KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, September 25, 2024 — The Kuala Lumpur Bird Park is one of the largest covered bird parks in the world, spanning approximately 20.9 acres in Malaysia’s capital city. Most of the birds are allowed to roam and fly freely within large aviaries that simulate their natural habitats. The park houses over 3,000 birds representing more than 200 species, including hornbills, peacocks, flamingos, and various species of parrots.
I spent two days wandering through this wonderland. The birds seem utterly fearless, but it’s no petting zoo, and nobody’s begging for food.
In truth, the park isn’t so large that you need to spend two days there. But, since it is in Malaysia, it is very warm and humid. So on my first day there, I found that despite an endless parade of amazing birds — more accessible than I’ve ever seen before — after a couple of hours I was exhausted and overwhelmed with the need to relocate to an air-conditioned environment. So I quit about halfway through the park and returned two days later to see the rest.
No matter how long you spend in the KL Bird Park, I hope that you find it as astonishingly rich and beautiful as I did. It is simply a perfect place to watch birds being birds, interacting with each other and largely ignoring the humans in their midst. I left at the end of my second day wanting to go back again soon, and to bring everyone I loved with me next time to share the wonder.
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