(MY) - Flying Fox killings

[Guest guest]

New Straits Times » Local

 

Concern over flying fox killings - 26th Sept 2005

Neville Spykerman

 

SEGAMAT, JOHOR,

--

 

Malaysian flying foxes, the largest fruit bat species and flying mammal, are

being hunted in huge numbers for their meat, medicinal and aphrodisiac

properties.

A glut in this year’s fruiting season in northern Johor drew a record number

of flying foxes to orchards in Labis near here. Residents said hunters were

also out in force during the season.

 

Johor Parks Corporation wildlife officer Chew Keng Lin, who is based at the

Endau Rompin National Park near Bekok, said this season was the first time

in a decade that the flying foxes have been seen in the area in huge

numbers.

 

But the large number of them being shot in orchards in the area was

disturbing.

 

Chew said as the animals were being shot outside the park boundary, he had

no authority to intervene.

 

Ali Daud from Kampung Tenang, about 20km from Labis, said that the hunters

who arrived at the tail end of the durian season in July, literally made a

killing.

 

" A single hunter can kill between 70 and 80 flying foxes a night, " he said.

 

Johor Wildlife Department director Abdul Razak, however, said the flying

foxes were regarded as pests by many orchard farmers and licences were

issued to control their numbers.

 

He said the licences were issued upon request and each applicant is allowed

to shoot and kill 50 flying foxes during a three-month period.

 

" No more than 100 licences are issued at any one time, " he said.

 

It is learnt that hunters employ various methods to attract the flying

foxes. These include playing a recording of the flying foxes’ call or

scratching a piece of styrofoam against a car window. But the most cruel of

all was catching one and wounding it so its cries would attract others.

 

Malaysian Nature Society (Johor) adviser Vincent Chow said the flying foxes

used to be found in their thousands and their huge numbers could blacken the

sky.

 

Chow said the Wildlife Department should review issuance of licences to

hunters to stop the slaughter.

 

He said laws governing the wildlife were outdated and needed to be be

reviewed.

 

_______________

Get an advanced look at the new version of MSN Messenger.

http://messenger.msn.com.my/Beta/Default.aspx