Endau Rompin National Park

Endau Rompin National Park

Location: Johor and Pahang Map

Area: 870 kmĀ²

 

Description of Endau Rompin National Park

Endau-Rompin State Park is one of the few lowland tropical rainforests in Malaysia. Located at the confluence of Sungai Endau and Sungai Rompin in Johor bordering Pahang, this area of 50,000 hectares (500 square kilometers) is estimated to be around 250 million years old.

Various types of unique plants are found here such as keruing, meranti, ferns, pitchers and forest orchids. Around 1985, a scientific expedition discovered 25 new plant species.

In Endau-Rompin National Park there is also a lot of wildlife such as tigers, elephants and wild boars as well as the largest number of Sumatran rhinos in the world. Other local species include the binturung (bear cat) and Ungka Tangan Putih (white handed gibbon) which is the only mawas species in this area. Here there are also many types of insects and birds that are rarely found elsewhere.

There are also many waterfalls and small trails in this State Park. Buaya Sangkut Waterfall with a height of 120 meters is the most beautiful waterfall area. It has five floors and is able to flow four tenths of five million liters of water per minute.

This area is also full of myths and legends and has become a popular recreation and tourism area in Malaysia. Many tourists like to track this forest, especially in the habitat of the Jakun tribe where they can hear the stories of the enchanted forest myths. The park also provides valuable insight into the unique culture of the indigenous people, the techniques of bravery and the skills of hunting and animal tracking.

Camping is the most popular accommodation. There are four camping sites that can accommodate about 300 hundred people, namely in Kuala Jasin, Batu Hampar, Upeh Guling and Kuala Marong. Currently, this park is planning to provide more facilities to tourists in line with the goal of establishing this national park as a major tourist destination.

Endau-Rompin State Park is closed during the rainy season from November to March. Fishing is not allowed during the spawning season from September to October.

 

How to get there

The journey to Endau-Rompin State Park starts from Kampung Peta, which is a Hulu village. From Kampung Peta, tourists can take a small boat for 40 minutes to reach the Kuala Jasin camping area. From here, they have to walk about six hours to reach the Buaya Sangkut Waterfall area.

 

General

The park is the second national park to be declared by the Malaysian government. The first national park to be declared is Taman Negara.

The Endau and Rompin rivers flow through the Endau-Rompin National Park. Hence the park got their name. Other rivers are Sigamt, Jelai and Jasin rivers.

Fishing is prohibited in September and October
There are two official entrances to Endau-Rombin National Park: Kampung Peta entrance located on the eastern border in Mersing District; and the Jelai gateway located on the south-western border in Sigamt district.

During the rainy season from November to March, the park is closed to the public. The two months of September and October are the breeding season of fish. So fishing has been banned during that time.

 

History

Endau in 1892; The first forest surveys in Romp areas were by H.W. Lake and Lt. H. Carried out by British officers named Lieutenant H.J. Kelsall. In 1933 it was gazetted by the Government of Malaya as a Forest Reserve.

Later in 1972, the park was expanded by incorporating the Lesong Forest in Bagang into the Endau-Rombin National Park.

National Parks Act 1980 (Malaysia)
In 1980, the National Parks Act 1980 (Malaysia) was passed by the Malaysian Parliament. However, disagreements between the federal central government and state governments prevented the creation of a national park in the Endau; Romp region.

Endao however; A dangerous situation has been reported for the Sumatran rhinoceros in Romp. This resulted in the creation of the Wildlife and National Parks Act five years later. As a sequel to it, Endau; Parts of the romp are officially designated as wildlife sanctuaries.

 

Flora and Fauna

Endau-Rombin National Park is one of the oldest tropical rainforest complexes in the world. 248 million year old rock formations.

Endau-Rombin National Park is home to some of the rarest species. Mammals include Malayan tiger, Indochinese leopard, Clouded leopard, Asian golden cat, leopard cat, marbled cat, Asian elephant. , Malayan tapir, Bornean bearded pig, Banded pig, Barking deer, Sambar deer, Lesser mouse-deer.

The extinct Sumatran rhinoceros
Greater mouse-deer, Sun bear, Long-tailed macaque, Pig-tailed macaque, Dusky leaf monkey and Bark langur Rare species like (Raffles' banded langur) are also found here.

The park used to have the largest population of Northern Sumatran rhinoceros, but all of these rhinos are now completely extinct in the wilds of Malaysia.