Showcasing the best: Ooi entertaining visitors to the Penang Bird Park in Seberang Jaya. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia’s first bird park, which opened its doors 35 years ago, is slated to undergo upgrading works costing RM10mil to replace old facilities with new ones.
Penang Bird Park director Dr Gino Ooi said the upgrading project of the 2ha park in Seberang Jaya, believed to also be the largest in the country, was expected to start early next year.
“Since the lease of the land expired in 2018, we have been renewing it on a monthly basis and operating under uncertainty. In January, the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) granted us a 30-year extension and that gave us the peace of mind to pursue a long-term plan.
“The project will involve the demolition of old buildings to be replaced with modern facilities. There should be, among others, a new exhibition and administration centre as well as a new restaurant,” he said yesterday.
Ooi said the proposal included the addition of aquariums for fish and sprucing up existing gardens and cages.
“The cages will not be replaced as most are still in good condition and the birds have adapted well to the environment. Apart from birds, we plan to house other animals, including an array of fishes.
“However, the construction of the aquariums and other buildings to blend in with nature is costly and requires careful planning. We need to ensure that the project is done without affecting the existing birds and wildlife in the park,” he added.
The proposal, said Ooi, has been submitted to PDC and should the project kick off, it was expected to be completed within three years.He said he hopes the upgrading will help revive the park’s prominence on the tourism map and better serve the community too.
“We currently receive about 70,000 visitors a year and hope to double this with the upgrading.
“This bird park was probably the largest attraction in Seberang Prai and a must-go for tourists in the past. However, there has been a lack of tourism activity here in recent years due to the scarcity of attractions in the area.
“As each visitor would spend an average of three hours here, not all tour companies are eager to set aside the time to bring them here.
“With the upgrades, we aim to attract them again with better hospitality, showcase and learning experience,” he said.
The bird park, which was set up in 1988, has the largest avian collection in the country, housing over 3,000 animals of 300 different species from all over the world.
Its latest additions are 13 Cuban Flamingos that cost about RM1mil.
Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said as the bird park was considered an attraction in the state, it welcomed the upgrading initiative.
“Domestic and international visitors are constantly on the lookout for new places to visit, and the bird park is an attraction of natural features to be appreciated.
“It will add value to the tourism industry in Penang and we look forward to providing a new experience for the people,” he said.
