news from Malaysia

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The New Straits Times

 

Lower Segama to be gazetted

Roy Goh

 

KOTA KINABALU, May 18:

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More than 2,500 hectares of wetlands in the east coast districts of Lahad

Datu will be gazetted for wildlife conservation.

 

The State Cabinet’s approval today to gazette Lower Segama is to help

preserve the area and allow indigenous communities to continue living there.

 

As a wildlife conservation area under the State Wildlife Conservation

Enactment, indigenous communities are allowed to use the natural resources

for daily use.

 

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who announced this after the weekly

State Cabinet meeting, said Lower Segama was known for its high density of

wildlife, particularly proboscis monkeys.

 

" At the same time, we recognise the importance of the area as a source of

living for the indigenous Tidung community, hence the decision to gazette it

as a wildlife conservation area, " he said.

 

" It will also connect the Tabin (120,000ha) and Kulamba (20,000ha) wildlife

reserves, " he said. The two wildlife reserves were gazetted in 1984.

 

Unlike wildlife conservation areas, wildlife reserves under the State

Forestry Enactment prohibit the extraction of natural resources without

permission from the authorities.

 

Musa believed Lower Segama could be turned into an eco-tourism attraction

with long-term benefits for indigenous communities.

 

State Wildlife Department officer Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said the

conservation area encompassed three villages: Kampung Dagat, Kampung Tidung

and Kampung Parit.

 

He said studies of the area had been carried out under the Bornean

Biodiversity and Ecosystems Conservation programme, a joint initiative

between the State Government, Universiti Ma- laysia Sabah and the Japan

International Co-operation Agency.

 

The Lower Segama will be the second wildlife conservation area after Pulau

Langkayan in Sandakan.

 

 

 

Star Tortoise to join protected species list

Nisha Sabanayagam

 

PETALING JAYA, May 18:

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The Indian Star Tortoise is an endangered reptile that is protected in

India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and its export beyond these borders is

banned.

Yet these cute creatures measuring between four and 12cm are found by the

dozens in many local pet stores.

 

Wildlife experts say their small size allows them to be smuggled into the

country in carry-on luggage and even handbags.

 

Pet-store owners are content that the long arm of the law will not be

reaching for them, because the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 allows the sale

of the tortoises in this country.

 

The Star Tortoise is listed in Appendix II of the Convention of

International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES),

strictly regulating their trade as they are in danger of becoming extinct.

 

The ornate yellow starlike pattern on the tortoise’s dark shell and its

small size makes it a popular pet worldwide, and hence it has become a

target for the illegal international trade.

 

In their home countries, the tortoise population is declining due to this as

well as the loss of their habitat.

 

A 2003 report by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network,

conservatively estimated that 10,000 to 20,000 Star Tortoises were taken

from the wilds yearly in India.

 

A check on pet stores in the Klang Valley showed brisk trade in these

reptiles.

 

Wildlife Department Enforcement Director Misliah Bashir said that the

department had not issued any licences or permits for the tortoises to be

brought into the country for commercial purposes.

 

The department has identified a few pet stores dealing with these animals

and plans to amend the legislation by the end of the year to include the

Indian Star Tortoise on its protected species list.

 

" Once this is done, we will ensure that action is taken against pet stores

selling them and individuals owning them without a permit, " said Misliah.

 

Chris R. Shepherd, regional programme officer for TRAFFIC, said he was happy

that Malaysia planned to amend its Wildlife Act to include tortoises and

turtles in its list of protected species.

 

" We urge the public to stop buying them and the Customs to be more

vigilant. "

 

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