KOTA BARU: The rafflesia found in Lojing Highlands has been declared the world's second-largest, after a species native to West Sumatera, Indonesia.
Deputy Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said he was informed of the matter by the Forestry Department and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), recently.
Mohd Amar, who is also Lojing Highlands' sustainable development steering committee chairman, said the local variant, known as rafflesia kerri, measures between 80cm and 90cm in diameter.
The "corpse flower" is found along Sungai Dekong near Kampung Jedip in Gua Musang.
Mohd Amar said the state government gazetted 500ha of land for a rafflesia conservation park in 2011.
"Kelantan is an Islamic state which cares about the environment. We also hope that rafflesia conservation efforts in Lojing Highlands will contribute to the state's tourism industry," he said in a statement.
Mohd Amar added that the state government will continue to support efforts by the Forestry Department and UMK to preserve the giant flowers.
UMK's Earth Science faculty's senior lecturer, Dr Zulhazman Hamzah, said the university has been researching the rafflesia of Lojing Highlands for 11 years.
He said many articles on the growth and mortality rates of rafflesia – as well as their pollination, seed dispersal and scent – were published in scientific journals, conference papers and other mass media.
"In Southeast Asia, the rafflesia is fast becoming an international icon for tourism and a prominent symbol for nature conservation.
"The Lojing Highlands holds tourism potential as it is also home to the largest population of rafflesia after those found in Indonesia."