Malaysia
Penang National Park is a small but very popular wildlife park of the Malay Peninsula. Originally founded as a forest reserve, Penang is almost as well known for its beach environments and nearby sealife. Although equally excellent for both land and sea life, it is probably more popular as a maritime destination and the viewing of dolphins and sea turtles which it affords.
Located on the Malay Peninsula near the border with Thailand, the area around Penang is located on one of history’s great migratory land bridges. Considering this, and the large human population on the peninsula, it is a wonder than any significant wildlife in the area made it the through the Colonial era intact. This was probably helped, in part, by the tourism industry which came to the area because of its pristine beaches and scenery. The area began to be protected as early as the 1950s and more strongly in the 1990s, when exploitation of the local resources was essentially ended. The reserve was declared a national park in 2003.
Penang is a rich park both on land and at sea. Both the rainforest area and the beaches are famous for the many monkeys which make the area their home. These can be better appreciated from an immense canopy walk that allows bird’s eye views of the trees. By the seashore, visitors can watch marine species such as Dolphin, Sea Turtle and Giant Otter frolicking in the surf. This is a popular past time for those who come to relax on the beaches.
Penang National Park is located near the midpoint of the Malay Peninsula, approximately ninety miles north of Kuala Lampur. It is open year round, though inclement weather may restrict access to certain area, notably the canopy walk. As of this writing no visitor information was available. Web: www.wildlife.my (official website).
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