Dungun Cat Park, Latest Attraction For Animal Lovers

DUNGUN (Terengganu, Malaysia) Nov 2 (Bernama) -- Bukit Bauk Forest Reserve in Dungun, which is synonymous with hiking and recreational activities, now has a new attraction for visitors, the Dungun Cat Park. Dungun Municipal Council (MPD) president Lizan Che Mat said currently 30 street cats which were rounded up during MPD operation in markets, eateries and other public places were placed at the park for treatment. "The Dungun Cat Park is one of our initiatives to ensure public places are free of stray cats and at the same time, ensure the animals are taken care of. "This initiative started in 2012 at Teluk Lipat near Sura but the location was found not suitable for the park. That is why we shifted it to Bukit Bauk Forest Reserve in July because this is a better area and can become a destination of choice for cat lovers,” he told reporters Monday. There are five cages in the area where isolation is carried out according to the animal’s health category, namely Intensive Care Unit, Recovery Unit, Happy Cat Unit, Happy Family Ward and Mother and Child Ward. Elaborating further, Lizan said the Dungun Cat Park could accommodate 150 cats at one time and is run by two MPD employees at the moment. "So far, there is no fee for visitors, as we want this area to be a recreational site for families who enjoy nature. "We also encourage visitors to donate food, medicine, equipment and funds to sustain the needs of the cats,” he said. Meanwhile, the Terengganu Veterinary Services Department director Dr Mohd Termizi Ghazali said that the department would provide periodic medical care and check-ups at the park. "We also will provide courses to the MPD staff responsible of taking care of the cat park so that they can tend to the animals properly with vitamins and daily cleanliness routine. "Department employees will be on duty round the clock to ensure all the abandoned cats are nursed back to health,” he added. A visitor, Aidie Amin Yatim, 39, said he visited the Dungun Cat Park after it went viral on social media two days ago. "I am a cat lover and have two cats at home...when I showed the pictures of the park to my children, they were excited to come and spend time with these cats. "Insyaallah (if God wills) I will return in the future because time with these cats is a form of therapy for my family,” he said. -- BERNAMA