Fascination with animals

Dancing with the deer at Deer Farm at Kuala Gandah, Lancang, Pahang. 041110










May friend, Bob, commented that I have an expression of fascination with animals as I watched the great Richie, the male orang utan eating his food at Semenggoh orang utan rehabilitation centre in Kuching a few years back. It didn't hit me then but now I realised that animals, especially wild ones are creatures of mystery and I am always fascinated by them. I felt sad, angry and disgust when I saw woods, secondary forest or jungles being cut to make way for human greed. I wonder where do the animals, the little insects etc go when their homes are being destroyed. National Geography and Animal Planet programs have a great effect on my outlook on animals and I am grateful for that.
So when My sister-in-law, Kak Nor, came down from Adelaide to attend Izrin's wedding on 24 Oct 2010, I took the opportunity to take her to Kuala Gandah Elephant Rehabilitation Centre and the Deer Farm. I have not been to see Bong and Siput for almost 2 years and I am sure the 3 year olds have grown to be bigger, and they are. I couldn't recognise them until the mahout pointed them out to me. There are new young members in the centre and my eyes teared when I saw Selendang walked on 3 legs as one foot was missing caught in a cruel trap set by heartless humans.
I fell in love again as I have fallen in love with Bong and Siput. This time with Tapis, a one year old baby elephant abandoned by her mother. She is still being bottle-fed. Unfortunately the battery of my camera gave way at this point and was not able to record her orientation to human beings that day. She was so adorable and good for Rania to get to know her. As a baby she still has thick wiry hair on her head and body. Hugging Tapis was exhilarating.



I had a good time and so was Kak Nor. We laughed so much seeing the antics of the elephants being bathed in the river. Kak nor refused to bathe with them in the river as she saw some of them relieved themselves dropping huge body waste in the flowing river. No matter how much I encouraged and persuaded her, she declined but got in the river to play with the 2 young ones. I just watched. Riding bareback on the elephant was another amusing experience for her as for me 2 years ago.


The day ended with much joy and satisfaction. I was glad to see Bong and Siput though I had no opportunity to get close to them. Maybe on my next visit. The centre is undergoing face lift. New landscape, car park and office are under construction. It would look more attractive once it is ready but I still wonder why the government doesn't charge entry when maintaining the centre is an expensive affair. I was disappointed when my request to volunteer at the centre was rejected. I don't ask for payment but just allow me to do whatever is needed to help the animals and the centre.
In the morning, we stopped at the Deer Farm nearby. I met En. Abdullah again, the owner. This is another delightful place where we can play and feed the deer. Kak Nor and I had a good laugh and scream when the deer rushed to get their feed. But on that day the deer had enough food and many were too lazy to move from under the cool shade of the trees to us. I love to see these wild animals roam free in the vast enclosure with plenty of shaded trees.



Kak nor took courage to hold the python. This python was small when Najidah and I first visited the farm but now it has grown. I refused to touch it. I am not attracted to snakes and crocodiles, no thank you. I can do without them.















We drove back to my house in PJ before dark. I can't see well once it is dark which makes me nervous. I am glad Kak Nor enjoyed the visit and I hope when my nephews, Shah and Raz came back to Malaysia one day, they too could visit this place.