" S elamat  Datang to  Kuala  Gandah!

Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre, or popularly
referred to as the Elephant Orphanage Sanctuary, is located
within the bio diversified-rich and protected Krau Wildlife Game Reserve
of about 62,000++ hectares & was set up in 1989 under the DWNP
<Department of Wildlife & National Parks, Malaysia>,
manned by the Elephant Capture & Translocation Unit

The Teris River acts as a natural border between the  reserve
and the Che' wong Orang Asli village
- the last tribe of its kind found in Malaysia.
The name Kuala Gandah is, itself,  taken from the small stream
running just before where most of the resident elephants
are keptto your right after crossing the concrete bridge
fromthe Visitor Registration & Information building.

ALL VISITORS ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER
@ THE VISITOR REGISTRATION & INFORMATION BUILDING.

Kindly ensure that your guide informs you
of all the rules & regulations that are in placed
before crossing the bridge.

Prior to this arrangement, the ECTU was a mobile operating team
since  its establishment in 1974 with a temporary base at the
Jengka Pusat plantation where a huge area of jungle was carved to
make way for the planting of oil palm and rubber trees and given
to poor families to work on as a means of  eradicating poverty
amongst the rural folk and to rid of  subversive hideouts during
the communist insurgency days in the 1970s.

Poverty in Peninsular Malaysia has been reduced
progressively & successfully from slightly more than 50%
in the 1970s to less than 3.5%  based on
the United Nations Development Programme.

The clearing of the jungles created consistent confrontations
between the wild elephants and the settlers.
The unit remained there untill 1981 before it moved to
Kuala Lompat on the north eastern side of
Krau Wildlife Game Reserve.

However, it must be noted that cutting down of the forests
here are done for the overall benefit of the people of Malaysia within
the poverty line and compared to any other countries in the world
- Malaysia has THE BEST record in forest preservation
AND
reforestation.


ECTU's dedicated and never ending function is to the
continued protection and translocation of wild elephants,
from areas where there is conflict between wild elephants and
humans, into bigger and safer jungle reserves while
educating locals on the correct steps to protect their farms
whilst supporting wildlife conservation.



This unit is one of its kind in the world
where abandoned and rescued wild elephants are trained
& turned into working elephants to persuade and remove with
brute strength partially captured & sedated wild elephants.
The the possibilities of being charged or trampled
by enraged wild elephants happens for 2/3 weeks every month!
It is a thankless job where only a very tiny percentage of
the general public is aware of the existence, dedication
and sacrifices these magnificent men make every month in order
to provide a win-win situation for both the wild elephants
and the humans!

With a strength staff of almost 60 men and women,
it is also a race against time to replace senior staff
with fresh young blood and every encouragement
and support from visitors are warmly welcomed.



Although the sanctuary was set up in late 1989, it was only in 1997
that the general Malaysian public and the world knew of its existence,
thanks to the far sightness of a very good friend of the sanctuary,
who is often referred to as The Elephant Man !

Not only did he suggested, created activities and led
surprised visitors to this sanctuary, but also unselfishly invited
the media, tourist guides and travel agencies to see what
the  sanctuary has to offer as he realised that
the sanctuary IS for everyone!

The rest, as they say....is history .

If you do meet him here during one of his volunteering visits
 - feel free to ask him anything there is about the sanctuary and
elephants over a cup of tea and he will make your day a
very unforgetable one for you!
He is also currently a mentor to a group of local
youths trained to be guides for visitors.

For that, a BIG thank you, Mr Elephant Man!


Photo courtesy of The Elephant Man
Objectives of the Centre

- Overall
For the continuos conservation of the elephants and its habitats through sustainable management in tandem
with the aspirations of the country .
- Immediate
1)   Ensuring of the protection and management of the elephants and its habitants
2)  Enhancing the public's knowledge , awareness and support on the importance of elephant conservation.
3)  Managing the Centre as a centre for Research and Education as well as an economic & eco-tourism
      activities site.

LINKS


Donations

Ecotourism

Elephant Facts

Elephant Management

Wild Elephant Relocation

Home



ALWAYS proud to be EleFriends!