Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve is one of the largest wildlife reserves in Peninsular Malaysia covering 605.52 km2 located in the Titiwangsa Mountains, central state of Pahang, Malaysia that was established during the British Colonial Administration. It was officially gazetted to protect all wildlife species, particularly the gaur (Bos gaurus). The administrative offices of the Reserve are located in several places. The main office is located in Bukit Rengit (southern side), and the other stations are in Lembah Klau (western side), Kuala Lompat (eastern side), and Perlok (northern side).
The lowland dipterocarp forest area contains a very high diversity of birds and mammals, especially primates and bats. There are a few Wildlife Conservation Centers managed by PERHILITAN in the close vicinity of the reserve. Mainly, Malayan Tiger Conservation Center, Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre, and Pusat Konservasi Jenderak Selatan. Among the birdlife, the rare Malayan peacock-pheasant is still found in the reserve in some numbers.
In the 1960s, Lord Medway led a zoological expedition to Gunong Benom (2,107 m asl) which later attracted many scholars, biologists, and primatologists to research the western part of the reserve called Kuala Krau research station.
History of Establishment
Krau Game Reserve was established in June 1923 under Wild Animals and Bird Protection Enactment resulted from growing public concerns for the conservation of wildlife and human-wildlife conflicts that happen from land clearing of forested area to make way for rubber industry.
The name Krau Game Reserve was changed to Krau Wildlife Reserve in 1965. The administration of the Reserve was passed from Pahang State Game Department to the Federal Game Department in 1973. Federal Game Department then changed to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in 1976. In November 2022, the name Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve (THWR) was officially enacted to champion the crown prince of Pahang which is KDYMM Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah as its protector. The size of Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve has been reconstituted a few times, and the latest area size is 60,551.608 hectares.
Geography
Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve is located at 3°42'57.89" N 102°10'33.60" E, in the state of Pahang and in the center of Peninsular Malaysia. The Reserve is approximately 167 km from Kuantan, the capital state of Pahang, and 109 km from Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia.
The Reserve is located in three districts in Pahang, which are Temerloh, Jerantut, and Raub. Where the largest geographical space of Krau Wildlife Reserve is within the Temerloh district.
Altitude in the reserve ranges between 43 meters at Kuala Lompat to 2,107 meters above sea level at the peak of Gunung Benom and is drained by Krau River, Lompat River, and Teris River.
The Reserve consists of sedimentary rocks (Semantan formation and post-Semantan redbeds), igneous rock (Benom Complex), and Quaternary sediments. On the northern and western parts of Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve, igneous rocks are more exposed, while from the northeast to the southern part of the Reserve, the sedimentary rocks are more abundant. The Benom Complex mainly dominates the center of the reserve.
Forest Types
There are five major different forest types with their own subtypes that are acknowledged in Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve. About 61% of the forest area in the reserve is the Lowland Dipterocarp forest. The second largest forest type in the reserve is Hill Dipterocarp. While Montane Forest is the third largest forest type. The remaining forest type is disturbed secondary vegetation and cultivated areas.
Flora and Fauna
All major forest types in Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve are high with conservation values. Especially in the hills and lower montane forests. The majority of the area is still covered by lowland dipterocarp forests, and the vast areas of high altitude along the Gunung Benom are still pristine. Among endangered flora species in Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve are Kibatalia laurifolia sp. and Phlegmariurus phyllanthus sp.
Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve is home to a high number of wildlife species. There are about 655 wildlife species comprising 292 avian species, 65 amphibian species, 79 reptile species, 71 bat species, 79 mammal species, and 69 fish species.