After visiting Bako Natural Park and Semenggoh Nature Reserve, we were a bit undecided about Matang Wildlife Centre.

Many online reviews stated than it looks more like a zoo than a conservation centre, other pointed out that the cages where the animals are kept are too small.

Others assured me that they are doing a lot to help animals and that they are constantly improving their facilities

In the end, I decided that the only way to get out of doubts was to get there and see it with my eyes.

During my trip to Borneo I wanted to visit 3 different types of national parks and reserves to learn more about the Government’s plans for wildlife conservation.

After Bako Nationl Park, a place where animals roam free, I decided to visit Semenggoh Nature Reserve and, in the end, Matang.

Semengooh is located just a short drive from Kuching and its famous for it’s program of orangutans rehabilitation, as a matter of fact, its main attraction is its Wildlife Center, where endangered species, once kept illegally as pets, are trained on how to fend for themselves before being released into the forest.

This kind of centers are of vital importance for these animals: the orangutan is an endangered species and is totally protected by law in Malaysia, Indonesia and internationally. Today, there are an estimated 20-27,000 orangutans left in the wild (perhaps 20,000 or so in Borneo and the rest in Sumatra).

Deforestation, human depredation of their habitat, indiscriminate hunting and the live animal trade are  all factors that have contributed to a decline in their numbers.

When I was planning my visit to Penang I read that its capital, George Town, is a paradise for vegans, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Although you can find vegan options almost everywhere, I strongly recommend you to pay a visit to Kimberly Street (a few minutes away from the main station -Komtar-) to experience the most wonderful and cheap local vegan food.