The Department of Wildlife and National Parks established Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre in 1989. The centre is a base for the Elephant Relocation Team, which began the elephant translocation programme in 1974.

The only one of its kind in Malaysia, the team is dedicated to locating, subduing and then translocating problem elephants from areas where their habitats are constantly being encroached by plantations.

As well as being a base for the translocation team and a home for a number of resident elephants, Kuala Gandah also aims to promote public awareness of the elephant’s plight in Malaysian and to support research into elephants translocation and conservation. Visitors are welcome throughout the year to ride the elephant within the centre, help wash them in the nearby river and participate in feeding them.

The centre also strives to educate the public about the importance of habitat and environmental preservation. visitors are encouraged to view a video on elephant translocation and special programme can be arranged for school groups.
 

The Elephant at the center

At present, Kuala Gandah house a number of elephant which were brought in from Thailand an Myanmar. The elephants are trained and used in translocation process of wild elephants in problem areas throughout Peninsular Malaysia. The centre also looks after orphaned elephants to ensure their continued survival.

The Asian Elephant

Currently the Asean elephant is listed as a critically endangered species, with less than 40,000 wild elephants in Asia and a maximum of 1,200 wild elephants in Peninsular Malaysia. Protecting the Asian elephants help safeguard thousands of other species within its habitat. The elephant creates vital natural pathways by knocking over trees, allowing smaller species to feed, as well as dispersing plant seeds in its dung. However, due to habitat loss, elephants are forced to hunt for food in convert areas surrounding forest such as plantations, where the raid crops on a massive scale. This is why the translocation team has such a dire need to move these elephants, to prevent them from otherwise being shot by farmers, or simply dying of starvation.

Visitor Timetable at the Center

Visitors are encouraged to participate in activities from 1.00pm onwards.
 

Time Activity

1.00-2.00pm: VIDEO SHOW: Visitors may view a video on issues surrounding wild elephants, diminishing habitat and translocation

2.15pm ELEPHANT FEEDING & RIDERS: Visitors are invited to ride and elephant around the centre. Visitors can participate in feeding the elephants, their dinner of banana, carrot, papaya etc.

2.30pm BATHING: Visitors can join the elephants as they bathe and swim in the river under staff supervision.

3.45pm VIDEO SHOW: Visitors may view a video on issues surrounding wild elephants, diminishing habitat and translocation