Taman Negara National Park
Encyclopedia
Taman Negara was established in Malaysia in 1938/1939 as the King George V
National Park
. It was renamed to Taman Negara after independence, which literally means "national park" in Malay
. Taman Negara (total area 4,343 km²) has a reputation as the world's oldest tropical rainforest
.
Taman Negara encompasses three states, Pahang
, Kelantan
and Terengganu
, each with its own legislation. The Taman Negara Enactment (Pahang) No. 2 of 1939 is enforced in the state of Pahang, the Taman Negara Enactment (Kelantan) No. 14 of 1938 in the state of Kelantan and the Taman Negara Enactment (Terengganu) No. 6 of 1939 in the state of Terengganu. The enactments have similar contents.
Taman Negara Pahang is the largest at 2,477 km², followed by Taman Negara Kelantan at 1,043 km² and Taman Negara Terengganu at 853 km².
The park has been developed into a famous ecotourism
destination in Malaysia. There are several geological and biological attractions in the park. Gunung Tahan is the highest point of the Malay Peninsula; climbers can use Kuala Tahan
or Merapoh
as their departure point. Taman Negara is the home of some rare mammals, such as the Malayan Tiger
, Crab-eating macaque
, Sumatran Rhinoceros
, Great Argus
, Red Junglefowl
, Malayan Gaur
(seladang) and Asian Elephant
. Among the birdlife, the rare Malayan Peacock-pheasant is still found here in some numbers. Tahan River
has been preserved to protect the Malaysian mahseer
(ikan kelah in Malay), a type of game fish.
Others attractions found near Kuala Tahan (Park headquarters for Pahang) include a canopy walkway, Gua Telinga (cave system), Lata Berkoh (rapid). Visitors can enjoy the tropical rain forest, birdwatching
or jungle trekking (e.g. Tenor Rentis) and the river views along the Tahan River.
All visitors to the park must get permits from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. There are many hostels and hotels nearby.
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
National Park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
. It was renamed to Taman Negara after independence, which literally means "national park" in Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
. Taman Negara (total area 4,343 km²) has a reputation as the world's oldest tropical rainforest
Tropical rainforest
A tropical rainforest is an ecosystem type that occurs roughly within the latitudes 28 degrees north or south of the equator . This ecosystem experiences high average temperatures and a significant amount of rainfall...
.
Taman Negara encompasses three states, Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
, Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
and Terengganu
Terengganu
Terengganu is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Iman...
, each with its own legislation. The Taman Negara Enactment (Pahang) No. 2 of 1939 is enforced in the state of Pahang, the Taman Negara Enactment (Kelantan) No. 14 of 1938 in the state of Kelantan and the Taman Negara Enactment (Terengganu) No. 6 of 1939 in the state of Terengganu. The enactments have similar contents.
Taman Negara Pahang is the largest at 2,477 km², followed by Taman Negara Kelantan at 1,043 km² and Taman Negara Terengganu at 853 km².
The park has been developed into a famous ecotourism
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
destination in Malaysia. There are several geological and biological attractions in the park. Gunung Tahan is the highest point of the Malay Peninsula; climbers can use Kuala Tahan
Kuala Tahan
Kuala Tahan is a Malaysian village located at the confluence of the Tahan and Tembiling Rivers in the state of Pahang. The word Kuala means "confluence" in Malay, and the Tahan is a tributary of the Tembiling river. A resort at Kuala Tahan receives visitors to Taman Negara...
or Merapoh
Merapoh
Merapoh is a small town situated in the Lipis district of Pahang, Malaysia. Located near Pahang-Kelantan border.Jalan Bukit Tujuh is an infamous short strip of road along the route from Merapoh in the state of Pahang to Gua Musang in the state of Kelantan. The strip which is in the state of...
as their departure point. Taman Negara is the home of some rare mammals, such as the Malayan Tiger
Malayan Tiger
The Malayan tiger is a tiger subspecies that inhabits the southern and central parts of the Malay Peninsula and has been classified as endangered by IUCN in 2008 as the population was estimated at 493 to 1,480 adult individuals in 2003; none of the three subpopulations likely harbors more than 250...
, Crab-eating macaque
Crab-eating Macaque
The Crab-eating macaque is a cercopithecine primate native to Southeast Asia. It is also called the "long-tailed macaque", and is referred to as the "cynomolgus monkey" in laboratories.-Etymology:...
, Sumatran Rhinoceros
Sumatran Rhinoceros
The Sumatran Rhinoceros is a member of the family Rhinocerotidae and one of five extant rhinoceroses. It is the only extant species of the genus Dicerorhinus. It is the smallest rhinoceros, although is still a large mammal. This rhino stands high at the shoulder, with a head-and-body length of ...
, Great Argus
Great Argus
The Great Argus, Argusianus argus is a brown-plumaged pheasant with a small blue head and neck, rufous red upper breast, black hair-like feathers on crown and nape, and red legs. The male is among the largest of all pheasants. He measures in total length, including a tail of , and weighs . It has...
, Red Junglefowl
Red Junglefowl
The Red Junglefowl is a tropical member of the Pheasant family. They are thought to be ancestors of the domestic chicken with some hybridisation with the Grey Junglefowl...
, Malayan Gaur
Gaur
The gaur , also called Indian bison, is a large bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986 as the population decline in parts of the species' range is likely to be well over 70% over the last three generations...
(seladang) and Asian Elephant
Asian Elephant
The Asian or Asiatic elephant is the only living species of the genus Elephas and distributed in Southeast Asia from India in the west to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognized — Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Indian elephant or E. m. indicus from mainland Asia, and E. m....
. Among the birdlife, the rare Malayan Peacock-pheasant is still found here in some numbers. Tahan River
Tahan River
The Dahan River or Takekan River is a river in Taiwan. It flows through New Taipei City, Taoyuan County, and Hsinchu County for 135 km. It is dammed in Taoyuan County by the Shimen Dam, which forms Shimen Reservoir. The Junghua Dam is 26 km upstream and designed to prevent silt from building up...
has been preserved to protect the Malaysian mahseer
Mahseer
Mahseer is the common name used for the genera Tor, Neolissochilus, and Naziritor in the family Cyprinidae . The name Mahseer is however more often restricted to members of the genus Tor...
(ikan kelah in Malay), a type of game fish.
Others attractions found near Kuala Tahan (Park headquarters for Pahang) include a canopy walkway, Gua Telinga (cave system), Lata Berkoh (rapid). Visitors can enjoy the tropical rain forest, birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
or jungle trekking (e.g. Tenor Rentis) and the river views along the Tahan River.
All visitors to the park must get permits from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. There are many hostels and hotels nearby.
See also
- List of national parks of Malaysia
- Gunung Tahan highest point in peninsula Malaysia.