Wildlife protection improving in Sarawak

Philip Hii The Star 26 Aug 10;

GREATER awareness on conservation and protection of wildlife has resulted in fewer animals being hunted for food.

Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) general manager for protected areas and biodiversity conservation Wilfred Landong said that SFC’s conservation programme had been effective in the state’s vast rural areas.

“We have developed a team of honorary wildlife rangers to assist us in enforcing the law and raising awareness on the importance of protecting and conserving our wildlife,” Landong told reporters after receiving 19 protected animals and eight totally-protected animals from Lai Lee Siew.

Lai, who has caught more than 2,000 snakes and hundreds of other wild animals upon public request, is nicknamed as Snake King of Sibu.

He keeps the caught animals in his house before releasing them into the wild.

Landong said there were more than 800 honorary wildlife rangers who worked closely with SFC in the conservation programme.

Some wildlife offences were reported to SFC by the honorary rangers, he added.

“The rangers have a multiplying effect as they educate people on wildlife protection and conservation in their respective communities,” he explained.

He said that Lai would be named as an honorary wildlife ranger because of his noble intention to save and protect wildlife.

“We will work closely with Lai in Sibu. He has special skills in catching snakes and other wild animals,” Landong said.

In the simple ceremony at Bukit Lima Forest Park near here, Lai handed over eight terrapins, two estuarine crocodiles, two reticulated pythons, five spitting cobras, two king cobras, four long-tailed macaques and four pig-tailed macaques to SFC.

The animals will be rehabilitated at the Matang Wildlife Centre for three to six months before being released.

Landong reminded the public that it was an offence to keep protected and totally-protected wildlife.

He said, under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance, the maximum penalty for offenders was three years’ jail with a fine of RM50,000, or both.