Malaysia Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers

"Saving Species For The Future"

Peninsula Malaysia wildlife rehabilitation and conservation centers provide unique experiences to observe wild animals in natural habitats. Remember that a little discomfort and time on the trail rewards visitors with wildlife memories and may trigger an interest in kids, or even adults.

Malaysia wildlife rehabilitation and conservation centers provide a booster shot to endangered animals on the verge of species extinction.

Providing a protected sanctuary for marine animals, jungle animals and wetland birds, captive breeding sites and animal refuges help to maintain dwindling wild populations.

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks and the Department of Fisheries operate these wildlife centers as part of the national program to protect biodiversity. Their first priority is animal conservation; tourism and wildlife watching are secondary.

Take a visit to discover how marine turtles find their way to the sea or how river terrapin eggs are collected. Learn about rainforest mammals and how difficult it is to raise them. It is a perfect way to watch wildlife, especially for kids, without going through the jungle.

Malaysia Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation Centers

Marine Turtles

Sea turtles nest on beaches to lay eggs. But decades of eating turtle eggs and habitat disturbance, combined with capture in fishing gear, have put these marine animals at high risk. Collecting eggs for turtle hatcheries keeps them out of the market and gives the next generation a head start.

Rantau Abang Turtle Sanctuary

Leatherback turtles used to flood coastal habitats by the thousands; today only one or two arrive each nesting season.

The Rantau Abang Turtle Sanctuary continues to lead conservation efforts of marine turtles in Terengganu.

The Turtle Information Centre provides a place to learn about sea turtle species in case nothing shows up on the beach.

And if you fancy a chance to help turtle researchers, check out the Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU) and join the volunteer field programs.

Ma'Daerah Turtle Sanctuary

Photo: Lionel Rich Creative Commons

Tucked away on a secluded slice of beach, the Ma'Daerah Turtle Sanctuary remains a critical protected turtle habitat. WWF Malaysia, together with the Department of Fisheries, provides education and awareness activities for communities.

Sign up as a volunteer to observe green turtles and marvel at these endangered reptiles.

Padang Kemunting Turtle Hatchery

Photo: Tom Doeppner GNU

Sea turtles also nest on Malaysia's west coast.

A hatchery at Padang Kemunting in Malacca collects eggs from Hawksbill turtles and painted terrapins to reduce local turtle egg consumption.

Visit the information centre to find out more about conservation practices.

River Terrapins

Bota Kanan Wildlife Conservation Centre

Sandy riverbanks provide nesting habitats for the river terrapin and painted terrapin. The Bota Kanan Wildlife Conservation Centre, with over 1000 resident terrapins, breeds and releases thousands more of these reptile species into the Perak River.

Bukit Paloh Wildlife Conservation Centre

On the east coast, the Bukit Paloh Wildlife Conservation Centre rears river terrapins by collecting eggs to incubate in nearby sand banks. Dredging for sand disturbs their aquatic habitats and reduces their chance for survival in the wilderness.

Rainforest Mammals

Seladang-Gaur Wildlife Conservation Center

Believe it or not, wild cattle roam the rainforest. The Seladang-Gaur Wildlife Conservation Center at Jenderak runs a captive breeding program to increase the population of these rare animals.

Take a tour of the interpretation center and view one of Malaysia's largest and endangered mammals.

• Go To Gaur

Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre

Originally setup to protect the Sumatran rhino, the Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre now breeds the Malayan tapir, the Malayan false gharial, the Malayan porcupine and the slow loris.

Sungkai Wildlife Reserve

A remote wildlife oasis for seladang (gaur), sambar deer and pheasant species, the Sungkai Wildlife Reserve carries out captive breeding of these protected species and conducts research to enhance Malaysia wildlife conservation.

Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary

Asian elephants are iconic rainforest animals and also a hazard for some village communities. The Elephant Relocation Team at Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary has relocated over 300 of these jungle animals to safe havens to protect this endangered elephant species.

Visit the sanctuary and watch your kids discover a wild time.

• Go To Kuala Gandah

Wild Birds and Fireflies

Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary

Surrounded by mangrove swamps and mudflats, the Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary shelters habitats for herons and egrets, kingfishers and kites, woodpeckers and warblers, and over 150 species of native and migratory birds.

Make your own stopover to this wetland paradise and visit Matang Mangroves nearby.

• Go To Kuala Gula

Raptor Watch Week

Each year raptors return to their breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere. The Malacca State Government and MNS raise awareness of these migratory birds of prey with a week long feathered festival in March known as Raptor Watch Week.

Flying low over the Straits of Malacca at Tanjung Tuan, visitors can observe several bird species and enjoy nature talks, walks and outdoor events.

• Go To Raptor Watch

Kuala Selangor Nature Park

Coastal mangrove forest and freshwater swamps harbor plenty of wetland animals to observe. At the Kuala Selangor Nature Park, waterbirds, birds of prey and migratory birds congregate to feed on fish and fiddler crabs.

Wander around the park and look out for mudskippers, leaf monkeys and monitor lizards.

• Go To KSNP

Kampung Kuantan Fireflies

Mangrove trees along the banks of Sungai Selangor provide habitat for fireflies that light up the night sky.

Visit Kampung Kuantan Fireflies to enjoy a sparkling evening outdoors in the quiet ambiance of these insect species that provide a nice introduction to nature and science.

• Go To Fireflies