Kuala Gandah

Kuala Gandah was an unknown traditional Malay Village in the outback of Pahang, Malaysia. The Malaysia Department of Wildlife and National Parks opened an elephant sanctuary in 1989 to be the homes of displaced elephants resulted by the rapid development of the country.

As the number of Malaysian population increased, and the economic activities expanded, the natural jungle, that was the home for these elephants were exploited. What once large stretch of virgin jungle, is now transformed to smaller broken plot of jungle that cannot support the live of the herds.

Elephants are social animals living in herds and headed by a powerful male. As there is not enough food for the herd, the animal will venture into the farm land and these elephants regularly crossed paths with humans. This had resulted into large numbers being shot, poisoned or trapped. The estimate in 1972, there were only about 500 wild elephants rooming the jungle of Malaysia. In nothing was done, the animal will become an extinct specifies.

In 1972, the Protection of Wildlife Act was passed, preventing the killing, hunting, confinement or trade of elephants and other endangered species, and in 1974, the Malaysian Government established the Elephant Capture & Translocation Unit. The team’s duty is to track down, sedate and relocate problem elephants from areas where their natural habitat is being constantly encroached on by humans and transfer them to more remote jungle reserves and National Parks.


In 1989 the unit was given some land within the Krau Game reserve, at Kuala Gandah, from which to operate a base. Today there are 32 full time and 6 contracted staff living and working at the center, as well as 14 elephants, some of which are being trained to replace the older elephants that help in the translocation process of the wild elephants.

As well as being a base for the translocation team, Kuala Gandah also aims to promote public awareness of the plight of the Asian elephant, and to support research into elephant translocation and conservation. The center also looks after orphaned and injured elephants to help ensure their continued survival.

The sanctuary is opened everyday from 2 to 5 pm and tour can be arranged from Kuala Lumpur. The trip to Kuala Gandah will take about 2 hours.