Repair works still ongoing at flood-damaged Endau-Rompin Selai, say authorities
Johor contains over 63,000ha of forests that are designated as national parks.
The largest of these is Endau-Rompin Johor National Park, a critical habitat for threatened wildlife species such as the Malayan tiger, Malayan tapir and Asian elephant.
Other significant parks include Gunung Ledang Lagenda Johor National Park, Tanjung Piai National Park and Pulau Kukup National Park.
Johor National Parks Corporation (JNPC), headed by director Taufik Bahar, plays a crucial role in monitoring and protecting these parks from threats, such as poaching and pollution.
Taufik said the national parks were located in Pontian, Mersing, Segamat and Tangkak.
“Established in 1993, the 48,905ha Endau-Rompin park is the largest protected area in the southern half of peninsular Malaysia.
“There are two official entry points to Endau-Rompin national park: the Peta entrance located in the east, in Mersing district, and the Selai entrance in the southwest, in Segamat district,” he told StarMetro.As such, the parks are named Endau-Rompin Peta and Endau-Rompin Selai.
Endau-Rompin Peta is the location of the upper Endau valley, where you can find rivers and waterfalls such as Upeh Guling, Buaya Sangkut, Tasik Biru and Kampung Peta Orang Asli village.
Visitors can reach Endau-Rompin Peta via Kahang, a town in Kluang.
The turn-off from the main road towards the park is located about 7km from Kahang, along the trunk road to Mersing.
From there, it is another 53km off-road to Kampung Peta through oil palm plantations and Labis Timur Forest Reserve.
Taufik said a road construction project under East Coast Economic Region (ECER) was expected to be completed in April 2025.
“This will cut the journey down to about 60 minutes from the current 90 minutes.”
He said current access was with four-wheel-drive vehicles, which could also be arranged at the JNPC office in Kahang.
Registration with JNPC was also required before entering the national park, he added.
Next to Peta is Endau-Rompin Selai, named after the river that flows through this part of the national park.
“An Orang Asli legend has it that long ago, a celestial princess, possessing ‘great body heat’ descended upon the earth.
“The scorching heat from her body caused the great river that flowed down the mountain of Gunung Besar to be reduced to a mere trickle, the size of a strip of rattan.
“In the local language, this was known as ‘sehelai rotan’ (a piece of rattan) or ‘selai’ for short,” Taufik explained.
While Selai was renowned for its waterfalls and forest trails, the national park had to be closed in March after parts of it were destroyed by floods, he said.
The flood-induced landslide was severe and consequently, the area has been deemed unsafe for visitors.
Taufik said Selai gained popularity among visitors due to its easy accessibility.
“From the JNPC office in Bekok, Segamat, visitors in four-wheel-drive vehicles could reach the river in Selai in 45 to 60 minutes.
“We have been receiving a lot of enquiries about Selai but repair works are underway so it will take some time before the public is allowed back in again.”
The latest addition to the state’s national parks, said Taufik, was Gunung Ledang Lagenda Johor National Park in Tangkak.
It was established in 2005 to protect the mountain along with its unique flora and wildlife.
The 8,611.9ha protected area, which spans the entire Ledang massif, covers pristine tropical rainforest and serves as a critical water catchment area for both Johor and Melaka.
“The mountain is also steeped in legend, linking it to the tale of Puteri Gunung Ledang, a mythical princess whose beauty was said to be unmatched.
“The mountain goes by several names. Chinese sailors who sailed the Straits of Malacca in the 14th century named it ‘kim sua’ or gold mountain in Hokkien, while British cartographers called it Mount Ophir after the lost mines of Ophir that supplied King Solomon’s treasure.
“Today, the 1,276m mountain is one of the top climbing destinations in the country.
“Within the park, there are waterfalls and picnic areas, while food stalls and public toilets are also available.”
Southern stops
Further south in Johor are Tanjung Piai National Park and Pulau Kukup National Park, both of which are Ramsar sites.
A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated under the Ramsar Convention, an inter-governmental treaty established in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, by Unesco.
It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands and sustainable use of their resources.
Taufik said Tanjung Piai’s appeal was its position as the southernmost point of mainland Asia, the extreme opposite from Eurasia’s northernmost point, which is Cape Chelyuskin in Russia.
As they enjoy being surrounded by nature, visitors can learn about the importance of mangrove trees and what they do for the environment such as blocking sea waves and trapping rubbish.
“Spanning 325ha, Tanjung Piai is the smallest but most visited of Johor’s national parks.
“It is an ideal place to spend the day, observing the biodiversity and taking in the coastal views,” said Taufik.
The nearby Pulau Kukup National Park is an important refuge for many mangrove-associated plants and animals, many of which are considered rare or threatened species.
“The park is an important stop for migratory waterbirds that journey along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway,” said Taufik.
“The 807ha of mudflats surrounding the park are feeding grounds for these birds during low tide, while the mangroves provide a safe refuge for them to roost.
“These activities have made Pulau Kukup a popular spot for bird-watching and nature photography,” he said.
Parks under threat
Taufik said the national parks faced threats such as poaching, soil erosion, oil spills, illegal dumping and littering.
He mentioned that JNPC’s responsibility was not only to conserve flora and fauna in the national parks, but also to promote educational and research efforts that heightened environmental awareness.
“JNPC also works with other government agencies such as Wildlife and National Parks Department, Forestry Department, Orang Asli Development Department and police for joint raids in the national parks to weed out poachers who hunt for tigers and kijang (mouse deer).
“Continued enforcement and educational efforts over the years have led to a decline in the number of poachers. We continue to monitor these areas.
“We have also installed wildlife surveillance cameras to monitor such activities as well as to check on wildlife in the parks,” he elaborated.
Taufik hopes visitors appreciate what nature has to offer and refrain from damaging natural resources.
“Visitors should avoid littering and ensure they take their trash with them when they leave.
“It is important to safeguard nature to ensure the delicate balance of our environment,” he said.
