PENANG NATIONAL PARK

The Penang National Park spans 1,213ha of land and sea and is used by scientists, researchers, and nature lovers to explore its natural treasures.

Previously known as the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve, this pristine site is known to harbour 417 flora and 143 fauna species. Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve, located at the northwestern tip of Penang, was declared the Penang National Park in April 2003.

Penang National Park is the first protected area legally gazetted under Malaysia's National Park Act of 1980, signifying the State and Federal governments’ environmental protection efforts.

Penang National Park was established to preserve and protect flora and fauna as well as objects with geological, archaeological, historical,ethnological, scientific, and scenic interests.

Natural attractions of Pulau Pinang National Park include the Hill / Lowland Dipterocarp Forests, Mangrove Forest areas,sandy beach habitats, the unique seasonal meromictic lake and the open coastal seas. Stands of Seraya (Shorea curtisii) trees, common feature of coastal Dipterocarp Forest, can be easily seen on steep slopes around Muka Head. There are over 1000 species of plants recorded which are dominated by the family Dipterocarpaceae, Leguminoceae, Apocynaceae, Anacardiaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Moraceae.

Part of the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve had been logged before 1955; no forest areas there have been logged since 1955. All logging activities were stopped in 1996, and Malaysian public funding has been allocated to develop the Penang National Park, within guidelines

ECOLOGY

The unique features here are five habitat types not found in the other major Malaysian nature reserves. The park is a haven for a wealth of 417 flora and 143 fauna species, including turtles,crustaceans, and rare pitcher plants. This allows the Park to boast one of the most unique assemblage of biodiversity in Malaysia

FLORA

Secondary forest is the main feature here. The beach is long, and plants are numerous, including rocky bonsai to timber and herbal plants. Trees and plants which can be found here include Chengal, Meranti Seraya, Jelutong, Gaharu, Tongkat Ali, and Bintangor.

The coast is dominate by disturbed secondary forest and hardy plants, such as screw pines. The red paper-like bark of the pelawan trees are abundant; undergrowth and ferns spread between the trees. Other noticeable trees planted include casuarina trees, sea almond, cashew nut, and swaying coconut palms.

Several mangrove trees are found along the Tukun beach. Wild orchids can be sighted on steep rocky slopes and cashew nuts are common here, indicating that some agricultural activities had taken place here many years ago. Fully-grown timber trees are found inside the forest beyond the coast. There are also pitcher plants (nepenthes spp), which managed to survive the coastal habitat.

FAUNA

Among animals spotted in and around the park are dolphins, otters, Hawksbill turtles, and monkeys. Dusky leaf monkeys and long-tailed macaques have also been sighted.

Birds are numerous, and noticeable big birds like White Bellied Sea Eagles, Brahminy Kites, and kingfisher are occasionally reported.

Mammals such as wild boars, wild cats, civet cats, sea otters, mouse deers, rats, bats, and squirrels and crabs, fishes, and large prawns, monitor lizards, and snakes are common here. Turtles occasionally land in the park.

The meromictic lake has scarce fauna life, since it is usually deprived of oxygen in the lower layer. The brackish water sustains snail of Faunus ater, which shell is unique among the Cerithioideaof great population and high density, up to 6700 snails per m²r. This is unique and singular to the park.