Ulu Muda Forest

According to the Department of Wildlife and Nature Parks (1993). "the Ulu Muda Forests encompass the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve (105,060 ha) and Pedu Forest Reserve (15,540 ha). It represents about 35% of the total forested land area of Kedah and accounting for the largest remaining tracts of virgin forests in the Kedah. It is an area of high biodiversity value. It is located in the districts of Baling, Sik and Padang Terap in the north-east of Kedah State, bordering Thailand and about 1.5 hours drive from Alor Setar. The Ulu Muda forests also form the water catchment area for the Muda, Pedu and Ahning dams that supply water for drinking and irrigation to Kedah, Penang and Perlis. Several rivers, Sungai Teliang, Sungai Muda, Sungai Lasor, Sungai Baho, Sungai Pior and Sungai Weng drain the area. Gunung Bayu (777 m asl), Bukit Batu (953 m asl) and Gunung Batu Putih (821 m asl) are some of the highest peaks in the forest reserves. Logging activities were carried out along Sg Muda in the 1980s. The area experiences two dry seasons from January to February and June to Julai annually". (Source: northern.malaysianaturalheritage.com)

Source: Crop from WWF Ulu Muda Map

Ulu Muda is popular to the anglers, nature tourists and scientific researchers. Wildlife surveys conducted showed there are 109 species of mammals. 201 species of birds including 7 species of horbills. 54 species of reptiles. 33 species of freshwater fishes. (WWF, 2002). Among the wildlife found here are the Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus), Malaysian tapir (Tapirud indicus), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), gaur or seladang (Bos gaurus hubback) and the wild pig (Sus scrofa). Most of the wild cats of Malaysia are found here including the larger cats like the Malayan tiger (Penthera tigris jacksoni), panther (Panthera pardus), the clouded leopard (Neofilis nebulosa) and the rare Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii).

Birdlife is especially abundent in Ulu Muda with more than 275 species recorded thus far. All 10 Malaysian hornbill species are found here including the very rare plain-pouched hornbill (Rhyticeros subruficollis). Ulu Muda is only one of two sites in Malaysia where all 10 Malaysian hornbill species call home. Other notable rare and globally threatened birds found at Ulu Muda are the masked finfoot (Heliopais personata), dusky eagle owl (Bubo coromandus), Malaysian peacock pheasent (Polyplectron malacense), blue-banded kingfisher (Alcedo euryzona) and straw-headed bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus).

In addition, Ulu Muda is the only confirmed breeding site in Peninsular Malaysia of the hooded pitta (Pitta sordida muelleri)

Salt licks are sites with mineral springs or a high concentration of minerals nutrients that herbivores seek to supplement their diet. A diet of plant material is poor in minerals. These minerals include sodium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and zinc. In Ulu Muda, elephants, gaur, deers, wild boar and tapirs are frequent visitors to salt licks. A concentration of herbivores also attract the carnivores thus saltlicks are excellent sites to watch wildlife. There are more than 10 salt licks here with its rich minerals which draw animals. One of the salt licks, Sira Hangat, has hot water spring which makes it a unique destination. There are even caves here. Most of the caves are found around Bukit Labu.