TREKS
NEPENTHES CONSERVATORY
TREKS
Nepenthes Conservatory is a social enterprise to conserve the native pitcher
plants of Genting Highlands started and managed by Eddie Chan and Pat Ang since
2015. The conservation centre is based at the English Garden in Genting
Highlands Resorts courtesy of the management of RW Genting.
EDDIE CHAN AND DATO KEE HUA CHEE WHOSE PLUMAGE OUTSHONE THE BIRDS AND MONKEY POT PLANTS
EDDIE CHAN THE OWNER OF TREKS EXPEDITIONS AND RARE BIRD OF PARADISE WHICH IS USUALLY SIGHTED IN THE CONCRETE JUNGLE WITH CHAMPAGNE GLASS IN HAND
EDDIE CHAN AND YUSUF
THE GENTING FOREST IS FIRST IN WORLD TO BE TOTALLY WIFI AND CONNECTED TO THE URBAN JUNGLE
DATO KEE HUA CHEE IN FULL BLOOM WITH HEART BAG WHILE BOY IN BLUE AT LEFT HAD TO CLOSE HIS EYES DUE TO THE GLARE FROM DATO KEE HUA CHEE AND HIS OUTFIT
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The daily
workings at the Conservatory involves saving affected pitcher plants from areas
affected by development and clearing and to be brought back to the Conservatory
for replanting and rehabilitation in temporary cluster plastic basins and flat
trays.
These rescued plants are tended to daily and the objective and mission is to transplant them back to the wild in areas that are secured and safe.
These rescued plants are tended to daily and the objective and mission is to transplant them back to the wild in areas that are secured and safe.
In
between saving and future replanting, all the specimens saved are put up for
display for public viewing from 12 noon – 10pm (weekdays) and 10am – 10pm
(weekends).
There are no charges for visitors and saved plants are not for sale as they are protected under local and international law. However, visitors are welcome to sponsor plants as an interactive public engagement program. To date the Conservatory has achieved more than 600 sponsors.
There are no charges for visitors and saved plants are not for sale as they are protected under local and international law. However, visitors are welcome to sponsor plants as an interactive public engagement program. To date the Conservatory has achieved more than 600 sponsors.
Twice a
year beginning January (till June) and from July (till Dec), the Conservatory
will put up live pitcher plants exhibits for the public as awareness and
education activities. From January 2018, the Conservatory displayed reputedly the
“Tallest Pitcher from the Species Nepenthes Sanguinea”.
At a height of 17 ½ inches, Artemis as the pitcher is named is the tallest ever recorded amongst Nepenthes sanguinea species here in Genting Highlands and elsewhere in Peninsula Malaysia and Southern Thailand. Nepenthes sanguinea is not found in other countries.
At a height of 17 ½ inches, Artemis as the pitcher is named is the tallest ever recorded amongst Nepenthes sanguinea species here in Genting Highlands and elsewhere in Peninsula Malaysia and Southern Thailand. Nepenthes sanguinea is not found in other countries.
From July
2018, the Conservatory has showcased the extraordinary “colors of Nepenthes
sanguinea”. Such scale of vibrant colors do not occur in any of the more than
150 species of pitcher plants in the world.
How did this scale of colors come about?
Interestingly, the extraordinary occurrence is caused by land clearing
for development which started in the 1970s. The three pitcher plant species
(N.sanguinea, N.macfarlanei, N.ramispina) all reside on the top and slopes of
the Hulu Kali Range. Since the beginning of time, the species’ growth was
limited to and competing with the thick undergrowth of the Montane ericaceous
forest which is 6000ft above sea level.
However, when a stretch of road was developed along the range, it gave them a chance to spread their seeds to the cleared slopes and sidewalks of the tarred road.
Over 20 years they were able to produce each of their species more abundantly, variated and hybridised within their species and with the other species producing colourful variations within the N.sanguinea, multiple pitcher form variations amongst the N.macfarlanei and N.ramispina as well as producing the first few generations of naturally produced hybrids between the 3 species.
However, when a stretch of road was developed along the range, it gave them a chance to spread their seeds to the cleared slopes and sidewalks of the tarred road.
Over 20 years they were able to produce each of their species more abundantly, variated and hybridised within their species and with the other species producing colourful variations within the N.sanguinea, multiple pitcher form variations amongst the N.macfarlanei and N.ramispina as well as producing the first few generations of naturally produced hybrids between the 3 species.
However, and more interestingly, while enjoying their early “population
explosion”, a second development project occurred in 1991 but which was
abandoned in 1998 due to the Asian Financial Crisis, which inadvertently gave
the sprouting pitcher plants another chance for a second but larger population explosion.
Both the “population explosions” are now under “scientific efforts” to
be detailed and explained.
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