illegal wildlife trade; help wanted;road link project; appeal from SPCA Johore;

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Illegal wildlife trade - Malaysia.

 

Norizan Ahmad, deputy director of the Convention on Internatioanal Trade in

Endangered Species (CITES) unit in the Department of Wildlife and National

Parks, says both legal and illegal trade in animals have goen on for

centuries and will only stop when the demand ceases. Poachers have a

network and they engage the help of the Orang Asli in the interior to guide

them in their hunt for animals. Once the job is done, they are paid and the

poachers leave. " The Orang Asli have no contact with them until the poacher

comes again for his next consignment, " he says. The department's education

unit is currently trying to teach the Orang Asli settlers in Endau Rompin

the importance of preserving the wildlife in their area. Catching offenders

red-handed in the dense forests is by no means easy and in most cases, the

department only comes to know when medicine shops, restaurants and souvenir

shops are raided or if someone tips it off.

By then it is too late as the animals have been skinned, cut up or processed

into products. " With trafficking in animal products from across borders,

there is no telling where the contents of the bottle came from. It may not

involve our species, " he says.

To counter this problem, Norizan says the department is going to build a new

DNA laboratory to test the content of products they are uncertain of.

As for enforcement, the department has resorted to monitoring the trade more

closely during " popular seasons. " " We have seen thousands of snakes

smuggled in over the last few months but this trend is not new. Snakes

fetch a high price before Chinese New Year. After this period, volume drops

significantly. "

The department believes that hunting licences and the legal and controlled

trade in some species is being abused. " The hunting season for deer for

example, is between Nov 1 - 31. A hunter pays RM200 for his licence but

this only allows him to shoot one animal for the entire season. But they

never just shoot one and because they don't declare it to us, there is no

way for us to know, " he says, adding that animals are also hunted when the

hunting season is over. Norizan says the department cannot evaluate the

impact of illegal poaching on the wildlife population. While the department

is trying to step up enforcement in protected areas and parks, he doubts any

real change will take place in the near future as people continue to buy

animal parts and show little regard for wild animals.

Traffic South East Asia says the trade in wildlife is a complicated issue

with no straightforward solutions. Data on illegal trade is difficult to get

hold of. Enforcement itself is difficult as different government agencies

are in charge of control, management and enforcement. It cited

discrepancies in the protection status of species. Some are protected under

Malaysian legislation while others are listed under CITES.

As for tortoises and turtles which are traded for food and medicine, the

protection status varies depending on species and many are not protected at

all in Peninsular Malaysia. In Sabah and Sarawak, they are all protected.

 

HELP WANTED FROM MNS.

 

The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) wants to help put an end to the illegal

trade in wildlife but cannot do this without the support of the public. The

organisation is preparing a questionnaire which it will distribute to the

public to gauge how much they really know about the trade. The

questionnaire will test people on what they know about endangered species

and extinction as well as the laws that protect them. The public are also

urged to reveal information they have on the use of wildlife in exotic

dishes, ornamental items and in medicine. They will also be asked if they

have come across shops selling protected wildlife and how they will react if

they suspect individuals or shops to be involved in the trade. With enough

information they hope to find effective ways to deal with the problem areas

as well as begin awareness programmes for the public, beginning with nature

clubs in schools. But they are optimistic. There is a traditional medicine

company which is against the use of endangered species in their products and

they are interested in finding alternatives. They have found substitutes

for several endangered species e.g tiger's bone can be replaced with dog

bone or those from rodents in Tibet, rhinoceros horn can be substituted with

those of the buffalo while products from deer antlers can be substituted

with those of farm-raised deer. Such efforts are a necessary start but will

only come when people begin to appreciate what is around them.

 

 

Road link project threatens wildlife -

 

The Parit Forest Reserve is in danger of losing its flora and fauna as a

billion ringgit road project cutting across it is scheduled to begin in

September. Two protected and endangered species of wildlife - Argus

pheasants and gibbons would lose their habitat as 35ha of the forest in

Changkat Tempurung would be taken up for the road project. The state

government was urged to stop the 1 900ha forest reserve from being

degazetted for development. The forest reserve was one of the few lowland

dipterocarp forest still available in Peninsular Malaysia. Meanwhile the

Mentri Besar said development of the road project was vital because apart

from cutting travelling time, it will generate development opportunities.

 

ANIMAL SHELTER APPEALS FOR HELP FROM VETS

 

The Johore SPCA is appealing to veterinarians to offer voluntary services

to help its non-profitable shelter to cut cost. Its chairman Dr. Clement

said the shelter currently housed some 30 dogs and 30 cats and it was being

forced to maintain the number of animals by neutering. " Our maintenance

cost was already high at RM4 000 a month, mostly to feed the animals and

operational expenses, but we only receive about RM1 000 a month from

donations, membership fees and adoption fees.

The centre's financial status now can sustain operations for another six

months. Dr. Clement added that the shelter had tried to keep a low profile

because whenever it got some publicity or had phamphlets distributed, they

would find more dogs and cats abandoned at its gate. " We do not want to

create the impression that this is a dumping ground for unwanted animals. "

he said. He added that some of the animals at the shelter were rescued from

near-death situations, such as being ridden with disease, badly beaten up or

left in drains to die.

Those wishing to extend their help in cash or kind can contact Dr. Clement

at tel: 017-7787780 or Vijeyan Moorthy at tel: 012-7887778. For more

details check out the SPCA's website at www.tomtax.com.spcajb

 

LETTER TO THE STAR 16/l/2001.

 

Abandoned cats and dogs are a common sight at wet markets, hawker complexes,

backlanes and near rubbish bins. Those who want to discard their unwanted

pets often choose these places due to the easy availability of leftover food

for strays to feed on.

However, there are some who are callous and cruel enough to abandon puppies

and kittens at secluded places where their chances of survival are

practically nil, and they face a slow, painful death.

I have witnessed on many occasions, despicable and heinous acts of

inhumanity towards these helpless creatures. Most of the time I have been

able to help alleviate the misery that these poor animals had to endure.

However, there was one unfortunate incident that remains etched in my

memory.

During one of my daily trips to work, I had observed two puppies at an

isolated spot by the side of a hill. As the days passed by, I observed the

deteriorating physical appearance of one of the pups. While the other pup

appeared well, this particular one was unkempt, undernourished and diseased.

As this puppy needed help, I called up the local animal society to handle

this forlorn creature but was told to capture it and place it in a cage

provided by the society at a designated place for collection later. As I

didn't have much experience in capturing these rather untamed puppies, I

failed in my attempts. On one occasion, I caught sight of the pup standing

in the pouring rain, a picture of total misery. I was greatly saddened by

the state of neglect of the puppy, but was unable to help due to its

reluctance to allow me to come close. A week after I spotted the puppy, it

looked like it needed help urgently. The other healthy pup was nowhere in

sight. As Sunday rolled by, I packed some food for the pup, but could not

find the sick pup.

I surveyed the bushes and found the dead pup by the side of a tiny tree. I

can only imagine the throes that this unfortunate pup must have endured

before the end. Those who want discard their unwanted pups or kittens

should have the decency to do it in a more humane way. Do not subject your

unwanted pets to an agonising death. The animal society too should be more

responsive and efficient in discharging its duties.

 

ZOOS

 

The Government has proposed to set up zoos in both Sabah and Sarawak under

the Eighth Malaysia Plan. The Government had yet to earmark land for the

projects nor the amount of money needed to finance the projects. This would

help in efforts to conserve wildlife.

 

 

 

ANACONDAS - Singapore 19.1.2001

 

An 80kg anaconda from Guyana in South America and two more of the world's

biggest snakes slithered yesterday around their new enclosure at the

Singapore Zoo. They were brought to the city-state to usher in the Lunar

New Year.

It took five men to carry the largest of the trio, which is 16 years old and

measuring six metres long. At its widest, the green female's circumference

matches the waist of an adult.

Each anaconda consumes only about 4 chickens a month and live on stored body

fats for up to a year. They are languid, unless provoked said the assistance

curator.

 

 

 

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