Its Elefun time!
After the Deerland, we continued driving to the Elephant sanctuary, the main reason why we were here. Located in the perimeter of the Krau Forest Reserve in Pahang, the Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre (KGECC) was set up in 1989 under the jurisdiction of the Department of Wild Life and National Parks, Malaysia. The entrance to the sanctuary and the activity is totally free, but a generous donation to show your support is more than welcomed. For full story and information about this place, see HERE.
After securely parked our car, we headed to the registration office to signup. We were given a red sticker each with limited activity at the park (too bad!). Those who were early (or pre-book their coming) were given the yellow one, a special pass that allows you to feed, ride and bath with the elephant (limited to the first 100 visitors). I saw most of the locals were getting the red ones, while the tourists bearing the yellow sign. I guessed that there must be some pre-arrangement done between the tour agents and the sanctuary.
Entrance to Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Center
Since it was already lunch time, having meals at the nearby eatery made common sense. At about 1.30pm, five elephants were being ushered into the holding area for grooming and feeding, and we tailed them.
The holding area. These elephants were bathed and the guy with microphone introduced us to each one of them.
To everyone dismay, due to the increase in the water level, they cancel the third, most awaited activity which is the bathing time (again, too bad!). But when looking at the mucky and dangerously deep river (as a result of the recent monsoon), we; who were given the red sticker at the first place feels impassive and a bit relieved (If I can’t have it so thus others.. haha wicked me!) But still, others lost is our lost too, as I will not be able to photograph those singular moments.
This is ‘Bung’. When his mahout (read: elephant trainer) introduced us, I can’t help smiling as it reminds me to one of our politician who made it to the gossip columns in the local newspaper, when he was sentenced for imprisonment for marrying a much younger celebrity without the consent of his first wife. Well, this ‘Bung’ wins my heart almost instantly. Step aside, Zizie!
Ahnaf fed Bung with some peanuts
This is Mawar. She lost a foot to a tiger before she was saved and brought to this reserve.
Mawar’s amputated foot.
These elephants are so cute and adorable, and very courteous too. Kudos to all the mahouts for doing a great job!
An elephant with its mahout
It's feeding time!
I was uncertain when the mahout asked me to hand feed the fruits into the elephant mouth, but after his assertion that these animals are vegetarian (didn’t we all know that!), I brave myself. And indeed, it was such a sweet and unforgettable memories (well I managed to pull back my hand just seconds before it was being chewed.. haha joking!)
A worker chopping the banana tree trunks. Other than local fruits such as watermelon, papaya and banana, these tree trunks are also part of the elephants diet. A good source of fiber, they are.
Riding the elephant. We didn't get the chance as we were holding the red sticker. The queue was too long anyway (:( self consolation).
At another sight, Ahnaf is observing the muddy river. Err.. I don't think I wanna bath in that anyhow! (I was told that the water is nice and clear during the non-monsoon season).
Yikess!!!
(Do you know that apart from being a very potent fertilizer, elephant dung is used for fuel and mosquito repellent by the villagers of Bandipur National Park, India. It is said that the smoke generated when the dung is burnt can kill the mosquitos).
We sauntered a while and make friends with these dumbos. Time flies by and by the time we realized it was already 4.30pm. As the centre is closing at 5.00pm, with a heavy sigh we bid our new friends goodbye and hope that we could see them again.
Aborigines Center of Information
We mill around at the nearby aborigines village which is so happen just next to the conservation center, where we parked our car. This village is inhibited by the Che Wong tribe, one of the indigenous tribe still available in Malaysia.
Aborigine traditional hut
More settlements. Their traditional settlement is simple and built on stilts with rattan and bamboos as it walls and roofs.
Even the aborigines can’t withstand the wave of development. They now live in new brick houses with electricity and pipe water, thanks to the Pahang government effort to modernize the native people.
Old versus new.
On the way back, we bypassed a fishing pond blooming with lotus, which I can’t resist to photograph. As if reading my mind, DH made a stop to enable me to capture their beauty.
Lotus
a local approached me and say 'Hi!'
and red dragonfly waves us goodbye!
We continued our journey back to KL. Exhausted, I dozed off along the way. The plan to drop by Bentong for its famous ice cream remains as a plan.
The End.
