John&Jacq~s Garden

Sungkai Wildlife Conservation Centre, Perak

My beloved John and I took the opportunity to visit the Wildlife Conservation Centre in Sungkai when vacationing nearby at Felda Residence Hot Springs last December.

We almost couldn’t locate the place as the receptionist at Felda Residence Hot Springs sent us on a merry-go-round when she directed us to the Convention Centre of Felda Residence Trolak instead! Gosh…how could she had mistook ‘conservation centre’ as ‘convention centre’ which has no relevance to wildlife at all?

Anyway, we did manage to reach our destination almost noon after asking for the correct direction from some locals at Trolak and Sungkai.

Known as Pusat Pemuliharaan Hidup Liar in Malay, Sungkai Wildlife Conservation Centre is managed by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Jabatan Perhilitan) in Sungkai, Perak. The centre which spans over 50 hectares was opened in 1971 and it’s primary conservation effort to prevent extinction of endangered wildlife is focus on captive breeding programmes for the gaur, sambar deer and several indigenous pheasant species.

Surprisingly, we were the only 2 visitors that noon and nobody was available to guide us around that vast area. I supposed it’s a free and easy tour, where one is expected to do-it-yourself kind of thing. Whatever, we did enjoy our visit extremely, spending about one and a half hours at the wildlife reserve, gazing with amazement and wonder at whatever were available and left happily with some photos captured for remembrance.

Malayan Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor equinus)
The spacious wildlife oasis with lush green surroundings and huge shady trees is just perfect for the Sambar deers, seen roaming unrestrained and appeared so at home, as if in their own natural habitat. The Malayan subspecies of sambar is the smallest in body and antler size as compared with the Indian Sambar Deer or the Sri Lankan ones that are rated as the largest in the genus ‘Cervus’.
What a pity that we missed out on the Timor Deers and Mousedeers, being unaware then of their existence at the wildlife reserve.

Some information on the Malayan Sambar Deer:

• Scientific name: Cervus unicolor equinus (syn. Rusa unicolor equinus)
• Common name: Malayan Sambar Deer, Rusa Sambar in Malay
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Artiodactyla
• Family: Cervidae
• Genus: Cervus (syn: Rusa)
• Species: C. unicolor (syn: R. unicolor)
• Colour: Dark brown background with black tail
• Body length: 94-143 cm (male), 74-210 cm (female)
• Height: 94-143 cm (male), 100-180 cm (female)
• Weight: 74-200 kg
• Male antlers: 29-56 cm in length
• Distribution: In the Asian continent of China, Sri Lanka, India, Sumatra, Philippines and Peninsula Malaysia
• Breeding: Sambars usually mate between September to January. Gestation period is about 240-270 days with one calf per birth
• Weaning: 8-9 months
• Life span: 12-13 years
• More info: @ Wikipedia

Malayan Gaur (Bos Gaurus hubbacki)
This extensive wildlife reserve is also a sanctuary for the endangered Malayan Gaur, the largest species of cattle, bigger than the Cape Buffalo, water buffalo and bison. Malayan Gaur or Seladang in Malay, is the smallest among the 3 subspecies of gaur that includes the Southeast Asian Gaur (Bos gaurus laosiensis) and the Indian Bison (Bos gaurus gaurus).

We were advised by one of the staff not to get too close as these huge and gigantic animals can be easily agitated with unfamiliar scent and faces. They looked threatening, no doubt about that. But, being properly contained within iron fences, we were a little brave to move close enough to marvel and enjoy them! Looking like water buffalo in front and like the domestic cattle at the back, they appear menacingly powerful with a highly muscular body and a pair of horns at both sides of the head. Both sexes have these horns that curve upwards and bend inward and slightly backward at the tips. The bulls are substantially larger in size than the cows.

Some information on the Malayan Gaur:

• Scientific name: Bos gaurus hubbacki
• Common name: Malayan Gaur, Seladang in Malay
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Artiodactyla
• Family: Bovidae
• Genus: Bos
• Species: B. gaurus
• Colour: body – glossy black (male), dark brown (female); knee downwards whitish to dirty yellow
• Body length: 250-330 cm
• Shoulder Height: 170-220 cm
• Weight: 1000-1300 kg
• Distribution: Thailand and Malaysia
• Breeding: Year-round, but typically peaks between December and June. Gestation period is about 275 days with one calf per birth, rarely two
• Weaning: 7-12 months
• Sexual maturity: in the 2nd or 3rd year
• Life span: about 30 years
• More info: @ Wikipedia

Pheasants and Hornbills
This area was quite a disappointment as the huge cages that housed these beauties are covered with tightly spaced wire-netting materials that not only hinder proper viewing but photography too. Rather frustrating as we were unable to enjoy the full beauty of these birds and have clear shots of them.

Pheasant species seen there include the following:

• Great Argus (Argusianus argus; Kuang Raya in Malay)
• Malaysian Peacock (Polyplectron malacense; Merak Pongsu)
• Mountain Peacock (Polyplectron inopinatium; Kuang Cermin)
• Crestless Fireback (Lophura erythrophthalma; Merah Mata)
• Crested Fireback (Lophura ignita; Pegar)
• Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus; Merak Hijau)

The Great Argus (Argusianus argus), was such a delight to watch. Frequently opening its beautiful and fabulously patterned wings to show off, as if displaying specially for us. Simply lovely!
This pheasant is large, measuring up to 2 m in length, with long tail feathers and secondary wing feathers that are distinctly decorated with large eye-spots. Plumage generally rusty brown with intricate pattern and spots of chestnut, brown, white, black and grey. It has a small head with blue bare skin on its head and neck, short black crest, rufous red upper breast and red legs.

Some information on the Great Argus:

• Scientific name: Argusianus argus
• Common name: Great Argus, Argus Pheasant, Kuang Raya in Malay
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Galliformes
• Family: Phasianidae
• Genus: Argusianus
• Species: A. argus
• Distribution: Borneo, Sumatra and Peninsula Malaysia
• Habitat: Jungle and forests, from sea-level to 4,000 feet
• More info: @ Wikipedia

Hornbill species residing there include these below:

• Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris convexus; Enggang Lilin)
• Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus; Enggang Hitam)
• White Crown Hornbill (Berenicornis comatus; Enggang Jambul Putih)
• Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros; Enggang Badak)
• Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis; Enggang Papan)

Sorry, no hornbill pictures to share here except the one below but you can enjoy them at Hornbills Photo Gallery by Wong Tsu Shi.

An Oriental Pied Hornbill suddenly flew overhead and landed on a tree branch within our view unannounced. How very fortunate! I was extremely thrilled and happy…gotcha on candid camera!

Some information on the Oriental Pied Hornbill:

• Scientific name: Anthracoceros albirostris convexus
• Common name: Oriental Pied Hornbill, Malaysian Pied Hornbill, Enggang Lilin in Malay
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Coraciiformes
• Family: Bucerotidae
• Genus: Anthracoceros
• Species: A. albirostris
• Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
• Habitat: Tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests.
• More info: @ Wikipedia

Address:
Pusat Pemuliharaan Hidup Liar
Jabatan Perhilitan Sungkai
35600 Sungkai
Perak.
Tel: +605 438 9482

Getting there by car:
Take the North-South Highway and head for Sungkai toll exit 128, then turn right at the junction which will lead to Sungkai town. Sungkai Wildlife Censervation Centre is located about 15 km from Sungkai.
Look out for the Menderang signage on the left and a little further the Shell Petrol Station on the right. Turn right before the Shell station and just continue traveling the narrow and dusty road until you notice the signage of Sungkai Wildlife Conservation Centre welcoming you in.

Last edit: June 4, 2016

Tags: birds, mammals, visit malaysia, wildlife