(MY) letter to editor on tiger kill

[Guest guest]

Malaysiakini.com

 

No political will to save natural heritage

 

2:55pm Wed Aug 14th, 2002

 

It is indeed tragic to learn of the death of victims killed by tigers and

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) sympathised with the families. At the same time

SAM is equally appalled at the merciless killing of a tigress with several

shots by the forest rangers and policemen.

 

It was termed " killer " through no fault of its own but through the callous

action of those who are in possession of firearms for hunting, protection of

crops or for the thrill of shooting. These are the culprits who caused the

death not only of an endangered species but the death of innocent beings.

 

Repeated calls by SAM for a ban on hunting licences have fallen on deaf

ears. SAM is aware of cases of misuse of firearms not only by the public but

also by Rela members, army, politicians and those in high places. It is

impossible for the Wildlife Department and police to keep track of each and

every licensed gun owner in their nefarious activities.

 

Hunting causes stress through such things as break up of family units and

orphaning of young animals. The issuance of licences for all sorts of guns

should be stopped immediately by both the police and Wildlife Department.

There should be a total ban on hunting in sensitive areas where tigers can

be found.

 

Apart from being targets of shooters, voracious human appetite for land have

resulted in vulnerable populations existing only in small fragmented

habitats where their survival is unviable. Small populations consisting of

few individuals have no future while medium-sized population face

elimination due to competition for habitats unless these habitats are

linked by protected 'natural corridors', through which tigers and their

prey may disperse.

 

Major developmental activities are undertaken without adequate study and

care to minimise impacts. Mindless developmental activities are being

permitted in protected forests and are emerging as a major threat to earnest

conservation efforts.

 

These are undertaken without adequate study emerging as a major threat to

conservation efforts. Protected areas are not as 'pristine' as they are

believed to be; developmental and resource-use activities are going on in a

majority of these.

 

Whenever land is opened up for usage for agricultural purposes no assessment

is carried out on the wildlife present in the area and to see what can be

done to minimise impact.

 

Destruction of thick forests has made it easier for poachers to track down

this magnificent animal and all species that share its habitat.

 

Trouble with our country is there is so much human interference in tiger

territory that the animals are perpetually disturbed and displaced. Unlike

turtles and birds, there is no local conservation strategy for tigers.

Reason is because there is no suitable forest area to ensure that the tiger

gets proper food and shelter.

 

The human-tiger conflict has more to do with mismanagement of protected

forests and complete lack of political will by state governments in their

allocation of forests for specific purposes.

 

The last stronghold for tigers are fragmented by dams, highways, land

resettlement schemes, agricultural lands all undertaken without adequate

study and care to minimise impacts.

 

To uproot tigers and place them behind zoos is not a long term solution to

the problem. With no political dedication and interest the battle to save

the tiger will be lost. There is no time to lose in saving our big cats.

 

This warrants urgent action such as the protection of existing tiger

habitats through linkages of core areas with healthy tiger population; the

establishment of a tiger sanctuary/reserves should be considered for the

relocation of trapped tigers; ban hunting licences to ensure the food source

of the tiger is not depleted; and bigger funding in areas of research,

environmental education, instilling awareness, capacity building and

community work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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