Kota Kinabalu: The 280-acre Sabah Zoological and Botanical Park in Lok Kawi is set to become another main tourism attraction for Sabah with its unique setting that is virtually in the wilderness.
The park, which has incurred a cost of about RM28 million so far, may only be opened to the public later this year as it still needs some improvement on the facilities and is awaiting some of the exotic animals to arrive from overseas.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat during a working visit to the park on Friday noted that a lot of improvement needs to be done there.
At the same time, the park is waiting for the acquisition of exotic animals from abroad to join animals that are found in Sabah.
"I'm sure when it is open it will be a big attraction because seldom can you see a zoo in a forested area as it is normally in the city area. Here it is in its natural setting," he said when met after the visit.
According to him, a meeting would be held with the management of the park to sort out what other areas can be improved.
Personnel from the park are also being sent on attachment under exchange programmes to other zoos. Presently, two personnel from Kensington Zoo, UK are on a six-month attachment at the park.
The zoo section is being managed by the Sabah Wildlife Department while the botanical side is managed by the Forestry Department.
Among the animals already there are a pair of bear cats or binturong, pygmy elephants and Asian elephants, tigers, Proboscis Monkey, orang utan, mouse deer, barking deer, bali cattle (bearing resemblance to the Tembadau), ostriches and various species of birds in the aviary.
A white Rhino, is among the animals which still have not arrived from Singapore.
Chong who is also a Deputy Chief Minister said he wanted the children's section of the zoo where several pygmy elephants, ponies and goats are exhibited to be expanded.
The botanical garden, which is to be managed by the Forestry Department using the technology at its world-class research centre in Sandakan, covers about 200 acres.
Chong was briefed that the botanical garden would see a 1.4km walking trail and another cycling trail for visitors to see the flora at the park.
Also planned are orchid exhibitions, fernarium, butterfly farm, insecterium as well as exhibits of medicinal plants, nephentes (Periuk Kera) and ginger, among others.
Accessible via the old road to Papar from Penampang and from Lok Kawi, the park would provide visitors a close-up view of wild animals in their natural settings.
Source: Daily Express
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