National Elephant Conservation Centre, Kuala Gandah or Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary (Old Name)

This center was established in 1989 by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. A base for the Elephant Relocation Team which started in 1974. Being the only centre in Malaysia, the team is dedicated to locating, subduing, translucent problem elephants from areas where their habitats are constantly being encroached by plantations, to Malaysia’s National Parks such as Taman Negara.

Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary was established in 1989 by The Department of Wildlife and National Parks. This sanctuary responsible to track, capture and relocate wild elephants whose habitats have been damaged by development to protected areas such as national parks. Do note that this is not an elephant breeding center.  In addition, the centre also aims to promote public awareness of the threats, pressures and plight of elephants in Malaysia, support research on elephant relocation and conservation and as a sanctuary for tame and wild elephants in need of treatment. It’s also aims to educate the public about the importance of habitat and environmental preservation.

The Elephant Transfer Team has already started these tasks since 1974 before the establishment of the National Elephant Conservation Centre. This team has also successfully relocated more than 700 wild elephants and with this relocation, the risk of species extinction can be minimized, even the damage to agricultural areas can also be reduced. The centre currently has 17 elephants of which four are males. There are several trained elephants from Thailand and Myanmar and are used for operations to transfer wild elephants from problem areas throughout Peninsular Malaysia. 

 

Interesting Activities

There are various interesting activities that can be done here such as below:

 

Visiting Museum

There’s a lot of information about elephants at the museum. Even though this museum is small, it provides a lot of information about these endangered animals. Elephant skulls are also on display for public viewing. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to visit the entire museum.

 

Video Show

Visitors can watch documentary video in air-conditioned rooms. The documentary is about issues affecting wild elephants, habitats that are disappearing, the role of the Elephant Transplantation Team responsible for ensuring the survival of this endangered species as well as the process of saving wild elephants from conflict areas to new habitats. Showing time is around 20 to 25 minutes.

Schedule for Video Show

Monday to Friday – 1.00pm to 1.30Pm,  1.30pm to 2.00pm

Saturday /Sunday  – 12.30Pm to 1pm,  1.00pm – 1.30PM , 1.30PM to 2.00Pm

 

Elephant Show

There is a daily elephant show.  Promoting awareness of elephant rehabilitation in National Elephant Conservation Center. Elephants and the trainer, “mahout” would be introduced to public.

 

Feeding the Elephants

Visitors have chance to feed the elephants. The foods that can be given are sugercane and fruits prepared at this centre. Visitors only need to put the fruit into the elephant’s mouth or let the elephant use its trunk to take the fruit. There are 6 elephants that can be fed by visitors.

 

Watching the Elephant Bath

Visitors have the chance to see elephants bathing in the nearby river and watch the life of baby elephants that are released freely in a fenced area

 

Entrance Ticket

Free admission. 

 

 

Over the past 25 years the strong team has helped to prevent the further decline of the elephant population by relocating more than 300 wild elephants! Kuala Gandah also aims to promote public awareness of the elephant’s plight in Malaysia and to support research into elephant translocation and conservation. It also aims to educate the public about the importance of habitat and environmental preservation.

How To Get There

Kuala Gandah is located near Temerloh, Pahang is about 200 km from Kuala Lumpur. You can charter a car there

By Road : From Kuala Lumpur, take the Karak Highway, turn left into Lanchang and turn right into Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre.

By Rail : KTM Bhd provides service to Bandar Jengka and Jerantut.

By Bus : A Sri Jengka Express – Kuala Lumpur (Jalan Tun Razak) to Bandar Jengka, Kuantan to Bandar Jengka, Kota Baru to Bandar Jengka, Alor Star to Bandar Jengka.

Alternatively there are also plenty of tours that you can book from Kuala Lumpur

Entrance Fee

Entrance for the center is free. However a small donation to help with rehabilitation and supporting the elephant is appreciated. There are no entrance fees. However a donation will be an appreciation

 

Visiting Hours Schedule for Visitors Activities

Daily

10.30 am to 3.30 PM

 

 

 

Things To Do

• Elephant Show
• Understand elephants habitat
• Feed the elephant
• Bath with elephant
• Ride the elephant (Discontinued due to ethical concern)

 

Attractions Near National Elephant Conservation Centre

• Bentong Town
• Bentong Hot Spring
• Deerland park