| 1. |
Conservation
Of Endangered Species |
| |
Six
species are given priority for in-situ conservation. Apart from monitoring wild populations,
there are also efforts to reintroduce and restock
certain species, and translocate others. The
six priority species are: Sumatran Rhinoceros,
Gaur, Tiger, Elephant, Pheasant dan Milky Stork. |
| |
| |
|
| i. |
|
| |
Field
surveys are conducted in areas known to
be Sumatran Rhinoceros habitats. The Rhino
Protection Unit (RPU), established in
1995, conducts on-the-ground patrols to
safeguard the species from poachers. The
main task of this unit is to monitor the
Sumatran Rhinoceros, gathering information
on feeding habits, habitat, as well as
patrolling to deter habitat encroachment
and illegal hunting of this species.
Camera-traps
have also been set up to capture photographic
evidence of the presence of Sumatran Rhinoceros
and other wildlife species. Sumatran Rhinoceros
seen or detected via camera trap will
be captured for captive breeding purposes
if the area in which they are found is
no longer safe for them. |
| |
|
| ii. |
Gaur – factsheet |
| |
Information
on wild gaur populations is gathered
through the biodiversity inventory programmes
and RPU patrols, which is then analysed
for management of the species.
There
are currently 48 gaur in three captive
centres. Suitable individuals from these
centres are being prepared to restock
several areas; the Krau Wildlife Reserve,
Pahang and Taman Negara Pahang. The
objective of this programme is to increase
gaur numbers in the wild, following IUCN
Reintroduction Guidelines.
|
| |
|
| iii. |
Information
on wild tiger populations is gathered
through the biodiversity inventory programmes,
RPU patrols and camera-trapping, which
is then analysed for management of the
species.
Community
outreach programmes are conducted in collaboration
with MYCAT (Malaysian Conservation Alliance
for Tigers). This programme will be continued
in other high tiger conflict areas, such
as Perak, Kelantan, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan
and Terengganu. |
| |
|
| iv. |
Elephant – factsheet |
| |
Information
on wild elephant populations is gathered
through the biodiversity inventory programmes,
RPU patrols and camera-trapping, which
is then analyzed for management of the
species.
Elephants
labelled as serious problem elephants
under the human-wildlife conflict situations
are translocated by the Elephant Capture
Unit and the National Elephant Conservation
Centre.
Since
1974, 540 elephants have been translocated:
183 to Terengganu National Parks, 44 to
Endau Rompin National Park , 59 to Royal
Belum National Park and 58 to other suitable
forested habitats. . |
| |
|
| v. |
Pheasant |
| |
Six
species of pheasants are currently in
captive breeding programmes for reintroduction
and restocking into protected areas such
as Taman Negara National Park, Krau Wildlife
Reserve, Pahang; Sungkai Wildlife Reserve,
Perak and Sungai Dusun Wildlife Reserve,
Selangor. The 6 species are Great Argus,
Mountain Peacock-Pheasant, Malaysian Peacock,
Crestless Fireback, Crested Fireback and
Green Peafowl.
Pheasants
being prepared for release are kept in
temporary cages specifically constructed
to simulate their natural habitat as far
as possible. Radio-collars are set on
each bird to enable post-release monitoring.
Continuous monitoring on the released
birds will take place for at least a month.
After this period, observation will be
done once a week until the birds can survive
in the new habitat naturally by themselves.
Food is provided at the early stage of
release to make sure the birds feed sufficiently.
Pheasants
are released in pairs to increase the
probability of breeding. Reintroduction
of a particular species into an area will
continue until there are a confirmed minimum
of 6 pairs which survive there. |
| |
|
| vi. |
Milky
Stork |
| |
In
Peninsular Malaysia, the Milky Stork population
is extremely small. The remaining wild
population can only be sighted around
Kuala Gula, Perak. In 2005, the highest
number of individuals sighted was 8. In
1998, 10 individuals were released into
the mangrove forest in Kuala Selangor,
a collaborative programme among DWNP,
the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and
the National Zoo. To date, 4 of them can
be sighted around the area.
On
the 4th March 2007, another 4 pairs were
released into Kuala Gula, Perak, a joint
programme between DWNP and the National
Zoo. Four individuals are easily seen
around Kuala Gula. While there were sightings
of the 5th individual within 1 month after
the release, there have been no signs
of the others yet.
The
Milky Stork Reintroduction Programme will
continue until at least 150 individuals
are recorded, and the birds breed in the
wild successfully. The released birds
will be monitored via satellite radio
collars. Awareness
programmes on this species are conducted
to facilitate cooperation from the local
communities. |
| |
|
| vii. |
Bird
capture and ringing programme (Waterbirds) |
| |
Objective
of this programme is to study the species
richness of waterbirds as well to obtain
their morphological information. Until
2005, 15 areas have been studied with
16,614 birds captured and ringed and 1,603
birds were recaptured. List of birds recorded
are in Appendix
6.1. |
| |
Bertujuan
untuk mengetahui spesies burung yang terdapat
di sesuatu kawasan dan pengumpulan data
morfologinya. Sehingga 2005, sebanyak
15 kawasan telah dikaji. Jumlah burung
yang dijaring dan digelangkan adalah sebanyak
16,614 ekor dengan 1,603 tangkapan semula
(burung air). Senarai Burung-burung yang
telah dijaring dan digelangkan adalah
seperti: Lampiran
6.1 |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| 2. |
Commercial
Species |
| |
| i. |
Cave
Swiftlet |
| |
Research
in collaboration with local authorities
on cave swiftlet houses was done to identify
their abundance
and distribution all over Peninsular Malaysia. Research on nutrient contents of
the swiftlets' nests are being carried
out in collaboration with the Institute
of Medical Research (IMR). The main objective
is to identify the differences in nutrient
contents of the birds' nest from samples
taken from Bentong, Pahang; Bandar Hilir,
Melaka; and Kuala Krai, Kelantan. |
| |
|
| ii. |
Non-detrimental
findings |
| |
• |
Monitor
Lizard, Python and King Cobra
Studies on monitor lizard, python
and king cobra populations have
been conducted to estimate their
population and distribution in Peninsular
Malaysia. Studies took place in
different types of habitats including
palm oil plantations, lowland forest,
mangrove forest as well as paddy
fields, in Johor, Selangor, Pahang,
Perak, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan. |
|
|
• |
Long-tailed
Macaque
Studies on
Long-tailed Macaque populations
have been done in Peninsular Malaysia,
covering forest fringe, “belukar”
area, plantations as well as known
conflict areas. Currently, the population
of Long-tailed Macaques in Peninsular
Malaysia is estimated to be about
742,000. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|