This center was established in 1989 by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. 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.
Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary was established in 1989 by The Department of Wildlife and National Parks. This sanctuary responsible to track, capture and relocate wild elephants whose habitats have been damaged by development to protected areas such as national parks. In addition, the centre also aims to promote public awareness of the threats, pressures and plight of elephants in Malaysia, support research on elephant relocation and conservation and as a sanctuary for tame and wild elephants in need of treatment. It’s also aims to educate the public about the importance of habitat and environmental preservation.
The Elephant Transfer Team has already started these tasks since 1974 before the establishment of the National Elephant Conservation Centre. This team has also successfully relocated more than 700 wild elephants and with this relocation, the risk of species extinction can be minimized, even the damage to agricultural areas can also be reduced. The centre currently has 17 elephants of which four are males. There are several trained elephants from Thailand and Myanmar and are used for operations to transfer wild elephants from problem areas throughout Peninsular Malaysia.
Interesting Activities
There are various interesting activities that can be done here such as below:
Visiting Museum
There’s a lot of information about elephants at the museum. Even though this museum is small, it provides a lot of information about these endangered animals. Elephant skulls are also on display for public viewing. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to visit the entire museum.
Video Show
Visitors can watch documentary video in air-conditioned rooms. The documentary is about issues affecting wild elephants, habitats that are disappearing, the role of the Elephant Transplantation Team responsible for ensuring the survival of this endangered species as well as the process of saving wild elephants from conflict areas to new habitats. Showing time is around 20 to 25 minutes.
Feeding the Elephants
Visitors have chance to feed the elephants. The foods that can be given are watermelon and papaya prepared at this centre. Visitors only need to put the fruit into the elephant’s mouth or let the elephant use its trunk to take the fruit. There are 6 elephants that can be fed by visitors.
Watching the Elephant
Visitors have the chance to see elephants bathing in the nearby river and watch the life of baby elephants that are released freely in a fenced area
Entrance Ticket
Free admission.
Office Hours
Monday to Sunday
8:00 am to 4.30 pm (lunch break from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm)
Friday
8:00 am to 12:15 pm
2:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Over the past 25 years the strong team has helped to prevent the further decline of the elephant population by relocating more than 300 wild elephants! Kuala Gandah also aims to promote public awareness of the elephant’s plight in Malaysia and to support research into elephant translocation and conservation. It also aims to educate the public about the importance of habitat and environmental preservation.
How To Get There
Kuala Gandah in Temerloh, Pahang is about 200 km from Kuala Lumpur. You can charter a car there
By Road : From Kuala Lumpur, take the Karak Highway, turn left into Lanchang and turn right into 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.
Entrance Fee
Entrance for the center is free. However a small donation to help with rehabilitation and supporting the elephant is appreciated.
Things To Do
Understand elephants habitat
Feed the elephant
Bath with elephant
Ride the elephant
There are no entrance fees. However a donation will be an appreciation
