TRAVEL

With monkeys, mudskippers, crustaceans as well as migratory birds and local species, Tanjung Piai National Park is a treasure trove for nature lovers. JOHN TIONG is awed to be enjoying the view from the southernmost tip of the Asian continent

THE wind blowing in from Singapore is cool and refreshing. It is about to rain when we arrive at Tanjung Piai National Park, the southernmost tip of the Asian continent. The national park is located in Serkat, about 90 kms south of Johor Baru in the district of Pontian. At 926 hectares or 10 times the size of Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens, the park was declared a Ramsar Site on Jan 31, 2003 and gazetted a Johor National Park a year later. More than half of it is covered by mangroves while the rest of it is tidal mudflats.

With attractions that include migratory birds from China, Russia, Japan and Korea as well as local wildlife like silver leaf monkeys, Tanjung Piai and the nearby Kukup Island are popular with holiday makers, especially nature lovers who come for a whole-day tour or camp overnight.

Kukup Island is the largest mangrove island in the country and one of the largest uninhabited mangrove islands in the world. Simian Welcome On arrival at the entrance of the administration block of the park, we group near a white pillar where there is an illustration of the piai leaf, for which Tanjung Piai is named after. Piai is a tropical fern that grows in abundance here and it is said that crocodiles like to rest among these ferns.

At the ticketing counter, we are excited to see some monkeys. A few adult monkeys have climbed onto the verandah, up the wooden poles to the roof. We quickly snap some pictures of them.

From here, we walk along a wooden platform which winds through the park. This gives us a clear view of the mangrove forest and its ecosystem at close range. The platform leads to the southernmost tip of Tanjung Piai, an open, cemented enclave that overlooks the sea, guarded by railings.

We are eager to get a snapshot of the huge colourful globe where Peninsular Malaysia and Tanjung Piai are prominently marked.

The quiet, serene charm – with the sound of lapping waves and fresh cold breeze – is suddenly broken by our riotous laughter and excitement when we find ourselves standing at the southernmost tip of Asia.

Bird Paradise Migratory birds flock to the eastern coastline of Johor, all the way from Muar to Pontian and the Riau Archipelago to escape the harsh northern winter between October and March.

For birdwatchers, their binoculars are trained on birds like whimbrels, plovers, egrets and raptors.

The Malaysian lesser adjutant stork (burung botak), silver leaf monkey, macaw, spoonbilled sandpiper, kingfisher, woodpecker, egret, eagle and kite add more colour to the park as they source for food on the mudflats.

There is so much to see in Tanjung Piai National Park and you won’t see everything listed in the tourism brochure in one visit unless you go into the forest. Spending only an hour at the park, we only managed to see monkeys, mudskippers, little crustaceans, including one with orange claws. I’d have loved to see the horseshoe crab, a favourite of mine.

There are many species of mangrove. According to park manager Harban Singh, there are as many as 20 but only an expert will be able tell the difference between them.

Rubbish, Rubbish As we walk through the park, I am saddened to see evidence of uncaring visitors in the form of plastic bottles, rotten ropes, straws and styrofoam boxes strewn everywhere. I even see a lorry wheel stuck between the roots of the mangrove plants. This probably landed here after it was carried by tidal waves from perhaps neighbouring Singapore or our own backyard.

Even to our inexperienced eyes, the mangrove swamp looks unhealthy. The forest looks quite small and weather beaten. The trees seem to be desperately clinging on to life on the mudflats, as tidal waves which are common here, cause untold damage.

Writings on wooden boards everywhere, like “Those who have conquered their mind have conquered the world” and “Mangroves are the seeds of many cultures” give rise to the hope for conservation.

How To Get There There is no direct bus service to the park. There is a taxi service from the Pontian bus station. However, make sure you make pre-arrangements with the taxi driver for your return trip. Those driving from the north via the North-South Expressway, can take the Simpang Rengam exit to get on to the Benut-Pontian-Kukup highway. Once near Kukup, follow the signboards leading to Tanjung Piai.

Entrance fee: Tickets are priced at RM3 for Malaysians and RM5 for foreign visitors. All visitors get a Certificate Of Achievement from the park management.