Get wild on your next vacation at these wildlife reserves dedicated to animal conservation
With the number of animal species currently on the endangered list, there’s never been a more pressing time to help ensure the survival of these creatures. Fortunately, there are many countries and organisations that are working towards the survival of some of these animals by building and funding reserves and sanctuaries. Ensuring their survivability and raising awareness aside, these facilities have also become tourist hotspots in their own right, like these ones found in Asia.
Get up Close with an Elephant
The Elephant Nature Park located some 60km away from Chiang Mai, Thailand is a renowned elephant sanctuary that has been rescuing and rehabilitating pachyderms since the 90s. The 200-acre habitat is home to a number of elephants, which visitors can get up close to feed and interact with. For animal lovers looking to spend their vacation in a more meaningful way, the Elephant Nature Park also has programmes that allow guests to help with reforestation, animal vaccinations and farming as well.
Watch Orangutans in Their Natural Habitat
The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is one of the largest sanctuaries for the endangered species in the region. Located nearby Sandakan, Sabah, the sanctuary was founded in 1964 with the aim of nursing and protecting injured and displaced orangutans. The sanctuary is part of the 4300-hectare Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve and is now home to over 70 orangutans. Visitors to the site will be able to view orangutans up close, especially during feeding time and also find out more about the plight of these endangered primates.
The Life of Pandas
The Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center in China is one of the biggest and most popular Panda sanctuaries in the world. Home to some 50 pandas, the facility is fully equipped to handle giant panda breeding and also habilitating them to live in the wild when they are old enough. Located just outside the Chengdu city limits, the Giant Panda Breeding Center also houses a baby panda house, enclosures for adult pandas and cubs, health stations, a panda museum, and a laboratory as well.
Ensuring the Future of Tigers
India has put its back into preserving the tiger population and the country has over 40 dedicated tiger reserves at the moment. The Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve remains one of the oldest and most established tiger park of its kind in the country. Named after the renowned hunter turned conservationist, the national park is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh and covers an area of over 500 sq km. Ensuring the survival of tigers aside, the park is also home to other species such as birds, reptiles and fishes.
