Malaysia has been recognized by scientists as one of the twelve areas of the world with the highest biodiversity, which makes the protection of nature in Malaysia particularly important. Biodiversity refers to the number of different species of plants and animals which are found in an area. Malaysia has particularly high biodiversity, with a huge number of different species living in it.
Malaysia is a tropical country that is filled with a huge variety of species of plants and animals. It is known for its magnificent rainforests, which are believed to include the oldest areas of rainforest in the world, but Malaysia also has some other important habitats including coral reefs, mangrove forests, montane forests and wetlands.
Important species in Malaysia include elephants, turtles, tigers, rhinos and orangutans, although there are also a large number of less charismatic species, including plants and small animals, which play an important role in the biodiversity of Malaysia. For example, Rafflesia, the largest flower in Asia (Asien) and the world, can be found in Malaysia.
Malaysia consists of the mainland peninsula and the states of Sabah and Sarawak, which are part of the island of Borneo. The wildlife that is found in peninsular Malaysia is very different to that on Malaysian Borneo, since they have been separated by the ocean. For example, tigers are only found on the mainland, while orangutans are found in both Sabah and Sarawak. Sabah is also home to the pygmy elephants.
The main threats to nature in Malaysia are habitat loss, poaching and the trade in illegal animal products such as rhino horn. Nature protection (Naturschutz) in Malaysia therefore focuses on preserving habitats by setting up national parks and preserves, and on stopping illegal hunting and trading.
Malaysia has some beautiful national parks and nature reserves, including the Penang, Bako, Taman Negara and Turtle Islands parks, which play an important role in nature conservation. Many of the parks are open to the public and have become popular destinations for tourists. The marine parks are very popular for scuba divers.
The world’s oldest rainforest, which has been there for 130 million years, is in Endau Rompin national park. Kinabalu Park is home to Malaysia’s tallest mountain. Fireflies are a popular attraction at the Sungai Lebam park and many migrating birds can be seen from Fraser’s Hill.
In addition to its tropical forests, coral reefs and beaches, Malaysia also has some spectacular cave systems, including the largest single passage in the world, which is in the national park at Mulu. The Madai caves are particularly famous as the nesting places of a type of bird called the swiftlet. These nests are harvested for use in bird’s nest soup.