Location :
In the North-East of Penang Island.
Coordinates of the park are N5°26'46.82" E 100°12'59.75"
You can access the Google Map here.
Natural Heritage Status:
The 32 hectares Teluk Bahang Forest Park is a popular recreational park among the locals. It showcases an interesting introduction to the Malaysian forest with a well manned forestry museum located within the park. The museum provides details of the forest’s features, history and many varieties of local and exotic flora and fauna while the arboretum presents the interesting pine trees plantation.
A network of trails crisscrossed the park providing good hiking trails for nature lovers and foresters alike.
Gazettement :
The Forest Park and Arboretum was officially opened by the Governor of Penang Tun Datuk Syed Sheh Alhaj Bin Syed Hassan Barakbah on 11th December 1974.
The Forestry Museum located within the park was opened to the public on 5th May 1983.
Teluk Bahang Forest Park is also known as Teluk Bahang Recreational Park.
Accessibility:
To the park: The park is located beside the main road skirting Penang Island. Although it is situated almost half way round the island, there are bus and taxi services plying along this route.
In the park: There are extensive trails in the park. Most of them are forested trails suitable for adventurous hikers. Trails are well marked. There are 4 forest trails – Monkey Cup Trail, Simpoh Gajah Trail, Charcoal Kiln Trail and Ridge Top Trail. The forest trail can also leads to Bukit Laksamana and Penang Hill. There are bathrooms and toilets facilities within the park.
Affordability:
In the North-East of Penang Island.
Coordinates of the park are N5°26'46.82" E 100°12'59.75"
You can access the Google Map here.
Natural Heritage Status:
The 32 hectares Teluk Bahang Forest Park is a popular recreational park among the locals. It showcases an interesting introduction to the Malaysian forest with a well manned forestry museum located within the park. The museum provides details of the forest’s features, history and many varieties of local and exotic flora and fauna while the arboretum presents the interesting pine trees plantation.
A network of trails crisscrossed the park providing good hiking trails for nature lovers and foresters alike.
Gazettement :
The Forest Park and Arboretum was officially opened by the Governor of Penang Tun Datuk Syed Sheh Alhaj Bin Syed Hassan Barakbah on 11th December 1974.
The Forestry Museum located within the park was opened to the public on 5th May 1983.
Teluk Bahang Forest Park is also known as Teluk Bahang Recreational Park.
Accessibility:
To the park: The park is located beside the main road skirting Penang Island. Although it is situated almost half way round the island, there are bus and taxi services plying along this route.
In the park: There are extensive trails in the park. Most of them are forested trails suitable for adventurous hikers. Trails are well marked. There are 4 forest trails – Monkey Cup Trail, Simpoh Gajah Trail, Charcoal Kiln Trail and Ridge Top Trail. The forest trail can also leads to Bukit Laksamana and Penang Hill. There are bathrooms and toilets facilities within the park.
Affordability:
Entrance to the park is free.
Forestry Museum is opened everyday except Hari Raya Aidifitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha.
Entrance to Forestry Museum as below.
Operation Hour: Saturday - Thursday(9 am - 5 pm) Friday (Closed between 12.00-2.45pm)
Entrance Ticket Forestry Museum: Adult(RM1.00) Children (RM0.50)
Other facilities in the park include Seminar Hall and Hostel accommodation.
Seminar Hall
Hall Capacity 80 pax. Hall size is 12m x 15m. (Fee)
8.00 am till 12.00 pm (RM 50.00)
8.00 am till 04.00 pm (RM100.00)
8.00 am till 12.00 midnight (RM150.00)
Level of Development:
Facilities available are walkways, sheds, hanging bridge, toilets, campsites, amphitheatre, seminar room, forest museum and ample parking area. Several well maintained wading pools and small cascading waterfalls were constructed for the benefit of visitors.
Beside the varieties of flora and fauna displayed in the Forestry Museum, there are also exhibits of forest products including wood varieties, woodcraft, tools and historical artifacts.
An exhibit of local and common traditional herbs can be seen at the mini herb garden.
Within walking distance of 1 km from the park is the Teluk Bahang fishing village. Mutiara Beach Resort is a luxurious resort situated within the vicinity of the village. Another attraction is the Penang National Park located beside the Teluk Bahang fishing jetty. The village and the surrounding support about 600 household with an estimated population of 2500.
Popularity:
Average arrival figure per day :
Public Holiday is about 500 persons.
Weekend is about 200 persons.
Weekday is about 50 persons.
The park is well maintained. There are rubbish bins placed within the park. However, rubbish can be seen indiscriminately thrown in the park.
It is a popular park for picnicking families.
Colleges, schools and groups also held their teambuilding programs in this park.
Accommodation: (as at May 2008)
Hostel accommodation with 18 beds for males and 18 beds for females.
Hostel rental at RM10.00 per person per night.
Threats:
Garbage: Although rubbish bins were provided, uncivil minded visitors did strewn rubbish to mar the beauty within the park.
Development: There was a big swimming pool but it was abandoned after several drowning accidents. A bird aviary was also abandoned. A new reptile showcase is being built.
Forestry park should specialize on forestry and not as a zoo. Forest rangers are not well trained for zoological job.
Local Species: Local terrapin species could not compete with the introduced Red-eared Terrapins (Trachemys scripta elegans) found in the turtle pond.
Mitigation:
Park Rangers should monitor visitors on the cleanliness of the park.
Facilities in the park such as sheds, camping grounds should be properly maintained and upkeep.
Non local species like Red-eared Terrapins are being released in the turtle pond. These species feed on almost anything edible and grow rapidly (Merel J & co, 1998). Local species are under threat from imported species and hence there is a need for proper mitigation and management of exotic species.
Conservation:
Flora: The forestry department has kept a herbal garden within the park. Herbs are labeled and planted in pots. Trees were tagged in the park for the convenience of visitors. An arboretum for pine trees (Araucaria species) planted in 1964 can be seen in the park.
Silvicultural Treatment: Silvicultural treatment has been prescribed to this logged forest park. The latest was planting of 200 timber trees in 2006.
Fauna: Among the known animals found in the park are two species of monkey - Long-tailed macaque and Dusky Leaf monkey, monitor lizards, flying lizards, wild cats (Felis bengalensis), squirrels (Ratufa bicolor), flying lemurs (Cynocephalus variegates) and birds. A huge python (Python reticulates) has been sighted along the trail by bird watchers in the park. A turtle pond is also an added attraction within the park.
Fireflies: At night along main trail, a colony of fireflies could be seen. Although the fireflies were abundant, they were seasonal.
Benefits to Local Communities:
Teluk Bahang Forest Park provides the local community and town dwellers a suitable recreational park. The only forestry museum in Penang provides valuable educational material for the public on the importance contributions of the forestry sector to the social-economic development of the nation.
How to Get There:
The park is situated in the North-west of Penang. It is 24 km from Georgetown. Use the round island coastal road (Route 6) from Georgetown passing through the northern tourist belt of Batu Fringghi until Teluk Bahang town. At the roundabout, head south still on main road (Route 6). Some 1 km from the roundabout before going up the hill and Teluk Bahang Dam, turn left into Teluk Bahang Forest Park.
Important Contacts:
Pejabat Perhutanan Negeri Pulau Pinang
Tingkat 20, Menara KOMTAR
10300 Pulau Pinang.
Tel :04-6505250
Fax: 04-2636335
Email : jabatan@sukpp.gov.my
Pejabat Hutan Barat Daya
Pejabat Renjer Hutan,
Renjer Hutan Barat Daya.
Hutan Lipur Telok Bahang.
11050 Teluk bahang.
Tel: 04-8851280
Muzium Perhutanan
Pembantu Musium Perhutan
d/a Pejabat Rimba Rekreasi
Telok Bahang
11050 Pulau Pinang.
Tel: 04-8852388
References:
Telok Bahang Recreational Forest (2005), Brochure, Penang State Forestry Department, Penang.
Penang Forestry Museum (2000), Brochure, Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Pulau Pinang.
Plus (1996), Guide to Peninsular Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia.
Mohd Yunus Zakaria (2002), Telok Bahang Forest Trails, Penang State Forestry Department, Peninsular Malaysia.
Forestry Museum is opened everyday except Hari Raya Aidifitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha.
Entrance to Forestry Museum as below.
Operation Hour: Saturday - Thursday(9 am - 5 pm) Friday (Closed between 12.00-2.45pm)
Entrance Ticket Forestry Museum: Adult(RM1.00) Children (RM0.50)
Other facilities in the park include Seminar Hall and Hostel accommodation.
Seminar Hall
Hall Capacity 80 pax. Hall size is 12m x 15m. (Fee)
8.00 am till 12.00 pm (RM 50.00)
8.00 am till 04.00 pm (RM100.00)
8.00 am till 12.00 midnight (RM150.00)
Level of Development:
Facilities available are walkways, sheds, hanging bridge, toilets, campsites, amphitheatre, seminar room, forest museum and ample parking area. Several well maintained wading pools and small cascading waterfalls were constructed for the benefit of visitors.
Beside the varieties of flora and fauna displayed in the Forestry Museum, there are also exhibits of forest products including wood varieties, woodcraft, tools and historical artifacts.
An exhibit of local and common traditional herbs can be seen at the mini herb garden.
Within walking distance of 1 km from the park is the Teluk Bahang fishing village. Mutiara Beach Resort is a luxurious resort situated within the vicinity of the village. Another attraction is the Penang National Park located beside the Teluk Bahang fishing jetty. The village and the surrounding support about 600 household with an estimated population of 2500.
Popularity:
Average arrival figure per day :
Public Holiday is about 500 persons.
Weekend is about 200 persons.
Weekday is about 50 persons.
The park is well maintained. There are rubbish bins placed within the park. However, rubbish can be seen indiscriminately thrown in the park.
It is a popular park for picnicking families.
Colleges, schools and groups also held their teambuilding programs in this park.
Accommodation: (as at May 2008)
Hostel accommodation with 18 beds for males and 18 beds for females.
Hostel rental at RM10.00 per person per night.
Threats:
Garbage: Although rubbish bins were provided, uncivil minded visitors did strewn rubbish to mar the beauty within the park.
Development: There was a big swimming pool but it was abandoned after several drowning accidents. A bird aviary was also abandoned. A new reptile showcase is being built.
Forestry park should specialize on forestry and not as a zoo. Forest rangers are not well trained for zoological job.
Local Species: Local terrapin species could not compete with the introduced Red-eared Terrapins (Trachemys scripta elegans) found in the turtle pond.
Mitigation:
Park Rangers should monitor visitors on the cleanliness of the park.
Facilities in the park such as sheds, camping grounds should be properly maintained and upkeep.
Non local species like Red-eared Terrapins are being released in the turtle pond. These species feed on almost anything edible and grow rapidly (Merel J & co, 1998). Local species are under threat from imported species and hence there is a need for proper mitigation and management of exotic species.
Conservation:
Flora: The forestry department has kept a herbal garden within the park. Herbs are labeled and planted in pots. Trees were tagged in the park for the convenience of visitors. An arboretum for pine trees (Araucaria species) planted in 1964 can be seen in the park.
Silvicultural Treatment: Silvicultural treatment has been prescribed to this logged forest park. The latest was planting of 200 timber trees in 2006.
Fauna: Among the known animals found in the park are two species of monkey - Long-tailed macaque and Dusky Leaf monkey, monitor lizards, flying lizards, wild cats (Felis bengalensis), squirrels (Ratufa bicolor), flying lemurs (Cynocephalus variegates) and birds. A huge python (Python reticulates) has been sighted along the trail by bird watchers in the park. A turtle pond is also an added attraction within the park.
Fireflies: At night along main trail, a colony of fireflies could be seen. Although the fireflies were abundant, they were seasonal.
Benefits to Local Communities:
Teluk Bahang Forest Park provides the local community and town dwellers a suitable recreational park. The only forestry museum in Penang provides valuable educational material for the public on the importance contributions of the forestry sector to the social-economic development of the nation.
How to Get There:
The park is situated in the North-west of Penang. It is 24 km from Georgetown. Use the round island coastal road (Route 6) from Georgetown passing through the northern tourist belt of Batu Fringghi until Teluk Bahang town. At the roundabout, head south still on main road (Route 6). Some 1 km from the roundabout before going up the hill and Teluk Bahang Dam, turn left into Teluk Bahang Forest Park.
Important Contacts:
Pejabat Perhutanan Negeri Pulau Pinang
Tingkat 20, Menara KOMTAR
10300 Pulau Pinang.
Tel :04-6505250
Fax: 04-2636335
Email : jabatan@sukpp.gov.my
Pejabat Hutan Barat Daya
Pejabat Renjer Hutan,
Renjer Hutan Barat Daya.
Hutan Lipur Telok Bahang.
11050 Teluk bahang.
Tel: 04-8851280
Muzium Perhutanan
Pembantu Musium Perhutan
d/a Pejabat Rimba Rekreasi
Telok Bahang
11050 Pulau Pinang.
Tel: 04-8852388
References:
Telok Bahang Recreational Forest (2005), Brochure, Penang State Forestry Department, Penang.
Penang Forestry Museum (2000), Brochure, Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Pulau Pinang.
Plus (1996), Guide to Peninsular Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia.
Mohd Yunus Zakaria (2002), Telok Bahang Forest Trails, Penang State Forestry Department, Peninsular Malaysia.
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