Kinta Nature Park To Receive RM300K For Upgrade.

Kinta Nature Park in 2010

Lonely Planet that just nominated Perak as the 9^th of top 10 regions in the world to visit in 2017 has done bird lovers a big favour when it featured Kinta Nature Park as one in the list of must visit locations in Perak. 

For sure travellers around the world who read the report will want to make a beeline for the park.

However visitors will be shocked as the park and its once trimmed garden is currently overgrown with jungle and weeds while its facilities vandalized and in need of major repair.

Kinta Nature Park November 2016

Then (the view from the watch tower) looking down on Lake Pucung and the island where the herons and egrets congregate.

...and now overgrown with thick secondary jungle 

Then, the footpath from the toilet and hall....

...and now

Nevertheless remedial work has started and an action plan initiated for visitors to comfortably appreciate the park.

State Tourism Director Datuk Nolee when contacted of the sad condition at the park said that the local government had allocated RM300,000.00 to upgrade the park.

“Upgrading work started towards the end of October.

Then, the neat and tidy courtyard and hall....

...and now.

“The works include the upgrade to the existing infrastructures such as the office, camp site, small hall, wakaf and the toilet.

“The cost will also include the access road to the site so that visitors reach the park with ease and enjoy the location and that all works must be completed by December 15” said Nolee.

In Lonely Planet’s report “Adventures in Perak: outdoor thrills and spills in the heart of Malaysia” writer Anita Isalksa described the park located 20km south of Ipoh as a former tin-mining land of low hanging trees and teeming fish ponds that is home to 130 species of birds and the region’s largest gathering place for herons and egrets.

130 species of birds have been identified at the park. (inset) Otters in the lake. Pictures are from 'Save Kinta Nature Park Fb with permission from Mr Jek Yap.

The current scenario is a far cry from when groups of bird waters and nature enthusiasts would spend the day walking around the park and studying the flora and fauna of the area or students camping overnight.

Kinta Nature Park is currently under the responsibility of the Perak State Park Corporation.

The Corporation’s Acting Director Noor Asmah Mohd Nawawi said the Park was gazetted early in 2016 after which it took over the responsibility from the Kampar District Office.

“Our immediate role is to get the park ready for Visit Perak Year 2017 and we are working with Tourism Perak and the Kampar District Office towards this.  

Aerial view of Kinta Nature Park.

“The park had been vandalized when we took over this year so we need to upgrade it properly.

“Once the Park has been restored we will station our staff and rangers there to maintain as well as to promote the park.

“Just as at Belum we will identify the types and species of birds and promote it for public interest” said Noor.

Asmah added that there are two access roads leading to the park. 

The access road via Kota Baru is being done and we are requesting for a budget for the road via Batu Gajah.

Kinta Nature Park came about after the end of mining operation in the area in the mid 1980’s.

The mining operations left behind a wetland of disused mining ponds and secondary jungle which attracted more than 130 species of birds.

At one of the cluster of ponds, a 41ha wide Lake Pucung, is an island that had attracted five families of egrets and herons and made it their permanent home.

In 1998 the Malayan nature Society (MNS) proposed that the area with almost 60 percent of the birds being totally protected or  protected under the Protection of Wildlife Act 1976, be set aside as a nature park.

With approval from the state government, the Kinta Nature Park (KNP) with an initial area of 900 hectares and an expenditure of RM625,000 for a viewing tower, toilets and rest hut, came into being in 2001.

KNP was gazzetted a nature park this year but with a reduced area of 396 hectares.

The island on Lake Pucung. Pix taken in 2010

Above (2011) bird watchers and nature enthusiast enjoying the beauty at the park.

Ardent bird watcher Jek Yap who took Lonely Planet writer to the park, said the park began to deteriorate after 2012 suspecting that it was due to the lack funds required for the regular maintenance. 

Foreign students camping out at the park. 

“I introduced the writer to the park over three years ago. Since that time the park has become rundown and the bird population has probably dwindled 20% due to the gradual depletion of food for the birds caused by the nearby farms and rampant fishing by anglers.

“Hopefully with the presence of the State Park Corporation the park will be maintained accordingly and allow the bird population especially at the island at Lake Pucong to improve again“

"hopefully with the presence of the State Park Corporation the park will be maintained accordingly' Jek Yap. (File pics taken in 2010 / 2011)

Without a doubt Lonely Planets highlighting of the Kinta Nature Park will enable more Malaysians 
and visitors from around the world to appreciate this wonderful natural habitat so close in our midst as another thrilling adventure that Perak has to offer.

JAG