At the edges of the earth where land meets the sea, mangroves thrive, unrivaled in the sheer abundance of life they sustain. One such place found in Peninsular Malaysia, as yet untouched or damaged by signs of development, is the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve.

It is the largest and only tract of pristine mangrove forest left in Peninsular Malaysia, purely due to the fact that this reserve is world renowned for the diversity and endemicity of species found here. Stretching 50km along the west coast of Northern Perak and another 40km along the shorelines of the reserve’s sheltered river systems, the wide expanse of forest interwoven with estuaries, rivers, mudflats and lakes, is breathtakingly beautiful and radiates a sense of peace and calmness that is an immediate relief from the chaos of city life.

The little fishing village of Kuala Gula offers the only gateway into this protected mangrove forest. Internationally recognised as a bird haven, Kuala Gula attracts visitors from all over the world. Thousands of birds descend on the Matang mangroves each year, mostly from Siberia and Mongolia, to roost and feed. More than 160 different types of species have been recorded in Kuala Gula which was established as a bird sanctuary by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) in 1970. Since then approximately 5000 visitors have come every year to feast their eyes on some of the most beautiful and rarest of birds including Little Egret Egretta garzetta and Great Egret Casmerodius albus, the Common Redshank Tringa totanus, Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia, Eurasian Curlew Nemenius arquata, Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos and Mongolian Plover Charadrius mongolus to name a few.

For close to a hundred years, the Matang mangroves have survived under the protection of the government. The area was gazetted as a Forest Reserve as early as 1906 though 80 percent of the area is managed as sustainable yield production forest while the rest is left untouched. Later gazetted as a Wildlife Sanctuary as well, the mangroves support a diversity of life besides birds, including several species of otters, Leopards and Civet cats, the Clouded Monitor lizard, squirrels, bats, pythons and other species of mangrove snakes, the Bottle–nosed Dolphin as well as the Ridgeback Dolphin.

Since then it has earned the reputation of being one of the best-managed forests on a sustainable basis, and attracts scientists and researchers from all over the globe. The Matang Reserve is also renowned for the outstanding conservation management of the rich diversity of wildlife and habitats that thrive throughout the mangrove and mudflat ecosystems.

So one of these days, take a drive up north to Kuala Gula, spend a couple of nights and explore one of nature’s greatest treasures. accommodation, boat and guide Available is a three bedroom guest house, several government rest houses and ten moderately priced chalets. The Wildlife Department is also located there and can be contacted for guided tours, boat rides and bird watching.

Further details, please contact:
Director of DWNP Perak 3rd Floor Wisma Persekutuan Jalan Dato’ Seri Ahmad Said Greentown, 30450 Ipoh, Perak Darul Redzuan Tel: 05-2436645 Fax: 05-2436635 Or visit: http://www.wildlife.gov.my/i_eco_kgula.htm  http://www.wildlife.gov.my/i_eco_kgula.htm