MAMMALIAN WILDLIFE TOURISM IN SOUTH-EAST ASIAN TROPICAL RAINFORESTS: THE CASE OF ENDAU ROMPIN NATIONAL PARK, MALAYSIA

Abstract

Wildlife tourism is for the purpose of watching and/or encountering wildlife. In South-east Asia, mammalian wildlife tourism is less popular than in Africa. This is because mammalian wildlife tourism in South-East Asia is generally targeted at terrestrial national parks with forest fauna, as it is difficult to observe mammals in dense rainforest. To assess the potential of a South-East Asian national park for mammalian wildlife tourism, a mixed methods approach was used, 1) mammalian wildlife-based tourist attractions and 2) park use and visitor attitudes towards wildlife in Endau Rompin National Park, Peninsular Malaysia. There are potentially 149 mammalian species, including 24 threatened species, in Endau Rompin National Park. Camera trap data indicated that small and medium sized mammals do occur in these areas frequented by tourists. Footprints, nests, scratches and disturbance traces of various mammals were also observed. However, most visitors did not have high expectations regarding wildlife encounters, nor did many actually see wildlife during their stay. These results implied that animal signs and devices for indirect observation of elusive and/or rare animals
were important at sites of mammalian wildlife-based tourism. Additionally, Asian elephants could be a strong attraction for wildlife tourists, but there was concern about conflict between local people and elephants.