing back and forth restlessly. I think he may have gone slightly wacky, just as you would become if you were put in solitary confinement. The park also has daily animal shows, but unfortunately we missed the performance in the afternoon. Kids are in for a treat at the pet & #8217;s park where they can feed the Javanese deer, watch the staff feed the black cochin (a weasel-like creature), and walk among the humongous turkeys. Soon we completed the loop on the boardwalk and came back to the starting point. Zalilah Ghazali, the assistant public relations manager, explained that the Eco Park is an educational project. “It & #8217;s important, especially for the younger generation, to get to know the animals,” said Zalilah. “With increased awareness, they will understand the need to conserve and protect especially the endangered species.” The park management provide guides for tour groups when requested. Eco Park & #8217;s open concept is a refreshing change from the typical cages of local zoos. By displaying the animals in a simulated natural environment and through proper education, visitors get a better picture of the animals and their habitats, and consequently the importance of wildlife conservation. Nonetheless, many factors need to be taken into account. Skills and knowledge in species management are vital, and a high level of maintenance is important to ensure the animals & #8217; well being. Orang utan Island Opened in February 2000, the orang utan sanctuary is located on the 14ha Pulau Panjang, a 10-minute boat ride from the resort & #8217;s jetty. The orang utan are being bred as part of a rehabilitation and preservation programme to protect them from extinction. Currently, only two hectares of the island are used. A 100m-long steel cage built around the sanctuary allows visitors to observe the primates in their natural habitat. On arrival, we were greeted by the amiable Atan, a seven-year-old orang utan who has been trained to mingle with people. But visitors are prohibited from touching him. The park guide dished out some general information on the primates and a list of Do & #8217;s and Don & #8217;ts before we began our walk. Presently, there are 11 orang utans, five males and six females, including a baby that was born last year. It & #8217;s a brilliant idea to put the visitors in the cage and let the animals look at us from outside for a change. Most of the time the primates were oblivious to the prying eyes of onlookers. If someone tried to attract their attention, however, the primates would give a nonchalant glance or even glare at them and then casually scamper off. We saw many nests in the trees. The orang utan build nests by bunching leaves and twigs together several metres (up to 10m) above ground and take afternoon naps in them. A new nest is built every night. An endangered species, the orang utan is only found in Borneo and Sumatra. There are less than 30,000 left in the wild due to the destruction of forests. These individualistic, introverted primates face threats from illegal logging, poaching, expansion of agricultural land, road construction and illegal wildlife trading. “We have one of the biggest social breeding groups of orang utan here on the island,” explains Zalilah. The orang utan here have been trained to return to their cages every night. It is good for observing if the primate is sick or unwell during their daily check-ups by the vets, Zalilah explained. The management has planted some fruit trees like rambutan, durian and mangosteen on the other side of the island. Eventually, when the rest of the area is opened, the orang utan can roam freely and feed on the fruits. As the park is on an island, the orang utan cannot escape because they are afraid of water and cannot swim. You need a lot patience if you want to observe the orang utans and learn their behaviour, and a guide to explain things would certainly help a curious visitor. Nonetheless, the management deserves a pat on the back for their commitment to conservation. For more information on the resort or the Eco Park and Orang utan Island, call: Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, Tel(05) 897 8888, fax: (05) 897 8000 or e-mail: <a href= " bkmerah " >bkmerah</a> . You can also visit their website at <a href= " http://www.bukitmerahresort " >www.bukitmerahresort.com.my</a> <li> Look out for next week & #8217;s feature on the Matang Forest Reserve, charcoal factory tour at Kuala Sepetang and a luxurious stay at the resort & #8217;s Perkampungan Air wooden bungalows. <p> ________________________ Your one-stop information portal: The Star Online http://thestar.com.my http://biz.thestar.com.my http://classifieds.thestar.com.my http://cards.thestar.com.my http://search.thestar.com.my http://star-motoring.com http://star-space.com http://star-jobs.com http://star-ecentral.com http://star-techcentral.com 1995-2002 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved. 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