(MY) endangered bird in KL

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Bali Mynahs in KL - Malay Mail

By DAWN CHAN

 

IN the eyes of Muzaffar Kaisar Ishak, the Bali Mynah (Rothschild's

Mynah) is small but packs a punch.

 

The bird, weighing between 85 g and 100 g, is an endangered species

that are on the same classification as gorillas, as stated in Appendex

I of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species

of Wild Fauna and Flora.

 

Under the classification, trade of Bali Mynahs is prohibited.

 

The Bali National Park in Indonesia is home to the last 20 Bali

Mynahs, which are guarded by the military to protect them from

poachers.

 

Muzaffar, the founder of Wildlife Fauna Breeding and Research Centre,

home to hundreds of endangered animals in Janda Baik, Pahang, was

delighted when five two-year-old Bali Mynahs — two males and three

females — arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, after a

13-hour flight from Germany.

 

Their arrival last Wednesday, was the culmination of Muzaffar's

negotiations with a private bird park in Germany that lasted six

months.

 

He has the approval from the relevant authorities to bring in the birds.

 

" The mynahs are fascinating, unique and majestic with their pure white

feathers and outstanding features — the blue bare skin around their

eyes and crest is very unusual.

 

" It is rare to find white mynahs as the more common ones are brown in colour.

 

" I felt it was time to bring in the birds as we do not have them in

Malaysian zoos, " he told The Malay Mail.

 

The birds will be quarantined at KLIA for 30 days, during which tests

will be carried out, including for H5N1 virus or avian flu.

 

Muzaffar, 34, said similar tests were carried out in Germany before

the birds were flown out.

 

Muzaffar describes the Bali Mynah as smart and intelligent.

 

The birds can talk, dance and interact if trained but he said they

cannot be kept as pets as they are classified as endangered species.

 

Recalling the history of Bali Mynah, Muzaffar said the birds were

first exported to Germany and later to various part of Europe and to

America. To date, the bird is highly sought after worldwide, with over

700 of it in private zoos and breeding centres.

 

" I am doing all this solely on the purpose of conversation and

breeding, so that it doesn't go extinct. I am not trying to prove

anything but if the Americans and the Europeans can breed it

successfully, why can't we?

 

" Nearer to home, we are neighbours with Indonesia and we share the

same kind of climate, so it is way easier for us to breed them, " he

said.

 

Feeding on fruits, cricket, caterpillar and softbill palette, Muzaffar

hopes to breed the Bali Mynahs in two years, and is planning to bring

in five more by the end of the year.

 

He he is also planning to eventually release the Bali Mynahs back to

the country of its origin.

 

He said not everyone is allowed to import endangered species into this

country, and approvals from the Wildlife Department and the minister

of natural resources and environment are required.

 

Besides the Bali Mynahs, Muzaffar has also brought in four pairs of

fully grown, captive breed two-year-old Cotton Top Tamarin (Saguinus

oedipus) primates from a private zoo in Belgium.

 

He said raising and breeding the primates, weighing about 300 grammes

each, is a challenge on its own.

 

" As a breeder, I must have an in-depth understanding about them. If I

don't meet their natural habitat and nutrients, they will die. If they

breed, then I am fulfilling their requirements. "