Guest guest Posted May 24, 2005 Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling. Comment from sender: This article is from The Star Online URL: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/5/22/focus/10977334 & sec=focus ________________________ Sunday May 22, 2005 Licence to trap snakes not logical WE are concerned about the Kedah Wildlife Department's offer to issue temporary licences to snake-catchers in a move to control the snake population, “Snake population up in Kedah” (The Star, May 13). The species cited for trapping are ular senduk (cobra), ular tedung selar (king cobra) and ular sawa (python). All of these are CITES II-listed and should be protected, especially as their high commercial value already gives an incentive for trappers to catch them, with or without a licence. This initiative is worrying when so little is known of their breeding behaviour. No study has ever been carried out on the populations of wild snakes, so there is no data on the likely impact that such collection and trade will have on them. Phang Fatt Khow, chairman of the Malaysian Nature Society, Kedah branch, works in the padi industry and has noted: “There is one thing I know about ? snakes in padi field ecology: they are the predators of rats and they keep the rat population down. “We have not had serious rat damage on the padi crop for a long time. Snakes of all species living in the rat burrows play an important role in keeping the rat population in check. “When the rat population is down, so also will be the snake population.” Other countries, such as India, have in the past over-harvested or exterminated snakes in agricultural areas and, as a result, suffered major financial problems (and food shortages) due to a massive increase in rats. Such thoughtless authorisation to trap environmentally beneficial animals may have serious consequences. Obviously we sympathise with victims of snakebite and their families, but going on a killing rampage is not the solution. Constant vigilance is required, especially where children are concerned. But killing all the snakes in the state will have a serious economic impact on padi farmers and the local economy. It also contravenes the laws on protected species. ANGELA HIJJAS Chairman Malaysian Nature Society Selangor Branch HURNAIN HAMID Co-ordinator of the Herpetofauna Special Interest Group Malaysian Nature Society Selangor Branch PHANG FATT KHOW Chairman Malaysian Nature Society Kedah Branch <p> ________________________ Your one-stop information portal: The Star Online http://thestar.com.my http://biz.thestar.com.my http://classifieds.thestar.com.my http://cards.thestar.com.my http://search.thestar.com.my http://star-motoring.com http://star-space.com http://star-jobs.com http://star-ecentral.com http://star-techcentral.com 1995-2004 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Star Publications is prohibited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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