BAGAN SERAI: Even the orang utan in the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort here are feeling the heat as a drought continues in the north, and water level in the lake drops.
The island is home to 15 orang utan, including an eight-month-old infant. To keep the animals hydrated, fresh water is being transported from the mainland in bottles.
“In the past, we drew and filtered lake water, but that is no longer possible,” said Bukit Merah Orang Utan Foundation head Nurhafizie Mohamed Hapiszudin.
“The animals are kept in sheltered enclosures to reduce heat exposure. We provide fruits with higher water content and sometimes feed them ice balls to help them cope.”
The orang utan island has been closed to visitors as access from the resort has become increasingly difficult.
“We cannot operate due to the low water levels.
“Rangers and veterinarians use small boats and sometimes kayaks to transport food and supplies. Since last week, they have had to depart from Kampung Air Resort because the main jetty is too shallow,” she said.
The jetty now stands above exposed muddy ground.
Nurhafizie added that the resort’s operations are continuing, but all lake-based activities have been suspended.
She said the prolonged drought has affected revenue.
The island typically receives about 2,000 visitors monthly during peak holiday seasons.
“Usually the dry spell occurs between June and August. This is the first time it has happened so early in the year.
“Our finances are critical to sustain operations, especially for food, medicine and care of the orang utan,” she said.
On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who chaired the National Disaster Management Committee, announced that cloud seeding operations would be conducted in Johor, Kedah and Perak from Wednesday through Sunday, including at the Bukit Merah Dam.
