Paradise island for orangutans
By RASLAN BAHAROM
The Star, 25 Oct 2002

BAGAN SERAI: The 14ha island orangutan sanctuary, off Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, is set to be a hit as the number of animals is expected to increase with some of the female orangutans expected to give birth soon. 

Off Bukit Merah Laketown Resort here, the animals are let loose at the sanctuary while visitors are caged up when they visit the orangutans. 

The island is now home to 12 orangutans and four of the six females are pregnant, expecting the arrival of their young. 

“We will hold a celebration when they give birth,” said MK Land Holdings Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal Abu Bakar recently when a delegation from Sarawak, led by its Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud, visited the island. 

Taib, who witnessed a MOU signing ceremony between Sarawak’s Controller of WildLife Datuk Cheong Ek Choon and MK Land Holdings’s Chief Operating Officer K. Mohanachandran – on behalf of Bukit Merah Laketown Resort Sdn Bhd (BMLR) that manages the resort and island, was equally impressed with the concept. 

The MOU will see an additional five orangutans to be loaned to the resort for the sanctuary. 

Taib had earlier entered a cage that provided visitors an insight into the animals’ habitat on the island. 

One of the animals, named Mike, came out from his hiding place when one of the keepers blew a whistle.  

Standing near the cage of visitors, Mike snatched a bottle of chocolate-flavoured milk thrown out by a keeper. 

The resort spent about RM5,000 a month on food and an equal amount on supplements and salaries for sevenfull-time staff of keepers and handlers, including a veterinarian and an assistant vet, said the resort’s eco-facility manager Azman Said. 

Entrance fee to the island, inclusive of a 15-minute boat ride, is RM9 for adults and RM6 for children. 

The boat service leaves the resort every 30min from 10am onwards. 

A visitor is allowed to stay on the island where an education corner on the orangutan is also available, until 5.45pm when the last boat leaves for the resort. 

Apart from accommodation, the resort offered a host of facilities such as a water theme park and an eco park for birds, reptiles and small primates where visitors can also enjoy an animal education show. 

Charges for the eco-park is the same as the rate imposed for visitors to the orangutan island.