KUCHING: The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) said all national parks and nature reserves would be closed for visits except for three selected nature reserves during the conditional movement control order (CMCO) period effective May 18 until June 7.
The three selected nature reserves are Sama Jaya Nature Reserve in Kuching, Piasau Nature Reserve in Miri and Bukit Sembiling Nature Reserve in Limbang.
However, only physical exercising and jogging will be allowed in them.
Operation hours will be from 7 am to 6 pm, while closing hours will be from 11 am to 2 pm.
According to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) shared by SFC in a Facebook posting on May 17, prohibited activities at the nature reserves included guided or unguided ecotourism tours; trekking outside authorised trails; touching, disturbing or feeding wildlife; religious, social functions, seminars, workshops, training, courses, or exhibitions, picnicking and children playground recreational activities.
It added visitors must strictly comply with the SOPs such as observing physical distance of one metre apart, wearing face masks (where necessary), checking body temperatures and thorough hand-washing.
Visitors are required to obtain an admission card before entry, and they must enter into and exit from the nature reserve via one authorised entrance.
Not more than 10 people per group and a maximum of 100 people, depending on the discretion of the park warden, are permitted to access the nature reserves at any one time.
SFC added the decision to prohibit temporary visits by the public was in compliance with the government SOPs and directives.
