Wildlife in the city: 5 Best places in KL and Selangor to interact with animals

World Wildlife Day is commemorated annually on March 3 to celebrate and raise awareness on the world’s wild animals and plants. As climate change, habitat loss, and pollution continue to threaten natural flora and fauna, it’s imperative that people are educated on wildlife conservation and preservation to ensure their survival.

What better way than to get up close and personal with wildlife to glean insights and better appreciate animal and plant life? With tropical rainforests as old as 130 million years, Malaysia teems with natural habitats and resources to enlighten visitors, including UNESCO World Heritage sites like Kinabalu Park in Sabah.

Klang Valley folks don’t have to travel far from the city either, thanks to the plethora of animal parks and farms in the city. Here are five such wildlife destinations in KL and Selangor to inspire your love for animals and support their welfare. Bring along your friends and family for good fun!

Zoo Negara Malaysia

Opened in 1963, Zoo Negara Malaysia is the country’s first local zoo, located just five kilometres away from KL. Spanning 110 acres of land, it is home to more than 5,000 specimens from 476 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Managed by the Malaysian Zoological Society, a non-governmental organisation, the open concept zoo features spacious exhibits designed to replicate the natural habitats of the respective animals, including a Giant Panda Conservation Centree, reptile house, aviary, and mammal kingdom, among others. What’s more, there are adoption packages for visitors to meaningfully contribute towards the welfare of animals in the facility.

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Address: Jalan Taman Zooview, Taman Zooview, 68000 Ampang, Selangor

Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily

Contact: +603 4108 3422 / +603 4108 3424

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Farm in the City

Calling itself an Eden of nature and animals, Farm in the City (FITC) is uniquely designed to resemble a Malaysian kampung (village) while incorporating the environment of a conservation park. Within the village, visitors will find various attractions such as a free-flight bird aviary, reptiles cavern, jungle walk, and even an orchard. The pet village is especially popular among families with young children as visitors will get the chance to interact and pet rabbits, deer, guinea pigs, alpacas, and other gentle creatures—bringing home photos for souvenirs!

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Address: Lot 40187-40188, Jalan Prima Tropika Barat 1, Pusat Bandar Putra Permai, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor

Opening hours: 10am to 6pm (weekdays) | 9.30am to 6pm (weekends)

Contact: +603 8941 3099 / +6010 762 7612

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Aquaria KLCC

For those fascinated by marine life, make a trip to Aquaria KLCC—the top rated aquarium attraction in Southeast Asia. The world-class oceanarium boasts more than 5,000 aquatic and land species spread across 60,000 sq ft of space. Exhibits showcase iconic Malaysian creatures such as green sea turtles, sand tiger sharks, and giant groupers, as well as exotic species like the Giant Pacific Octopus. There’s even a touch zone where brave visitors can dip their fingers into a pool of brown-banded bamboo sharks or horseshoe crabs, while learning cool facts about these gentle aquatic creatures!

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Address: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours: 10am to 7pm (last entry 6pm)

Contact: +603 2333 1888

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Sunway Wildlife Park

Most locals may know Sunway Lagoon for its waterslides and theme park, but the popular holiday attraction also features an interactive Wildlife Park. It features over 150 animal species from around the world, with numerous educational activities for the whole family. Among the unique exhibits include the white tigers and white lions, pygmy marmosets, meerkats, prairie dogs, and more. Visitors can also book specially tailored educational tours for children and adults alike to learn interesting trivia from the park’s trained rangers. 

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• Kuala Lumpur
• Selangor
• animal welfare
• animals
• Nature
• Wildlife Conservation
• World Wildlife Day