wwfmalaysia

Art for Nature is back! We invite the public and all our supporters to view an exhibition of challenging contemporary art works that explore ideas related to unsustainable consumption and how our insatiable appetites have driven the natural environment to a tipping point.

Interestingly, Malaysia consists of two geographical regions divided by the South China Sea. Referred to as East Malaysia and West Malaysia, each is comprised of a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural heritage. Known as one of the most historical regions in the world, Malaysia features significant historical sites of interest to visitors.

Suffering destruction during the Dutch invasion, the A’Famosa Fortress was built in 1511 by the Portuguese to defend themselves. Exchanging hands again in the early 19th century, the Dutch handed it over to the British to prevent Napoleon from taking control. Today the company logo of the Dutch coat of arms can still be seen. Demolition began in 1806 when the British decided not to continue maintaining fortification. The founder of Singapore, Sir Stanford Raffles stepped in to save what is still seen today.

Known as the largest Chinese cemetery outside China, Bukit China contains tombs as far back as the Ming Dynasty. Given to Princess Hang Li Poh by the Chinese Emporer, her followers built a well that is said to have never dried up to this day.

At the top of St. Paul’s Hill, St. Paul’s Church is a burial ground for noblemen. Once a prayer house for Portuguese Catholics, the tombstone inscriptions are written in Latin and Portuguese. Dating back to 1521, the church was originally a chapel called Our Lady of the Hill. In 1641, the Dutch destroyed all of the Portuguese buildings except for the fortress and then proceeded to repair and rename the church.

Constructed at the foot of St. Paul’s Hill, the Melaka Sultanate Palace includes the Malacca Cultural Museum. Based on a 16th century design, the palace includes artifacts of the ancient Malay kingdom that flourished here at one time. Actually a replica of the Melaka Sultan’s palace during the rule of Sultan Mansur Syah (1456-1477), the plans used for construction came from the historical Malay Annals.

Known as one of the oldest in the country, the Kampung Keling Mosque blends Western and Sumatran architecture with its Corinthian-styled columns, three tiered pyramid roof and carved wooden ceiling. Built in 1748, the mosque is located along the Malacca River. Behind the mosque, a courtyard contains a fountain-like pool that is raised a few feet above the ground.

Built in 1645, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is the oldest in the country. Amazing mythological figurines made from broken glass and porcelain are brought to life.

Malaysia has been recognized by scientists as one of the twelve areas of the world with the highest biodiversity, which makes the protection of nature in Malaysia particularly important. Biodiversity refers to the number of different species of plants and animals which are found in an area. Malaysia has particularly high biodiversity, with a huge number of different species living in it.

Malaysia is a tropical country that is filled with a huge variety of species of plants and animals. It is known for its magnificent rainforests, which are believed to include the oldest areas of rainforest in the world, but Malaysia also has some other important habitats including coral reefs, mangrove forests, montane forests and wetlands.

Important species in Malaysia include elephants, turtles, tigers, rhinos and orangutans, although there are also a large number of less charismatic species, including plants and small animals, which play an important role in the biodiversity of Malaysia. For example, Rafflesia, the largest flower in Asia (Asien) and the world, can be found in Malaysia.

Malaysia consists of the mainland peninsula and the states of Sabah and Sarawak, which are part of the island of Borneo. The wildlife that is found in peninsular Malaysia is very different to that on Malaysian Borneo, since they have been separated by the ocean. For example, tigers are only found on the mainland, while orangutans are found in both Sabah and Sarawak. Sabah is also home to the pygmy elephants.

The main threats to nature in Malaysia are habitat loss, poaching and the trade in illegal animal products such as rhino horn. Nature protection (Naturschutz) in Malaysia therefore focuses on preserving habitats by setting up national parks and preserves, and on stopping illegal hunting and trading.

Malaysia has some beautiful national parks and nature reserves, including the Penang, Bako, Taman Negara and Turtle Islands parks, which play an important role in nature conservation. Many of the parks are open to the public and have become popular destinations for tourists. The marine parks are very popular for scuba divers.

The world’s oldest rainforest, which has been there for 130 million years, is in Endau Rompin national park. Kinabalu Park is home to Malaysia’s tallest mountain. Fireflies are a popular attraction at the Sungai Lebam park and many migrating birds can be seen from Fraser’s Hill.

In addition to its tropical forests, coral reefs and beaches, Malaysia also has some spectacular cave systems, including the largest single passage in the world, which is in the national park at Mulu. The Madai caves are particularly famous as the nesting places of a type of bird called the swiftlet. These nests are harvested for use in bird’s nest soup.