February 23, 2006 11:02 AM
Special Children Show Mettle By Climbing Gunung Ledang

MUAR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Although its height does not match Gunung Tahan in Pahang, Gunung Ledang in Muar is far more challenging for mountain climbers.

Any wrong move can turn out perilous as the 1,276-metre mountain is ranked the sixth most difficult to climb in Peninsular Malaysia.

Although assisted by numerous hiker-friendly facilities such as steps and ropes, any undertaking even by normal people to conquer Gunung Ledang requires sheer perseverance, mental and physical.

These intangible qualities were shown by a group of special children who participated in a climbing expedition up the mountain recently.

The expedition, themed "The Gunung Ledang Environmental Impact Assessment Expedition 2006 By Special Children" and organised by consultancy firm TR Group of Companies, gave the children not only an opportunity to appreciate the lush green environment but also to gather the latest information on man-made environmental damage on the mountain.

Led by its director, T. Ravichandran, the 20 special children from the Bethany Home and the Perak, Selangor and Federal Territory Mentally Retarded Children's Association proved they too were up to the task.

Apart from successfully reaching the mountain's peak, Ravichandran said the children also got to appreciate the natural environment while doing their impact assessment research along the trails.

He said the findings and samples collected by the children would be forwarded to the Johor Department of Environment for analysis.

Besides collecting samples from streams, soil and miniature plants, they also gathered rubbish left behind by previous hikers and recorded erosion patterns along the trails.

-- BERNAMA
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