A group photo of Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden 50th anniversary celebration organisers and participants during the launch of the exhibition.
Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an exhibition themed Belukar Dah Jadi Rimba at Universiti Malaya (UM) in Kuala Lumpur.
The exhibition, supported and funded by the UM Sustainable Development Centre, UK-based Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) and School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, is taking place at the Rimba Ilmu exhibition hall until Sept 17.
Towering nibong palm trees in the vast grounds.
Visitors to the showcase will get the chance to appreciate a collection of preserved plant samples such as leaves, seeds, fruits, fungal species and insects.
Guided walks led by UM Institute of Biological Sciences lecturer Dr Yong Kien Thai, nature poetry workshop and talks by Sunda Shelves focusing on tiger conservation besides the origins and history of Asian elephants were among engaging activities held on the exhibition launch day.
The common tiger orchid (Grammatophyllum speciosum) is among plants found at Rimba Ilmu.
Angela Hijjas, who has been volunteering at Rimba Ilmu for many years, said, “The gardens give you a sense of belonging when you know what plants are around, it gives you the feel of being part of Malaysia.”
The decreasing number of botanists was raised during a sharing session involving former committee members of Rimba Ilmu, who cited lesser enrolment into related courses at the university as among the reasons.
Dr Low Yee Wen, former Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) education officer stationed at Rimba Ilmu in the early 2000s, said there were not many professors of botany left.
Lush green gardens behind the Rimba Ilmu building.
“Nowadays, there are very few botany professors around.
“My dream is for Rimba Ilmu to remain relevant and I hope to contribute to it as much as possible,” he said, adding that he hoped more people would enrol in botanical studies.
Rimbu Ilmu (meaning forest of knowledge) is the only botanical garden located in a university in Malaysia.
Some of the exhibits at the ‘Belukar Dah Jadi Rimba’ showcase at Rimba Ilmu exhibition hall.
Established in August 1974 by UM botanists on an abandoned rubber plantation with secondary forest plants, the 80ha garden now thrives with more than 1,200 plant species.
Initially a teaching facility for biology students to study and conserve plants of Malaysian rainforests, Rimba Ilmu opened to the public in 1997 for people in the city to get a chance to appreciate a tropical jungle.
Dr Yong (right) showing a fruit from the orange jasmine tree, as volunteer Kevin Choong (second from right) explains its significance.
Besides plants indigenous to Malaysia, the botanical garden also houses rare and threatened plant species as well as plants from other continents.
The Vatica yeechongii that was discovered relatively recently and found in Hulu Langat and Firmiana malayana, more commonly known as pokok mata lembu are among endangered species housed here.
Nature lovers at the poetry workshop, one of the events held during Rimba Ilmu’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Rimba Ilmu is also home to more than 90 species of birds including woodpeckers, kingfishers and the Red Junglefowl aside from smaller animals like squirrels and insects.
The botanical garden is open from 9am to 4pm (Monday to Friday), 9am to noon (Saturdays) and is closed on Sundays, third Saturday of each month and public holidays.
For details, call 03-7967 4686/ 4687.
