Last Updated On : Sunday, 27 November, 2016 01:50:12 PM



 


 

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park
15-25 km from Kota Kinabalu City (about 30 minutes)


Malayan Tiger

Malayan Tiger

There are three tigers in the Tiger Enclosure. A single, simple platform perched, provided some shaded area where these 3 tigers were underneath this structure.

More about Malayan Tigers...


Malayan Sun Bear

The Malayan Sun Bear is the smallest bear in the world.The word "heli" is Sun 'arctos' is Bear

The hair is short and entirely black, except for a white spot or V-Shape mark on the upper chest.

Sun Bears can grow up to 5 feet tall and weight to 60 kg. They are large powerfully built; head is large and flexible muzzle omnivorous mammals with a short tail and a good sense of smell, but poor sight and hearing.

Of all the bears this is the most agile climber and spends a great time in trees.

Sun bears feeds on fruit and leaves gathered directly from the branches apart from termites, bee nests, and small mammals by using their front paws and long tongue.

In the wild Sun Bears live solitarily and is mainly active at night, and spends the day basking in the sun and sleeping.

Female bear gave birth their cubs on the ground in a secluded spot and remain with their parents for up to 2 years.

More about Malayan Sun Bears


Ostrich

Ostrich birds are flightless. It can grow up to 1.75 - 2.75m in height and weigh about 136 kg.

They are found in the open Savannah in South Africa and Namib desert of South West Africa.

Females mature about 6 months earlier than males and reach sexual maturity at 3 years.
The average life expectancy is approximately 40 years but they can live up to 70 years.

Ostrich females lay up to 12 eggs for incubation in a pit dug out by the male bird. The incubation period is approximately 6 weeks.

They are omnivores and the diet consists of plant material's such as grasses, leaves, seeds and small animals such as rodents, lizards and insects


Occasionally, a friendly wide-eyed deer will shove its nose towards the visitor for a gentle rub.


Gibbons Playful Otters and Gibbons

Observing the playful otters somersaulting in the water and the gibbons showing off their loud, elaborate voices are fascinating...

Smooth Otters are cute animal. The zoo keepers feed them with small fish. When fishes are throw to them, they will just rush to the food.

Otters communicates by shrill, yelping calls and whistles.



lizardlizard

Wagler's Pit-Viper

Reptile House (for snakes and lizards)

Wagler's Pit-Viper
(Tropidolaemus Wagleri)

Ula Kapak


orang utan
Animal Show

The show is a hit with the children and the orang utan knows how to make an entrance swinging into the amphitheater.

Visitors are amused to see the orangutan ‘Marsha’ compete with Edwin from Hong Kong in who will first finish in remove the hush of a coconut.

This daily animal shows take place at the Amphitheater  at 11.15am and 3.30pm. When we where there the Amphitheater was fully packed with about 200 visitors. the animal shows are held with assistance from experts from Singapore Zoo. The host of the animal show deserved a round of applause. It was good,  professional and entertaining.

More about Orang Utan in Lok Kawi Wildlife Park...

After the Animal Show, the visitors has a chance to approach the stage to have a close look and take photographs of the animals and ask question to the host about animals.

Photo below right : Great to be close to nature - After the show the host of the animal show let the young visitors to have a gentle touch of a 4 months baby snake.


Lok Kawi Wildlife Park was open to public on the 17th February 2007. A Wildlife Park worth a visit for the animals of Borneo that one might otherwise not get to see in real nature. Lok Kawi Wildlife Park has a good collection of Borneo wildlife and provided decent facilities for these animals. The management also involved in conservation and education.

It is located along the Penampang-Papar old road about 25 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu, the Wildlife Park is a combination of a zoo and a botanical garden. Sprawled over 280 acres of land, it is developed and managed jointly by the Sabah Wildlife Department and Forestry Department.

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park can be easily accessible by either the old Penampang-Papar road via Donggongon town or the Putatan-Papar road.


The park consists of two components: zoological and botanical. The park is a family-oriented park and the emphasis is put on the Children’s Zoo.  The Park has exchange programmes with Melaka Zoo in introducing new animals to visitors in Sabah.

The Park was formally a rubber plantation that has reverted to a secondary green jungle. It costs about RM2millions a year to maintain this first wildlife park (Zoo) in Sabah.

The Wildlife Park's main aims are to;
1) Increase Public Awareness
2) Provide World Class animal facilities and enclosures
3) Start an environmental education programme
4) Make captive breeding of endangered species possible
5) Allow research activities to take place

The bird aviary and botanical garden especially has a jungle-like feel to it. For those who don’t have the time for a real trip into the jungle, the zoo is a convenient place to see the wildlife of Borneo such rare animals like the Sumatran Rhinoceros and Bornean Clouded Leopard, which would otherwise be very difficult to spot in the wild.

Animals that are not from Borneo include the zebras, ankoli cattle, capuchin monkeys, ring-tailed lemurs and tigers.

In the mean time, visitors are still welcomed to see the orangutan ‘Marsha’ and her friends. Be amused by their antics during the daily exhibition which is to take place at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park Amphitheater (situated opposite the cafeteria) from 11.15am  and  3.30pm.

Among the inhabitants of the zoo (zoological component) are the Borneo Pygmy elephants, Sumatran rhinoceros, Orang Utan, Proboscis monkey, Malayan tiger, as well as different species of deer.

The botanical component, on the other hand; offers visitors the opportunity to go jungle trekking along the botanical trail. The paved trail is about 1.4 kilometers long. However, for leisurely strolls, visitors are only advised to walk halfway along the trail.



How to get to Lok Kawi Wildlife Center
The journey to Lok Kawi Wildlife Park takes 30 minutes to an hour’s drive from Kota Kinabalu, the estimated distance is 20 kilometers. For transportation, visitors can either drive or take a taxi from the city centre.

Further Information:
Lok Kawi Wildlife Park - Telephone : 088-765793, 088-765710. Fax : 088-765762.


Photo Above : Administrative Building of Lok Kawi Wildlife Park

Among the facilities at the park are the administrative building, visitor centre, car parks, public toilets and food stalls.


Proboscis monkeys

For those who yearn to see the proboscis monkeys at close range, one do not have to go all the way to Sungai Klias in Beaufort or Bako Park in Kuching to see them. Lok Kawi Wildlife Park enables you to see the probosis monkeys and various other animals of the tropical rainforests. Visitors get the chance to see the animals up close in the park's wilderness setting.

Proboscis Monkey have two stomachs (the extra one is used to ferment the difficult to digest leaves they like.


A male Probosis Monkey can be easily distinctive from his huge nose.

Behind : A male

Front : A female

A female is small in size and smaller sharp nose.

The Proboscis Monkeys has their own enclosure with a flowing stream of water and enough branches to climb around

A group of Proboscis Monkeys usually consist of one alpha male and several females. Proboscis Monkeys are distinctive, of their huge noses. There is apparently no scientific explanation for these bulbous noses. Theory suggests females are attracted to the biggest nose and thus, the alpha males usually has the biggest. Noses.

The females are smaller in size and have small noses. They walk upright on ground when they’re not on the trees.

The nose for young proboscis monkey is dark color. The color changes as they grow older.


Three  major habitat zones :


At the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, animals can be seen roaming wild within their enclosure. Currently, there are more than 88 animals in the park with plans for more animals to be brought in from other zoological parks in the world from time to time.



Animals at the park are divided into three major habitat zones:

1) the forest canopy zone - orang- utans, bats, snakes and eagles

2) the forest floor zone - sun bears and elephants

3) the water edge zone - Gibbons, turtles, crocodiles, proboscis monkeys and snakes

Other animals include tigers, mouse deer, barking deer, ostriches, various species of birds and a Sumatran rhinoceros. One of the first animals to greet visitors at the park is the exotic clouded leopard. Elusive by nature, the leopard looks so adorable that even in its sleep; it manages to pull a strong crowd.

The aviary is a much more animated section with the sound of mynahs greeting visitors with a simple hello. Other birds at the aviary include hornbills, pigeons, egrets, parrots and eagles. It is both entertaining and educational to watch the antics of the orang- utans and the pygmy elephants.

The botanical garden which is managed by the Forestry Department covers about 200 acres. Various types of jungle trees, wild plants, herbs and flowers can be found there.

The Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is open daily from 9.30 am until 5.30 pm. However, the ticket counter closes at 4.30 pm. The admission fee is RM10 for adults and RM5 for children while foreign tourists pay RM20 and RM10 respectively. It is free for senior citizens aged 60 and above and the handicapped. For more information, please contact the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park at 088-765710.

Getting there

Sabah is a Malaysian state in the northern part of the island of Borneo. Its state capital is Kota Kinabalu, where the Kota Kinabalu International Airport is located. As the main gateway into Sabah and the island of Borneo, the Kota Kinabalu International Airport has become the second busiest airport after Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is located near the small town of Lok Kawi. It is about 10 minutes drive from Lok Kawi and about 40 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu. There is no direct public transport to the park however, visitors can take a bus to Lok Kawi town and take a taxi from there. You can arrange with the taxi driver to transport you back to Lok Kawi town. Alternatively, you can pay between RM80 and RM100 to have a taxi take you there from Kota Kinabalu and back.
 


The children's section of the zoo features pygmy elephants, ponies and goats among others. Children can enjoy elephant rides daily from 10.00 am to 11.00 am and from 3.30 pm till 4.30 pm.

This Park is a great place where children enjoy elephants ride.


CHILDREN'S ZOO

ZOO KANAK-KANAK

ELEPHANT RIDE  (Menunggang Gajah)

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

RM 5.00 per person


Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is open for the public daily from 9.30a.m to 5.30p.m.

Entrance fees charged are as follows: adults RM10 (Malaysian) and RM20 (non-Malaysian).

Image Left :Ticket for Elephant Ride. Rm 5.00 per head


The elephants are a hit with children. The park’s biggest attraction for the children is the Elephant rides at Rm 5 per ride of 2 minutes.

As we walk alone the trial a crowd gather around the elephant enclosure. We headed over to see what is the elephant enclosures. The elephants are  not Borneo Pygmy Elephants . But  they are the smaller Asian elephant variety.

Ankole Cattle

Ankole Cattle have large, distinctive, almost over-sized horns. The cattle have for centuries been an intricate part of African culture and were used as a source of food, currency for trading and status. The king of each tribe would often own the cattle with the longest horns, and these were considered sacred.

Able to thrive in the excruciating heat of Africa, the cattle have adapted to survive. Part of their ability to withstand great temperature in arid environments, lies in the big horns, which are honey-combed with blood vessels. The blood flows into the horns where it’s cooled by moving air, before flowing back into the animal’s body thus reducing body temperature. The horns can grow up to 12 feet, measured from tip to tip.

Ankole Cattle
Ankole are an ancient species of cattle from Africa, renowned for their magnificent horns that can span as much as 1.8 m (6 ft).

They are also known as watussi cattle as they are kept by an East African tribe of that name.

Ankole Cattle are a purely domestic breed and should not confused with wild species such as buffalo and bison.

Male Ankole have shorter horns that tend to face forward, and they are larger and more heavily built than the females.

Ankole Cattle's spend their day grazing, accompanied by a herd and at night they put into a kraal (corral) for protection against lion.

Ankole cattle give birth to one young after 280 days gestation period. They reach sexual maturity at around 2 – 2.5 years and can live as long as 20 years.

Their mains food is grass and body weight can reach between 200 — 360 kg. Since their daily temperatures range from 0° C to 48 °C, they tolerate temperature and weather extremes well.

The large horns act as radiators; blood circulating through the horn area is cooled and then returned to the main body. This allows excess body heat to be dispersed.

The Ankole Cattle are capable of running and Jumping with tremendous agility.


Whereas the world's domestic cattle are bred for milk production and meat, Ankole were bred for their exotic looks.


Ring-tailed Lemurs

Like all other lemurs, the Ring-tailed Lemur is found only on Madagascar.

Readily identified by the long bushy tail. This species of Lemur's tail contains 26 black-and-white rings, and that the tail always starts with a white ring and ends with a black ring. Although listed as a vulnerable species, the Ring-tailed Lemur is the most populous Lemur in captivity, because they easily reproduce in captive conditions.

Ring-tailed Lemur

The Ring-tailed lemur is one of twenty-two species of lemurs. They share a common ancestry with Africa's monkeys and apes, but were isolated from those species probably SO million years ago when Madagascar separated from the African continent. They are found only on the east African island of Madagascar.

The word Lemur comes from old Latin and refers to ghosts and spirits. The staring eyes, haunting sounds and nocturnal ways of lemur inspired early observers to think them as ghost or forest spirits.

The Ring-tailed lemur's coat is black gray, the limbs and belly lighter and the extremities white. There are rings about the eyes, the muzzle is black, the tail is banded black and white.

Ring-tailed lemur uses the ground for travel. It is diurnal and gregarious, living in groups of 5-30. Females are generally dominant to males. They love to sunbathe with legs and arms spread wide.

They are the most terrestrial of all lemur species and spends time in all layers of the forest. They move by walking or running quadrupedally, holding their tails almost completely vertically as they move.

A single offspring is born after gestation period about 139 days. The young are grayish with thin coat of hair. The entire groups helps care for and play with the young. They are sexually mature and fully grown at 1.5 years. In the wild they could live up to 19 years.

Ring-tailed lemur are herbivorous. Their diets consist mainly of leaves, fruits and berries, although they occasionally take bird eggs, small mammals and insects. Body weight can reach between 2.2-5.5 kg.

They use their tails as a visual signal. In aggressive encounters, the Ring-tailed lemur will wave its scent-covered tail in the direction of a rival. Large calls alert other members of the social group to danger and help maintain comfortable spacing between groups.


Capuchin Monkey

Capuchin Monkey is from South American with a white upper torso and head, with distinctive black arms and a black cap on the head. One of the most intelligent monkeys, they are highly trainable and hence their frequent appearances in Hollywood movies.

They are arboreal animals spending  most of their time on trees. During the day they forage for food, which, in the wild, would include nuts, fruits, berries and leaves, but also insects, bird eggs and small vertebrates. Capuchin monkeys living near water can also feed on crabs, often cracking shells with rocks.



 

The park's 1.4 km walking trail and signposts make the visit more fun, informative and convenient.
 



 

INDEX : Kota Kinabalu  November 27, 2016 01:50:12 PM

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