Belum Temenggor is the largest continuous forest complex in Peninsular Malaysia located at Hulu Perak and crosses into Southern Thailand. Belum Temenggor is divided into two sections. Belum is located up north right by the Malaysia-Thailand border while Temenggor is south of Belum. The Royal Belum State Park is entirely contained within the forest complex. Bang Lang National Park is on the Thailand side of the border.
Belum Temenggor is believed to have been in existence for over 130 million years, making it one of the world’s oldest rainforests, older than both the Amazon and the Congo. In the heart of the forest lies the manmade lake of Tasik Temenggor, covering 15,200 Hectares which is dotted with hundreds of islands.
Belum Temenggor’s relatively untouched forest is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna including 14 of the world’s most threatened mammals including the Malayan tiger, Indian elephant, white handed gibbon, Malaysian sun bear and tapir. Other animals include seladang, wild boars, numerous species of deer, pythons and cobras.
Belum Temenggor is home to over 300 avian species. It is the only existing forest where all 10 species of hornbill that inhabit Malaysia are found, namely the white-crowned hornbill, bushy-crested hornbill, wrinkled hornbill, wreathed hornbill, plain-pouched hornbill, black hornbill, Oriental pied hornbill, rhinoceros hornbill, great hornbill and helmeted hornbill. In the forest, one can also find 3,000 species of flowering plants, including 3 species of Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower.
