There awaits Raban Pokleh, a mini petting zoo that has been welcoming guests since December 2022. The farm allows visitors to get close to and feed animals such as peacocks, ostriches, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs and several breeds of chicken – a rare treat for city dwellers.
Owner Solehin Ramlan, 37, said Reban Pokleh is especially busy on weekends and public holidays. “Many of our visitors rarely get the chance to interact with these animals as they live in urban areas. Some even come just to fulfil their children’s wish to see the animals up close,” he told Bernama recently.
Solehin said the idea of opening a mini zoo came out of his interest in rearing ornamental chicken breeds, including turkeys, Polish chickens and American silkies, as well as several bird species.
During the Movement Control Order in 2020, he began collecting them in his free time – and eventually ended up with hundreds of these animals.
“I bought various chicken breeds from China, the Netherlands, Germany and Turkey. When their numbers grew, I thought of a mini zoo to share my interest with the public.
“It started out just for fun, and I never thought it would end up being a spot visitors look forward to in Pontian,” he said.
Reban Pokleh has attracted not only locals but also visitors from Portugal, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States, prompting Solehin to bring in deer and more bird species.
He said he is proud that he is now helping to boost tourism in Pontian, complementing destinations such as Tanjung Piai National Park and Pulau Kukup.
Meanwhile, Wong Siang Nam, his wife Ng Lee Hua, and their five-year-old son Zhao Shan have visited Reban Pokleh more than seven times.
“During the holidays, we come here not only to enjoy the peace away from Johor Bahru but also because of my son, who loves playing with and feeding the animals. His favourite is giving milk to the goats,” Siang Nam said.
Ella Anam Aapi, 25, from Kapit, Sarawak, said she was thrilled to discover chicken breeds she had never seen before, and plans to return when she visits Pontian again.
Learn more about Reban Pokleh here and on Facebook.
Reban Pokleh
30A Kg Dalam, Ayer Baloi,
82100 Pontian, Johor
Opening hours: 9.30am-5pm (daily except Mondays)
Entrance fee: RM5 for adults and children age 3 and above. Free admission for children below age 3.