Royal excursion: Sultan Abdullah (left) and Price Albert riding elephants at the PKGKG in Lanchang, Pahang. — Bernama
TEMERLOH: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Prince Albert II of Monaco visited two animal conservation centres in Lanchang here.
The Regent of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah was in attendance.
Also present were Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar, Deputy Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii, and Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim.
The royal guests started by visiting the Malayan Tiger Conservation Centre (MTCC), which began operations in February 2022 and currently houses five Malayan tigers – including two that were rescued from tiger-human conflict, namely four-year-old Atan who was caught in Kerteh, Terengganu, and four-and-a-half-year-old Bihai who was found in Gua Musang, Kelantan.
Sultan Abdullah and Prince Albert then proceeded to visit the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre (PKGKG), about 8km away from the MTCC, which currently houses 25 elephants, Bernama reported.
When signing the guest book at PKGKG, the Prince expressed his appreciation for the efforts carried out by MTCC and PKGKG, adding that their work is absolutely essential.
“Many thanks for the valuable work on biodiversity protection led by the MTCC and PKGKG.
“The elephants and Malayan tigers deserve our full attention to keep them from extinction,” the Prince wrote.
The royal visitors were also introduced to Elly, the six-year-old female elephant that has to use a prosthetic leg after being caught in a wire trap by poachers in Jeli, Kelantan. They were later “entertained” by seven elephants named Kasturi, Pian, Abot, Alam, Rambai, Timor and Lasah.
Sultan Abdullah and Prince Albert also fed the elephants and watched them bathing in the river at the conservation centre during their visit.
