SAIFUDDIN BIN SENAWI¹

Matang Wildlife Centre covers an area of 179 hectares of tropical rainforest at the western corner of Kubah National Park in the southern part of Sarawak about 35 kilometres away from Kuching, and is accessible by road.

The main objective of establishing Matang Wildlife Centre was for the conservation of nature, that is the protection of flora and fauna of the State. Secondary objectives were research, education, recreation and nature tourism. The Centre provides facilities such as an information centre, accommodation, canteen and camping ground for visitors’ comfort. It also provides activities such as walking nature trails, visiting animal enclosures and waterfalls and picnicking.

Matang Wildlife Centre houses confiscated or surrendered wild animals protected under Sarawak’s Wildlife Protection Ordinance, including terrapin, crocodile, sambar deer, hornbills and other birds, cat species, sun bear or honey bear, gibbon and orang utan. The intention is to rehabilitate animals for eventual release, but certain animals cannot be rehabilitated or are too dangerous to be released to the forest.

Animals are kept in enclosures surrounded by natural forest, and can be seen by visitors. A great number of visitors visit the Centre every year since it was opened to public in 1996, especially during weekends, public holidays and school holidays. The Centre’s records show that a total of 253,725 Malaysians and 4,339 foreign visitors visited Matang Wildlife Centre from 1996 until June 2001, and in June 2001 alone a total of 8,602 visitors visited the centre. In 2001, over 97% of visitors were Malaysians. Azahari (2001) found that 68% of visitors were return visitors.

A study was carried out to find out why visitors go to Matang Wildlife Centre and if this is consistent with the effort made by the National Parks and Wildlife Division to establish the Centre for visitors to learn, experience and to create awareness of the importance of nature and wildlife.

Over a period of twenty days in June 2001, a sample of visitors was surveyed to find out why they visited the centre. Surveys were done either at the picnic spot or at the information centre. The interviewer approached visitors who appeared to be free after their activities.

In addition, data on the number of visitors (foreign and Malaysian) were extracted from the Centre’s reception records.

A total of 61 responses to the questionnaire were recorded. Most of the local people approached were reluctant to be interviewed, but no one who looked like a foreigner refused to be interviewed. A total of 34 Malaysians (56%) and 27 foreigners (44%) were interviewed. There were more male respondents (60%) than female. Most respondents were aged between 20 and 49, with 34% in the 30-39 age group.

Foreign visitors came from England (5 respondents), Germany (5), Australia (3), United States (3), Holland (3), Czech Republic, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland and New Zealand (1 each). The Centre clearly draws foreign visitors from all over the world.

Almost all the foreigners (26 out of 27) gave orang utan as the purpose of their visit. All visited the animal enclosures and 38% had been to the nature trail, while none had been to the picnic spot or the waterfall. When asked about preferences, foreign respondents gave the animal enclosures, nature trail and information centre top ratings.

In contrast, most of the Malaysians (14 out of 34, 41%) gave picnicking as the reason for their visit and only 5 mentioned orang utan. All the local visitors went to the picnic area, although 80% said they had also visited the animal enclosures (possibly on a previous visit to Matang). Malaysians gave top rating for preference to the waterfall, followed by the picnic spot and the information centre.

Malaysian and foreign visitors have different motives for visiting Matang Wildlife Centre, and are looking for quite different recreational experiences.

Most respondents showed an interest in other national parks in Sarawak. Of the foreigners, 35% had already visited other parks and 85% intended to do so. The corresponding figures for Malaysians were 66% and 51%.

Only 15% of respondents came to Matang alone, while 36% came with family and 48% in (non-family) groups.

Malaysian visitors, who make up 97% of all visitors to Matang, come overwhelmingly to picnic and swim and to visit the waterfall, which is not the kind of recreational opportunity the Centre was set up to provide. Matang Wildlife Centre should have a Management Plan which recognises this, while focusing primarily on conservation.

The best approach might be to zone the Centre, with the picnic area having a separate entrance and ticketing system to the animal enclosures, nature trail and waterfall. Carrying capacity at the picnic spot is estimated to be 200 people at one time, and separate entrances would allow admissions there to be limited while visitors could still enter the rest of the Centre.

A strategy should also be implemented to encourage visitors coming to picnic, especially school groups, to visit the rest of the Centre and to understand the need to conserve wildlife. Public support is important for the long term viability of Matang Wildlife Centre.

Azahari O (2001) The Perception of Visitors of The New Entrance Fees to National Parks and Wildlife Centres, unpublished Research Report, Lincoln University, NZ