Kuala Selangor Nature Park

Kuala Selangor Nature Park
Taman Alam Kuala Selangor
Location Kuala Selangor, Selangor, Malaysia
Area 2.4 km2 (0.93 sq mi)
Established 1987

The Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP; Malay: Taman Alam Kuala Selangor) is a park located by the mouth of Selangor River in Kuala Selangor District, Selangor, Malaysia. It was established by the Selangor state government in 1987 and has been managed by the Malaysian Nature Society on behalf of the state government ever since the park's establishment.

Man-made lake

With a total area of 2.4 km2 (0.93 sq mi), the park is a combination of secondary forest and wetland with a man-made coastal bund separating the wetland from the forest. Inside the park itself is a large pond surrounded by another bund. A water lock connecting the pond with the river controls the water level of the pond.

The park, as part of the Selangor River estuary, is home to a number of large bird species such as milky storks and herons as well as primates, namely silver leaf monkeys and macaques. The area was a breeding ground of an endangered milky stork species before the program was suspended. An abandoned aviary still stands in the middle of the park.

History

There were mangrove virgin forest in Kuala Selangor until the 1940s. However, the land was cleared to make salt plans from 1965 to the 1970s. Furthermore, in 1986, the land clearing started to create a marina, prawn farm and golf course. Sand dredging for the project killed wide range of mangrove forest, and the existing secondary forest was created since then. For these reasons, Malayan Nature Society (now the Malaysian Nature Society) and the Asian Wetlands Bureau (now Wetlands International) made a petition to the government of Selangor State, and the land was established as a park by the government on 27 September 1987. Endangered Silvered-Leaf Monkey was adopted as a logo mark of the park. After that, the park have been managed by Malaysian Nature Society under a cooperative arrangement with the Selangor State Government. It became the first park to be managed by NGO in Malaysia.

In 1997, Kuala Selangor Nature Park was recognized as a nature reserve for conservation and ecotourism, and recognized as Important Bird Area (IBA) under Birdlife International.[1]

Park guide

Trails

There are two trails and one walkway in KSNP as of May, 2016. They are the Main Trail traversing the secondary forest (550 meters), Bund Trail encircling the lake (1.7 km) and Mangrove Walkway extending into the mangrove forest (1.5 km). These last approximately 15 minutes, 75 minutes and 55 minutes to walk respectively. There are two watch towers that provide views of the area, and birds and other animals can be seen from the top of watch tower platform. Also, there are some Gazebo’s for rest in the park.

Park Interpretative Centre

Open 7 days a week including public holidays, 9 am to 6 pm. Visitors can purchase admission tickets and souvenirs, reserve a room of accommodation, and get information about the park. Entrance Fee: RM4 for adult, RM1 for children or student (7 – 16 years old), RM2 for senior citizen (above 60 years old) & MNS member and free for kids (under 6 years old).

Accommodation

Visitors can request to stay in the park. There are A-frame huts (2 pax per hut), chalets (3 pax per chalet), dormitories (6 pax per dorm), and a hostel for large group of people. Camping site for campers is also available here upon advance-booking.[2]

Other facilities

Public toilets, public washrooms, seminar hall, Muslim prayer room etc.

Environmental Education Activities

Mangrove sapling nursery

Visitors can make a reservation to participate in educational activities in Kuala Selangor Nature Park. These activities are generally conducted for a group of more than 20 individuals. Examples: Indoor activities such as nature craft and paper recycling, and outdoor activities such as guided tours, mangrove tree planting, night walk, and bird watching.

Examples of species which can be seen in KSNP

Getting to KSNP

Visitors can board the bus from Kuala Lumpur (Selangor Omnibus 141) and it takes about 2 hours to reach the new bus terminal in Kuala Selangor. Visitors have to take a taxi to this park or change buses for old town. Thereafter, walk along the street on the left side of the slope towards Bukit Melawati. It takes about 5 minutes to walk from the bus stop in old town to KSNP.

Tourist spots around KSNP

See also

References

  1. Malaysian Nature Society (2010). Mangrove of Kuala Selangor. MNS publication Committee
  2. Malaysian Nature Society, Kuala Selangor Nature Park General Info (official brochure of KSNP)
  3. kuala-selangor.com Accessed 13th May 2016
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