| Taman Negara | |
|---|---|
| King George V National Park | |
 View ofSungai Tembeling from atop the canopy walkway. | |
  | |
| Location | |
| Nearest city | Kuala Tembeling |
| Coordinates | 4°42′N102°28′E / 4.700°N 102.467°E /4.700; 102.467 |
| Area | 4,343 km2 (1,677 sq mi) |
| Established | 1938/1939 |
| Governing body | Department of Wildlife and National Parks |
Taman Negara is anational park inPeninsular Malaysia. It was established in 1938 and 1939 as theKing George V National Park afterTheodore Hubback lobbied the sultans ofPahang,Terengganu andKelantan to set aside a piece of land that covers the three states for the creation of aprotected area.[1] After independence, it was renamed Taman Negara, which means "national park" inMalay.
Taman Negara has a total area of 4,343 km2 and it is one of the world's oldestrainforests, estimated to be more than 130 million years old.[2][3]Mount Tahan, Peninsular Malaysia's highest point with an elevation of 7,175 ft (2,187 m) above sea level, is within the park's boundaries. Taman Negara is an importantconservation area for thePeninsular Malaysian rain forest andmontane rain forest ecoregions, is rich inbiodiversity and home to several endangered species such as theMalayan tiger andAsian elephant. The park exists on the traditional lands of severalOrang Asli groups, such as theBatek people, whose use rights are recognised in the park's legislation.
A populartourist attraction, the park is found nearKuala Tahan (where the Park headquarters for Pahang is located) and features acanopy walkway, the Gua Telinga cave system, and the Lata Berkoh rapids. Visitors can experience the tropical rainforest,birdwatching,jungle trekking, and the river views along theTahan River, with many local resorts and hotels for visitors located nearby.
The park encompasses three states,Pahang,Kelantan andTerengganu, 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.[1]
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. At an estimated age of more than 130 million years old, it is reputed to be the "oldest tropical rainforest", although the title more accurately belongs to theDaintree Rainforest in Queensland, Australia, estimated to be between 135 million years old[4] and 180 million years old.[5]
Taman Negara is mostly located on ancient,sedimentary rocks and the oldest part of the continent, it features mostly gentle rolling hills where about 57% of the total land area of the park are located below 300m above sea level due to a long time erosion. Despite that, it also features some mountainous parts of theTahan Range, a subrange of theTenasserim Hills. The Tahan Range is home toMount Tahan, the highest and most prominent point inPeninsular Malaysia at about 2,187m above sea level.[6]
The park acts as an important headwater for the states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. There are three main river systems that originated from The park, which are the Lebir,Terengganu andTembeling Rivers. The Lebir is one of the tributaries of theKelantan River, flowing northward passing throughKelantan Delta, while the Terengganu River flows eastward towardKenyir Lake and is one of the primary inflow for the lake; and Tembeling River is one of the tributaries of thePahang River, flowing southward towards the central valley of Pahang. These rivers ultimately discharge into theSouth China Sea.[7]
The park has been developed into anecotourism destination in Malaysia. There are several geological and biological attractions in the park.Gunung Tahan is the highest point of theMalay Peninsula; climbers can useKuala Tahan orMerapoh[8] as their departure point. All visitors to the park must obtain permits from theDepartment of Wildlife and National Parks.
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Taman Negara is part of the traditional territory of several groups ofOrang Asli, the indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia. In particular, several groups ofBatek people still live on the periphery of the park. The park legislation recognises use-rights of Orang Asli within Taman Negara (e.g. section 15(c), Pahang En. 2/1939).[9] In this regard, six "aboriginal tribes" are listed (Ple,Temiar, Ple-Temiar,Senoi,Semang, and Pangan).[10]
Taman Negara features a largelyvirgin, lowlanddipterocarp rainforest as well asPeninsular Malaysian montane rain forests on the higher elevation parts of the park.[citation needed]
Taman Negara is home to some raremammals, such as theMalayan tiger,[11]Malayan gaur (seladang) andAsian elephant. Additionally, some biologists also believe that a small population ofNorthern Sumatran Rhinoceros live in the park. As well asbirds such as thegreat argus,red junglefowl, and the rareMalayan peacock-pheasant are still found here in some numbers.Tahan River has been preserved to protect theMalaysian mahseer (ikan kelah in Malay), a type of game fish. Species found in the park include 10,000 plants, 150,000 of insects, 25,000 invertebrates, 675 birds, 270 reptiles, 250 freshwater fish and 200 mammals at the national park, including some of which are rare or indigenous to Malaysia.[12]
Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM)'sKTM Intercity and Express trains stop atJerantut railway station. Visitors to Taman Negara can disembark here.[citation needed]
Local tour operators arrange transportation from Kuala Lumpur to the entrance of the Park at Kuala Tahan. This may involve a 3-4 hour bus journey to Jerantut and Kuala Tembeling Jetty followed by a 2.5 hour river boat ride to Kuala Tahan.[13] Entrance permits and park tours are often included in the package.
FromKuala Lumpur, buses may depart fromTerminal Bersepadu Selatan and Hentian Pekeliling going to the nearest town,Jerantut. From here travel to Kuala Tembeling Jetty and Kuala Tahan.[14]
Taman Negara was featured in cartoonist,Lat's 1980 compilation ofNew Straits Times cartoons,With a Little Bit of Lat, published in 1980 by Berita Publishing.[15]
The park also became the subject matter in 1998 documentary film,Taman Negara: Destinasi Alam Semulajadi, produced byFilem Negara Malaysia.[16]
Taman Negara is featured in the first episode of theApple TV+docuseries, The Wild Ones.[17]
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Taman Negara travel guide from Wikivoyage| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
