JOHOR BAHARU, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- The mangrove swamps of Kampung Sungai Melayu and Kuala Sungai Skudai near here have been identified as a habitat for the Milky Stork, a bird species listed as near extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) technical adviser (Johor branch) Vincent Chow said the state government should utilise the Milky Stork (Myceteria cinerea) by turning the mangrove swamps into a tourist attraction.
"Eighteen Milky Storks had been sighted in Kampung Sungai Melayu and Kuala Sungai Skudai. There are only about 5,000 Milky Storks worldwide and their number is fast declining," he told Bernama here today.
The Milky Storks could also be found in Larut, Perak where only two birds had been sighted.
The migratory bird had been sighted in Johor and Pahang (1980s), Melaka (1940s), Selangor (1930s) and Kedah in 1907.
Milky Storks could also be found in five other countries including Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.
Chow said the state government should ensure that development near mangrove swamps did not destroy the natural habitat of the Milky Stork.
The bird habitat is within the Danga Island Villas luxury housing project bought mostly by foreigners.
He said the Milky Storks made Kampung Sungai Melayu and Kuala Sungai Skudai mangrove swamps their home because of the abundant source of food particularly "ikan belacak" (mudskippers).
"We hope the state government and developer can cooperate with MSN and the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) to conduct a scientific study on the Milky Stork habitat in the area," he added.
The mangrove swamps were also visited by other migrant birds including the Painted Stork (Myceteria leucocephala) which could be found in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.
Chow said MNS also believed that the Milky Stork and Painted Stork had created a hybrid bird species in the mangrove swamps.
-- BERNAMA