Monday, December 04, 2006

Crocodile park to add bite to Pasir Gudang tourism

PASIR GUDANG: Apart from being an industrial and logistic hub, Pasir Gudang will soon have snappy crocodiles as an attraction.

A RM6mil crocodile park is being built within a 44.1ha public mangrove park in Tanjung Langsat and is due to be completed end of 2007.

With some 15 ponds spread out over the area, the park is expected to offer visitors boating and fishing activities besides featuring crocodile shows.

Tentatively named the Perigi Acheh Mangrove Park, it is a joint collaboration between the Pasir Gudang Local Authority and the National Landscape Department.

Authority president Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim said the project was to diversify the economic base in the township.

“We already have a highly successful industrial and residential area, now it is time to add the tourism dimension,” he said, adding that the main tourist attraction in Pasir Gudang now was the annual International Kite Festival.

According to him, although the week-long festival was a crowd puller, there was a need for a tourist attraction that would be available all year round.

On environmental concerns, Muhammad Ali said the park would be maintained as close to nature as possible, but would be well equipped with necessary facilities to allow for a range of activities.



NEW PROJECT: A proposed plan of the crocodile park which is set to be the latest tourist attraction for Johor.

“There is a need to preserve the mangrove area and we will be getting crocodiles that are indigenous to this locality,” he said, adding that he hoped the park would eventually feature hundreds of crocodiles.

He said the welfare of the crocodiles would also be taken to heart.

“None of the crocodiles will end up as handbags or shoes,” he quipped.



Source : STAR

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