Nature | Coral | Activities | Our Green Journey 
Set in a pristine rainforest, believed to be at least 10 million years old, The Andaman is blessed with an abundance of plant-life and wildlife. The lush foliage around the hotel is home to some of the most fascinating animals including the great hornbill, the dusky leaf monkey, the rare colugo (flying lemur of South East Asia), macaques, lizards and geckos, a wide variety of birds and over 300 species of butterflies.
Such rich natural diversity makes The Andaman a unique destination in itself. The development of tourism in Langkawi however, poses a threat to the tropical rainforest and its inhabitants. In an inspired bid to ensure the longevity the treasures that make this resort so distinctive, The Andaman is a firm advocator of environmentally-friendly practices aimed at preserving the pristine setting in which it is located, and protecting the many creatures that call it home.
CREATURE COMFORTS
Birds, Butterflies & Other Beauties
Langkawi is home to some 230 species of birds including 3 that cannot be spotted anywhere else in Malaysia.Both seasoned bird-watchers as well ardent nature lovers will enjoy tracking down the various species of kingfishers, eagles, hornbills, sandpipers, doves, woodpeckers and many more.
There are over 330 recorded species of butterflies in Langkawi and other rare creatures such as the colugo, wild boar whose existence is threatened by deforestation and development.
SECOND NATURE TO SOME
Our Own In-house Experts
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SELVAM RAMAN Growing up in the picturesque Cameron Highlands, Selvam became fascinated by the beauty and grace of Malaysian butterflies from an early age. Today he has made it his personal endeavour to educate society on the importance of these flying jewels. Selvam's role at The Andaman as Guest Services & Environment Manager allows him to transfer his passion for nature to fellow team members and guests. He spearheads the Green Council, an initiative he put together to allow the team to share and execute green ideas across all areas of the hotel's daily operations. Selvam also champions all environmental programs and events, both in the front and at the heart of the house. An amiable and soft-spoken character, Selvam is a popular figure with guests, often leaving them mesmerized by his boundless knowledge and incomparable passion for butterflies. Together with eminent Japanese entomologist Mr. Katsutoshi Kato, Selvam recently co-authored the book "Butterflies of Langkawi". |
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IRSHAD MORBARAK A self-taught naturalist and outdoor buff, Irshad never fails to delight hotel guests at The Andaman with his animated and intriguing stories and facts on the natural history of Langkawi and the wildlife that call this tropical paradise home. Over a 20-year career, Irshad has helped with and appeared in many documentaries like Mysteries of the Malaysian Rainforest on the National Geographic Channel and The Wedding Ceremony of the White Bellied Sea Eagle on Discovery Channel. He also hosted Ian Wright from Globe Trekker and his most recent TV appearance was with Toby Amies of The Rough Guide - "Trips of a Lifetime". During a short stint at the British Museum of Natural History, Irshad became an understudy to the world authority on butterflies, Professor Bernard D'Abrera. "What I hope to achieve on my tours is to show the people that the forest is a living community of interactive and interdependent relationships, not unlike our own relationships in our cities in our homes and amongst our families and friends. If we can instill in the hearts of people the wonders of the natural world first hand then we have friends of nature for life. And when they leave for home I hope to have inspired them to make positive adjustments to help mother nature in any way they can." Irshad Mobarak was name one of DiGi Telecommunication';s Amazing Malaysians in 2007 for his work preserving the nature in Langkawi. His passion on ensuring the continuity of the preservation of wildlife has also lead him to initiate programs that educate schools and train outdoor enthusiasts on nature and conservation. |
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GERRY GOEDEN The charismatic Dr. Gerald Goeden, affectionately known as Dr. Gerry to both guests and the team at The Andaman, was born in the United States where his earlier work leaned heavily towards research and conservation. His involvement with the National Geographic Mangrove Expedition brought him to Australia where he earned his doctorate in Marine Sciences and did extensive work on the Great Barrier Reef. Dr. Gerry now lives most of his time in Penang and is The Andaman’s consultant marine biologist. He has been heavily involved in putting together the various coral activities at the resort, and leads the Coral Clearing and Coral Reef Walks whenever he is on the island. He is also always happy to chat to guests about the natural history of the region over a coffee at breakfast. Amongst his most significant achievements, Gerry helped to instigate the first underwater Marine National Park in the US, was awarded the Key to the City of Miami for his work in conservation and worked towards the declaration of the first Marine National Park on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Additionally, Gerry helped to create Australia’s first deep-water robot camera system and also developed assessment techniques that forecast the world-wide demise of reef system,s 25 years prior to the current global collapse. Dr. Gerry has produced 26 technical and scientific research publications in government and international journals. An additional 34 government and departmental reports deal with life support systems and underwater engineering developments. |
