HULU TERENGGANU: After having rescued almost 200 wild orchids from the threat of deforestation and logging, the Sekayu Wild Orchid Park has become a shining beacon of conservation efforts in Terengganu.

State Forestry Department director Na'aman Jaafar believed the park contained the biggest collection of wild orchid species, with more to come.

The development of the park since early this year saw Forestry Department rangers and orchid experts saving wild orchids that would otherwise have perished due to direct exposure to the sun at deforested areas.

"Not all the species in the park have been identified. We will need the help of experts to identify them. There is also the possibility of new discoveries," said Na'aman.

The department has so far spent about RM150,000 on the park, including setting up a picture gallery of some of the rare orchids found in Terengganu as well as those rehabilitated at the park.
"The park is now partly open to the public as work is still going on but we hope to get it ready by the end of the month.

"Visitors will then be given posters and brochures on the various species available at the park," Na'aman said.

He said the park would also become a research centre on wild orchids and the department was also looking at the possibility of propagating some of the rare species using seedpod culture.

The wild orchid park is an additional attraction to the herbal park located next to it, which boasts more than 400 species of plants with medicinal properties.