I visited
The Lok Kawi Wildlife Park as it was just beside the venue for the Tuhun Tavakas Contest. This was basically our Kota Kinabalu Zoo. It was set up by the Wildlife Department. It looked well-managed with all the animal exhibits still there.
The Park was laid out over a 280 acres site. So it can be a full-day family outing.
The Wildlife Park main gate. There is a big parking area before this entrance; to the left.
The Park entrance. Pay and Go. Entrance Fee is RM20 (adult) / RM10 (child), but discounted by 50% for Malaysians and discounted 100% for the disabled visitors.
They was an
White Bellied Sea Eagle, a Yellow Crested Cockatoo, some parrots, and other birds in cages. Most looked dis-interested; I supposed even we would be too; if caged up.
Some
Chital deers (found in the Indian sub-continent); reddish with white spots.
A
Sumatran Rhino (critically endangered species), buried in the mud.
The Sumatran Rhino is the smallest of all rhino types and has 2 horns.
Of course there were our
Borneo Pygmy Elephants. Now identified as a separate sub-species and WWF estimated total population left of about 1,000 in Sabah. Only juveniles were in the front of the enclosure.
They were used to give rides to the visitors.
See, it was all those wrinkles that made them looked old and WISE.
The adult elephants were chained up in a building at the back of the enclosure. I am no animal expert, but some of the elephants were just standing still and swaying their heads left and right. It was similar to the action portrayed in those mental asylum patients in the movies. Could they be having MENTAL problems?
A male
Rusa Deer (Javan Deer). He looked just like a reindeer; Rudolph?
A
Cassowary bird with ostriches at the back. They are considered the same family species (also the emu).
There were quite a few snakes; a
reticulated python.
They mostly looked asleep. Probably too well fed.
A
Green Pit Viper.
One that I didn't take note of the species name.
There were crocodiles, monitor lizards, and turtles.
There was a net covered aviary. You can walk inside and bird-watch. I didn't want to spend time searching.
There were 3 young
sunbears. Black with yellow patch on the chest and around the muzzle; very hyperactive.
Some tigers (
Sumatran Tigers?). Great roars! You could hear them way before reaching their enclosure.
Of course, the ubiquitous
Orang Utans. I noticed they too had weird behaviours; two of them kept digging holes with sticks. I wondered again if mental problems affect these wild animals when stuck in an enclosure.
A male
Proboscis Monkey (Monyet Belanda - literally a "Dutch" monkey - must be those foreigners with their big noses!).
The females did not have the big noses.
A male
Tembadau (also Banteng); a wild cattle that can be domesticated.
The
Kijang (Barking Deer). Not that Toyota Unser in Indonesia lah!
Kinda reminded me of the velociraptor from Jurassic Park (except for the hair).
It was an
Emu (Australian).
There were
Gibbons; who only swung around on the bamboos when I put down my camera!
A male
Ankole-Watusi Cattle. Its an African Species with those distinctive horns.
If your are TOO LAZY to walk, you can take the tram for an extra RM2 per person (scheduled 4 rides a day, if I remember correctly).
So I took a partial panorama. It was used for the photo in the header to this blog.
He started in Menggatal, then he sold the business. Later he re-opened in Menggatal and now he had re-located to Kolombong. He sells only Ngau Chap (Beef in broth; meat & organ meats).
He is very serious about cooking (You Can TELL!). If I remember correctly, a long long time ago, he was selling beef at Tanjung Aru meat market. Then decided to go into the more lucrative prepared food. So he really had the authentic and "kau" broth (in the old shop in Menggatal, he had a giant pot with the broth being prepared from all the beef bones).
Before he opened the stall here, I used to eat the ngau chap at the Yii Siang (shop directly opposite). They sell Hainan Ngau Chap.
Don't Play Play! They appeared on "Ho Chak!" on Astro AEC.
