Malaysian Orangutan Preservation at Bukit Merah Faces Wrath From Conservationists

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort under the microscope is Orangutan Island in Malaysia's north, billed as the world's only treatment and preservation facility for the endangered mammals.

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, being one of Malaysia's premier eco-tourism destination in the northen region, the resort offers a wide variety of excitement with its Waterpark being the main attraction, the only conservational Orang Utan Island in Peninsular Malaysia and the unique Eco Park with its educational walk-in enclosures, where you can experience nature with eco-friendly animals.

Care that has been abundantly given to the animals, provided by a staff of seven nurses, is lost on environmentalists who insist that this is hurting instead of helping the orangutans.

The owners of the 35-acre island say the goal of the facility is to return the animals back to their natural jungle habitat, but so far none have been put back into the wild.

The environmentalists take issue with the fact that the primates wear diapers, interact with tourists, and are raised with 24-hour care from a staff of humans.

The majorities of the visitors are excited to play with the animals and are oblivious of the criticism.

"I don't think it is wrong keeping them here. It is a practical solution to save the orangutans and educate our children," said 26-year-old Vikki Kendrick from Britain.

Orang Utan Island is located within the exotic, eco-friendly getaway of Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, a 7,000 acre freshwater lakeside haven in Semanggol, Perak. The Orang Utan Island itself, which was formerly known as Pulau Panjang, comprises a vast 35 acre area, 5 acres of which has been set aside as a research centre for these endangered primates.