Taman Negara. Two words in Bahasa Melayu, the national language of Malaysia, which conjure images of giant green garden filled with exotic flowers and creatures. The word 'taman' means both 'park' and 'garden' in malay while 'negara' means 'nations'-together they translate simply as 'National Park'.
Malaysia's Taman Negara, is classified as one of the world's oldest rainforests. Older than either the Amazon or the Congo, it has remained undisturbed for 130 million years. Located near the equator it is the most extensive protected area of pristine, lowland, evergreen rainforest in the country. Lying within the headwaters of three river systems, the Tembeling in the south the Terengganu in the east and the Relai-Aring-Labir in the north, this vibrant rainforest receives rain throughout the year, approximately 2,200mm (lowland) and 3,800mm (highland). The average temperature is 22°C to 26°C.
Taman Negara originated from Pahang State Legislation in the Jerantut district. In 1925, an area of 9,240 hectares surrounding Tahan Mountain was declared Tahan Mountain Game Reserve by the British authority and a national park in 1938, comprising of three states, Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu. Over 1300 square kilometers of thick tropical jungles was designated "THE GUNUNG TAHAN GAME RESERVE" and named "KING GEORGE V NATIONAL PARK", after the King of England.
The creation of this park was due largely to the persistence of one man, Theodore Hubback, Chief Game Warden of what was then the Federated Malay States. He pestered the colonial government relentlessly for 15 years until the region was set aside for conservation in 1938. His enthusiasm was carried on by subsequent state and federal governments, and by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. Now, it covers a total of 4,343 sq km.
After independence in 1957, the name was later changed to Taman Negara. The stated purpose of Taman Negara is "to utilize the land within the park in perpetuity, for the propagation, protection and preservation of indigenous flora and fauna".
Evidence of human habitation within part of Taman Negara almost 2,000 years ago came with the discovery of bronze artifacts along the Tembeling River. One small group of Orang Asli (Original People) the nomadic Negrito Batek still live within the border of the park, gathering wild food and hunting with blowpipes for countless generations.
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