Page 15 - FFlyz-i45 (Low Res)

Cover Story

Bukit Gasing Forest Reserve - Kuala Lumpur for the families of tropical hardwood trees
This reserve is quite unique in the sense that it is located in the prized for their timber and resin.
middle of Kuala Lumpur’s urban jungle. There was a point in time when
The Bukit Gasing Forest Reserve straddles the border of buffaloes dragged massive logs along
Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur and covers an area of over the forest trails, and the deep furrows
100 hectares. It offers the perfect setting to hike, walk or stroll they carved into the ground can still be
with the grounds at the Petaling Jaya entrance being a popular seen alongside some trails today. Logging
playground for exercise buffs and tai-chi enthusiasts. was carried out in this area until 1962,
It is also a favourite with nature lovers who come here to view but about 80 hectares of virgin rainforest
the leaf monkeys or to do a bit of bird watching. Bukit Gasing’s remain untouched.
highest point - at about 160 metres - offers a panoramic view of
both Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya. Royal Belum State Park - Perak
Once a rubber plantation and left idle for 50 years, the course The Royal Belum State Park was ga-
of nature has overtaken the hillsides to produce a lush second- zetted as a protected area on May 3, 2007
ary forest brimming with woody herbs and large tropical trees. under the Perak State Parks Corporation
This is a very popular spot for the people who live around Enactment 2001. It is managed by the
the area, and is often quite busy on weekends with hikers and Perak State Parks Corporation. The park
people who just want to get some gentle exercise in the fresh encompasses a total area of 117,500ha in
air. the most northerly region of the State of
Perak in northern Peninsular Malaysia.
Penang National Park - Penang Nature tours - mainly boat cruises - are
The Penang National Park is the smallest national park in the available within the park, which offer the
world. Do not, however, let that fact put you off as this park opportunity of seeing elephants, deer,
goes a long way in proving that size does not matter. Previously wild boar, birds, different insects and
known as the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve, this site is known to many tropical trees and plants. There
harbour around 417 flora and 143 fauna species. Located at the are also quite a few endangered animal
northwestern tip of Penang Island, it was declared the Penang species that live within the state park;
National Park in April 2003. Malaysian tigers, Sumatran rhinoceros,
Penang National Park is the first protected area legally Malayan sun bears, tapirs and the white-
gazetted under Malaysia’s National Park Act of 1980, signifying handed gibbon.
the State and Federal governments’ environmental protection The chances of having an encounter
efforts. There are lowland mangrove swamps that fringe the with these great animals, however, are
rocky shoreline and the ancient dipterocarp forests - named very slim. It is said to be the only place in
Malaysia where you are able to spot all
species of the hornbills. It it also here that
you will get to see rafflesia, as there are
three species of this enormous flower.
Lake Temenggor, the second largest
man-made lake in Peninsular Malaysia,
lies within this state park, and is used for
water catchment. The lake has a variety
of freshwater fish species, which makes it
the perfect destination for anglers.

Kinabalu National Park - Sabah
Kinabalu Park, the entrance to Mount
Kinabalu, is located at 1,585m above sea
level and is the main starting point for
the summit trail that leads to the top of
Mount Kinabalu. It covers an area of 754
km and is made up of Mount Kinabalu,
Mount Tambuyukon and the foothills.

Penang National Park ...
comprising of lowland mangrove
swamps and ancient dipterocarp
forests.

FireFlyz ~ 13