Moreover, with the official feeding times for the rehabilitated orang utans are 0900hrs. - 1000hrs. and 1500hrs.-1530hrs., visitors who arrive earlier than the scheduled feeding time can definitely stroll along the beautiful nature reserve to admire the variety of tropical trees and shrubs that the place has to offer.
Semenggoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre is undoubtedly one of the best attractions in the Kuching area. It offers the opportunity of getting close to some highly mischievous, semi-wild Orang Utan. Semenggoh became the first forest reserve in Sarawak in 1920. It was turned into a wild life rehabilitation centre for monkeys, Orang Utans, honey bears and hornbills in 1975. It is a perfect place to mingle with the orang utans and hornbills of Sarawak.
The main component of the nature reserve is centered at the Botanical Research Centre, which consists of an orchid nursery, ethno botanical gardens, a fruit orchard )with durian trees and the likes), a neat fernarium (Taman Paku Pakis, or Fern Garden), a bamboo garden.
This Centre is a temporary home for various endangered wildlife of Sarawak especially Orang Utans which have been rescued from captivity. Here, they are trained and conditioned to learn back their natural instincts of living independently in their natural environment. However, some are too old for release, thus kept for educational purposes instead. This are is half an hour's drive from Kuching. A permit can be obtained at the National Parks Booking Office in Kuching. The Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is a perfect place to mingle with the orang utans and hornbills of Sarawak.
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