frozen zoo, dugong, circus, rhino, kalabakan, mangrove and strays

[Guest guest]

The Star - Singapore is creating its own frozen zoo. This is a bank of

genetic material made up of sperm and tissue samples of the wildlife in

captivity. The project, started recently at the Singapore Zoological

Gardens, will at some stage be used to clone its animals said Bernard

Harrison. " We are ultimately moving towards cloning, " added the chief

executive officer of Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), which runs the

Singapore zoo, the Jurong Bird Park and the Night Safari.

 

Not only would this provide a safety net against extinction, but it would

also combat infertility in animals and help the zoo to recreate animals

which died prematurely.

So far, said Dr. Paolo Martelli, WRS director (veterinary, conservation and

research), tissue and sperm samples have been collected from seven animal

species. These include monkeys - marmosets, lion tailed macaques.

 

The Star - The discovery of a dead dugong calf on an oil-stained stretch of

beach in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia has thrown the spotlight once again

on marine pollution in the waters off this industrial hub.

While there is still no conclusive proof that the dugong in question died of

the effects of contamination, Pasir Gudang resident Abdul Manap, who

stumbled on the dugong carcass last Saturday, nonetheless says it is about

time the local authority took a firm stand on pollution. " When I spotted

the carcass, washed up with other rubbish on the shore, what struck me most

was how polluted the water was. It occurred to me that if nobody took the

trouble to highlight the issue, nothing will ever change. "

The Menteri Besar of Johor has since directed the Department of the

Environment and the Fisheries Department to take steps to stem the effluents

that have been flowing into the Tebrau Straits. State Executive Councillor

for Tourism and the Environment Chua Soi Lek when contacted, said most of

the pollutants flowing into the waterways of Pasir Gudang came from

land-based sources. " The reality is, people are notorious polluters, and

the waterways and riverine system have always been regarded as a garbage

disposal outlet for those living along its banks. The only real long-term

solution to the problem is that people must change their habits. " Chua

further urged the Pasir Gudang local authority to be more proactive in

managing the pollution situation in the industrial township.

 

The Star - 6. 5.01 - Uzbekistan circus

The Sunway Lagoon Resort came to the rescue of the Uzbekistan Circus which

had been left stranded without food, shelter and financial support for the

past two months. The circus comprising 20 troupe members and 35 animals,

were forced to stop performances after failing to secure a place to hold

their shows.

Mary McTaggart, the general manageer of Sunway Lagoon Theme Park, told

reporters that they had reached an agreement with the circus to hold

performances at the theme park. " We came to know about the plight of the

circus from the media. We heard that they were on funds and could not

afford to feed the animals. So on humanitarian grounds, the Sunway Group

decided to help them get back on their feet. We have had several meetings

over the past two weeks with the circus' leader Furkat Yunysov and have come

to an agreement. We will help feed the animals and provide a place to stay

for the artistes, " said MacTaggart. The Sunway Group will also relocate the

caravans to a vacant lot near the Sunway Medical Centre and also help with

repairs.

" Initially we will organise small shows with certain animals and slowly

build the show back to a full circus performance It may take at least two

weeks before we can do a full circus because we want to give the animals

time to adjust to the new environment, " said MacTaggart. She added that it

might take as long as six months before the circus was able to travel to

future venues. " We just want to help them do that - to move on with their

way of life, " said MacTaggart.

 

The Star - Save Sumatran Rhino

 

Non-governmental organisations and the corporate sector have been urged to

complement government efforts to conserve the two-horned Sumatran

rhinoceros, or the Dicerorhinus Sumantrensis, which is near extinction.

Science, Technology and Environment Minister Law said one of the ways was to

create public awareness. He said the Sumatran rhinoceros should not be

allowed to become extinct like the Jawan rhonoceros which became extinct in

Malaysia in 1932. " In an effort to conserve the species, the Wildlife

Department has established conservation centres in the country where

research and breeding activities are carried out to increase its

population, " he said adding that the centre also served as educational and

eco-tourism sites. Law added that the department also monitored and carried

out enforcement checks on the habitation areas of the rhinoceros.

There are 10 sumatran rhinoceroses in captivity in conservation centres in

Sungai Dusun, Malacca and Sabah.

Of the two other Asian rhinos, namely the Indian rhino and the Javan rhino,

the Sumatran rhino is the most critically endangered and had a population of

less than 300 in the world.

 

The Star - 4th.6.01

The Penang State Government has no jurisdiction over the " privately owned "

mangrove area in Kuala Sungai Betong which has been cleared for a shrimp

aquaculture project, state executive councillor Azhar Ibrahim said.

He said the operators of the project need not get permission from the

relevant authorities because the land was privately owned, adding that such

agricultural activities were allowed on mangrove land. " We have no

jurisdiction to take any action against the operators. They can go ahead

with their project as it is agriculture-based, " said Azhar.

Azhar had said in April that a proposal would be tabled at the state

assembly sitting by year end to have " all the 900ha of mangrove forest " in

the state gazetted by 2003 as Penang had lost 60% of its mangroves since the

middle of the century.

The Star had earlier reported that about 200 fishermen were upset over the

destruction of a large mangrove area in Kuala Pulau Betong to make way for a

shrimp aquaculture project. The fishermen had claimed that the clearing of

mangrove land was contrary to the state and national policy on mangrove

protection. It had earlier been reported that the Southwest District

Office, the Department of Environment and the state Fisheries Department

were mot made aware of the project. The Drainage and Irrigation Director

(DID) had said that the district office had issued a strop work order last

year as the mangrove trees were being cleared illegally. The mangrove areas

was of concern to the DID as certain regulations had to be imposed to

ensure there was a buffer zone between the ponds and the river bank.

 

The Star 4th.6.01.- Kalabakan pulp and paper mill.

China is keen to expedite the implementation of the RM4.5bil Kalabakan pulp

and paper mill joint-venture project with Sabah, its ambassador to Malaysia

Guan Den Ming said.

Guan said that both the Sabah government and China were very keen to start

the project which had been delayed since an agreement by the parties was

reached on Aug 18,1999.

The joint-venture project, which has drawn flak from environmental groups,

involves Yayasan Sabah's commercial arm Innoprise Corporation, China Fuxing

Pulp and Paper Industries Limited and Lions Management Pte Ltd.

Guan said he was in touch with key Sabah leaders and also officials of the

state owned Innoprise Corporation to see what could be done to ensure that

the project took off the ground without further delay.

The project on a 241 000ha area in Kalabakan close to the forest reserves of

Maliau Basin and Danum Valley has drawn criticism from environmental groups

who believe that a project of such magnitude would cause irreparable damage

to the environment.

 

The Star - Help rehabilitate forests in Sarawak

A renowned American expert in environmental rehabilitation projects will

join hands with Curtin University of Technology Sarawak and the state

government to rehabilitate forests and land degraded by extensive burning,

logging and soil erosion.

Prof Ben Wallace, a specialist in environmental issues with a wide

experience in handling such projects, is currently attached to a university

in Dallas, Texas. He will meet with Curtin officials and state government

officials to discuss the plan.

He would receive a detailed briefing and first-hand look at some of the land

area and forests seriously damaged by open burning, shifting cultivation and

timber felling.

 

 

New Straits Times - Belum Forest

Plans to develop Belum Forest into an eco-tourism destination will be

subjected to various environmental conditions to ensure that the natural

heritage of the forest is undisturbed, said the Menteri Besar of Perak.

The project, he said, would in no way affect the forest physically but would

be in accordance with regulations set out by the Department of Environment,

including the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment report.

In developing Belum, the State Government will ensure that conditions by

Unesco are adhered to and will get the views from non-governmental

organisations and environmentalists before embarking on any development.

Belum Forest and four other locations ( Taman Negara Endau Rompin in Pahang,

the historical city of Malacca, the Niah Caves in Miri and the Sarawak-West

Kalimantan border) have been nominated by Unesco to be included in the

World Heritage List.

The plan to build hotels and chalets near Belum would not affect the forest

as the project would be implemented at Banding Island which fronts Belum.

The site for the development at the island covers some 2 000ha. Apart from

hotels and chalets, a landing strip will be built to enable light amphibious

aircraft to land at Tasek Banding.

Belum, rich in flora and fauna, covers some 100 000ha and is located north

of the East-West highway connecting Grik in Hulu Perak to Jeli in Kelantan.

Scientists have discovered more then 20 new species of orchids, flies,

flowers and prawns at Belum. There are river, salt licks, hot springs and

an Orang Asli settlement.

 

New Straits Times - Their days are numbered

Admitting that stray dogs are a growing menace, especially in residential

areas, the Seremban Municipal Council has reactivated its dog unit. Since

early this year, the unit has destroyed more than 360 unlicensed dogs in

such operations following complaints from the public. Under the Local

Government Act l976, residents of housing estates are allowed to hold only

two dog licences.

 

 

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