Semakau guiding with NUS High
from wonderful creation
Life History of the Studded Sergeant
from Butterflies of Singapore
An Oriental Magpie Robin and a green parakeet
from Bird Ecology Study Group
Barge carrying liquid petroleum products hits Bedok Jetty
from wild shores of singapore
Chek Jawa with the Naked Hermit Crabs
from wild shores of singapore
Beh Lih Yi (AFP) Google News 29 Aug 10;
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia is considering releasing genetically modified mosquitoes designed to combat dengue fever, in a landmark field trial that has come in for criticism from environmentalists.
In the first experiment of its kind in Asia, 2,000-3,000 male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes would be released in two Malaysian states in October or November.
The insects in the study have been engineered so that their offspring quickly die, curbing the growth of the population in a technique researchers hope could eventually eradicate the dengue mosquito altogether.
Females of the Aedes species are responsible for spreading dengue fever, a sometimes deadly illness that has killed 100 people so far this year in Malaysia alone.
The World Health Organization estimates worldwide infections at 50 million annually. Numbers have grown dramatically in recent decades, due to rapid urbanisation and enhanced mobility that has carried the virus further afield.
The proposal field trial follows a series of lab tests conducted in Malaysia since 2006, and the government is seeking public feedback before moving to the next step.
But environmentalists are not convinced, and are concerned the genetically modified (GM) mosquito could fail to prevent dengue and could also have unintended consequences.
"Once you release these GM mosquitoes into the environment, you have no control and it can create more problems than solving them," said Gurmit Singh, head of the Centre for Environment, Technology and Development.
"There are a lot of risks involved," he told AFP.
Singh said the larvae will only die if their environment is free of tetracycline, an antibiotic commonly used for medical and veterinary purposes.
"If the larvae come into contact with the tetracycline, the chances of the larvae surviving is higher than it dying off," he said.
"We don't know how the genetic flow will be affected. The non-targeted species might be adversely affected and increase the risk of ecological harm."
"We shouldn't take the risk, it is better to play safe," Singh said, adding that current measures to contain dengue outbreaks such as spraying insecticides are still effective if enforcement is beefed up.
The field trial for the GM anti-dengue mosquitoes -- which was developed by a British-based insect bio-tech company, Oxitec -- will be undertaken by the Malaysia's Institute for Medical Research, an agency under the health ministry.
The two groups, through their media firm, declined comment on the trial or respond to the environmental concerns, saying it was inappropriate as their "application is now going through the final stages of regulatory scrutiny".
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said on its website that the field trial, if approved, would be conducted on two consecutive days and "in strict adherence to requirements" by the National Biosafety Board.
It said the GM mosquitoes proposed for release contain "a fluorescent molecular marker and a self-limiting construct".
A ministry official confirmed the plan to AFP and said that anti-dengue GM mosquitoes had previously been released in a trial in Cayman Islands in the Caribbean.
Dengue infection leads to a sudden onset of fever with severe headaches, muscle and joint pains, and rashes.
The virus has historically been found in tropical regions, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas, but has spread in recent years to colder and higher places and is now endemic in more than 100 countries.
More people are taking a stand on what they eat, but where do they draw the line between political correctness and politeness?
Sandra Leong, Sunday Times 29 Aug 10;
Whenever Olivia Choong receives an invitation to a wedding, she makes it a point to ask if shark's fin soup is being served. If it is, she skips the occasion.
Both a vegetarian and an anti-shark's fin advocate, she made an exception earlier this year when a persuasive bride-to-be begged her to ease up on her self-imposed ban. But she felt torn.
'In the two weeks that led up to the wedding, all the voices inside my head were saying 'don't go',' she says.
In the end, she presented the bridal couple with a special 'hongbao' at the dinner. Designed by LoveSharks.sg, a local anti-shark's fin group, a message on it urges diners to boycott the delicacy.
'My friends usually give me a polite smile when they accept the 'hongbao',' says Ms Choong, a 31-year-old publicist who is the founder of Green Drinks Singapore, a networking platform for environmentalists.
Fellow environmentalist Jaki Teo, 28, a marketing director for a diving company and the organiser of LoveSharks.sg, also finds herself in similar situations.
She says: 'If it is a business dinner, I would ask to change the venue. Most business associates are very understanding. They are also afraid to make things awkward so they usually try to remove the awkwardness by going somewhere else.'
Things are a 'bit more complicated' if the event is a friend's wedding. 'What I did the last time was tell my friend that many people these days do not consume shark's fin and it would be a waste of money for him to serve it.' she says.
'I also made it very clear that he would get a much smaller 'hongbao' if he served shark's fin.'
Ms Choong and Ms Teo are not alone in their ethical eating approach.
Increasingly more people are taking a stand on what they eat, in a more environmentally concerned world: from rallying against the slaughter of sharks to abstaining from meat to lowering their carbon footprint.
However, it is throwing up a slew of new social dilemmas about drawing the line between ethics and etiquette.
When does turning down a bowl of shark's fin soup at a dinner - or in Ms Choong's case, not attending at all - border on bad manners?
At one end of the spectrum, people whose causes dictate their appetites contend that they should consistently stand up for what they believe in.
At the other end, there is this: between political correctness and politeness, should it not be the latter that takes precedence?
Wealth manager and meat-lover S.K. Tan, 43, attended a wedding where the hosts did not serve meat for ethical reasons. He says: 'I didn't think it was very considerate of the couple. I was hungry even after all the courses.
'People can have their own beliefs but I don't think they should impose them on others.'
At a recent Chinese wedding, nurse Joanne Ng, 27, was seated with two guests who looked aggrieved when shark's fin was served.
'One walked out and came back only after the course was cleared, and the other tried to persuade other people at the table to boycott the dish,' she says.
'I felt they spoilt the party and made it about them rather than the couple.'
Because so many of these awkward situations revolve around the favourite Singaporean pastime of eating and dining out, it seems new social minefields are emerging daily.
There are difficult questions, whatever your beliefs: to attend or not to attend, to serve or not to serve, to speak up or to hold your peace.
A few missteps, such as unveiling a steak and kidney pie at a vegan potluck or telling an 80-year-old Chinese grandfather that eating shark's fin is 'wrong', and you might be committing social suicide.
Ms Choong, for one, knows that her behaviour, from wedding no-shows to perennial requests for meat-free meal options, renders her 'troublesome' to friends and family. 'I have met a lot of men who say they could never date a vegetarian,' she says with a laugh.
But she adds: 'I've come to believe that it is restaurants that sabotage my friendships and family ties�since they are the ones depriving vegetarians of variety.'
Etiquette consultant Raelene Tan says friction might occur in communal settings because these days 'people are more outspoken and are not afraid to air their views, no matter how controversial they may be'.
'Previously, people were more mindful of keeping the peace and toeing the line.'
As far as dinner party etiquette is concerned, the practical answer is that it all depends, says Ms Tan. She believes it is the prerogative of the host to serve what he wants. Special requests from guests are acceptable for religious, medical or ethical reasons, but 'fads and fancies have no place'.
And as for speaking up, walking out or other statements of protest, it is best to do so without any fuss or fanfare. Disrupting the occasion is a big no-no, she adds. (See story on facing page)
Music producer Clarence Tan and communications specialist Ng Shwu Huey, both in their 30s, might have to brace themselves for potential awkwardness. The couple are planning an all-vegetarian wedding dinner in February next year at One Rochester.
Mr Tan is vegan, which means he does not take meat and dairy products. Ms Ng is vegetarian but also an 'aspiring vegan', she says.
They are inviting about 180 guests to sample a vegetarian buffet featuring Asian and Western cuisines.
Both members of Singapore's Vegetarian Society, they are against the killing of animals for food. 'If we serve meat at our wedding, that would be the biggest cop-out,' says Mr Tan. 'Certainly there will be people who mind but we have to live by our principles. If we bend in every direction, we would find it hard to live with ourselves.'
Ms Ng adds: 'It's our wedding. We don't want to have blood on our hands.'
Though they faced 'some resistance' from their non-vegetarian parents, the couple hope to show non-believers that vegetarian fare is more than just greens and tofu. 'It can actually be very sumptuous,' says Ms Ng.
Mr Tan says: 'It's also a chance to show the venue that there is demand for vegetarian food. And if our guests didn't come for our reception, they would be having a non-vegetarian dinner somewhere. So this is a chance for them to explore a new culinary experience.
'If you go to a Malay wedding, you wouldn't say 'I'm Chinese, serve me pork' would you? You usually respect the customs and beliefs of the host.'
Both camps make fair points. But one question to ponder is: Has the ethical eating movement gone overboard into militant activism?
Apart from being picky about menus at social events, another perception of anti- shark's fin/foie gras/bluefin tuna/red meat advocates is that they like talking your ear off about the world's problems.
People come first
Mr Michael Ma, 42, chief executive officer of the IndoChine group, is a campaigner against unsustainable foods such as shark's fin and bluefin tuna, whose stocks are rapidly being eradicated. He admits: 'I can be militant.'
He says: 'I can give figures and statistics about all these creatures, but I believe debate is education.'
If he is invited to a meal, he makes his food preferences known to the host beforehand. And if an audience is keen, he seizes the opportunity to spread the word. 'I usually ask the person how many kids they have and ask if they think it's fair that their kids won't get to see endangered animals anymore.'
Mr John Thet, 40, publisher and managing director of Asian Geographic Magazines, is another passionate environmentalist whose tough standards might raise eyebrows.
He makes his staff of 22 swear off eating shark's fin and any other endangered animal species. The pledge is listed as an actual term in their employment contracts, which staff sign before joining the company.
Mr Victor Ow, 43, the company's accounts and human resource manager who signed the contract, says: 'The staff are usually surprised but not taken aback. And we rely on self-enforcement. What you do outside, we can't control but most of us do believe in the cause.'
Asked whether he is taking advocacy one step too far, Mr Thet says: 'We don't force anyone. Most of my staff agree anyway. I never encourage hardcore campaigning because it just pushes people away.'
As tour agent Grant Pereira, 61, who is adviser and educational coordinator for Asia for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, puts it: 'There are plenty of militants out there. But I would not react to their ranting and raving.'
He has not touched shark's fin, abalone, bluefin tuna, sea cucumber and other endangered sea life for 25 years. He says: 'It's best to make your point firmly and quietly. People don't react well to grandstanding.'
Indeed, mutual tolerance and restraint seem to be the way to go.
Take lecturer George Jacobs, 58, a vegan of 30 years, and his wife, private banker Fong Cheng Hong, 50. After 20 years of marriage, she still loves her meat.
Describing her husband as 'very liberal', Madam Fong says: 'By the time I met him, I was set in my ways. I wish I could change but I can't. All I can do is to try to reduce my meat intake.'
The couple make daily compromises. They have smoothies for breakfast and a simple vegetarian meal for dinner. But at their separate lunch hours, she is free to eat meat.
She does not expect him to prepare meat for her but says: 'Even if we invite friends over, we rarely have vegetarian as most of them are meat lovers.'
'We emphasise the social, not the food,' says Mr Jacobs, who is president of the Vegetarian Society.
Researcher Jared Tham, 32, believes in the concept of 'virtual water', choosing what food to eat depending on how much water has been used to process it. He tries to stay away from beef, for example, because too much water - 10,000 litres to be exact - is needed to fuel the production process behind just 1kg of the meat.
Thinking over the ethics-etiquette debate, he says: 'My personal preferences should affect just me. They should not go as far as to impact other people. At the end of the day, my relationships with people are more important.'
To eat or not to eat
Here is why green eaters find some foods unethical:
Shark's fin
Of the 100 million sharks killed annually, over 70 million are killed solely for their fins, some reports say. Activists claim the creatures are killed inhumanely - their fins are removed while they are still alive and their finless bodies thrown back into the sea for a slow death.
With over 90 per cent of the world's large shark population wiped out, many species face extinction if they continue to be hunted for their fins.
Bluefin tuna
Their stocks, mainly Atlantic, Pacific and southern bluefin tuna, have depleted rapidly over the years. The Japanese market for sushi and sashimi accounts for about 40 per cent of consumption.
If overfishing carries on, the bluefin tuna population will soon become extinct.
Meat
Some animal lovers believe it is not their moral right to eat meat, others are against the cruelty of the slaughtering practices.
Environmentalists who go vegetarian or vegan are concerned about the amount of energy used in the production processes of meat. For example, it has been said that producing 1kg of beef creates more greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution than driving a car for three hours while leaving the lights on at home.
What's the beef?
Etiquette expert Raelene Tan weighs in on some sticky situations. Is it acceptable to...
# Decline an invitation to a wedding dinner where shark's fin is being served?
Not quite, says Ms Tan. This might make it seem as if 'the food to be served is more important than the reason for the event, which is the wedding of friends and relatives'.
# Excuse yourself when the shark's fin course is served?
'If a guest feels so strongly, it should be done without fuss or fanfare, without any mention of why he is taking momentary leave,' she says.
# Speak up about the slaughter of sharks or other unethical means used in the obtaining of food items, when you are a dinner guest?
Yes, if in a light-hearted manner. But if you are the confrontational sort who might upset people, it might be better not to go in the first place.
She says: 'A guest's role is to be supportive of the host and hostess. If the conversation leans towards a particular pet cause, the guest should respect others' thoughts and agree to disagree when necessary.'
# Throw an all-vegetarian wedding dinner even if most of your guests are omnivorous?
The style of the wedding dinner, including the menu, is the prerogative of the bridal couple.
Guests should be informed so they can make appropriate arrangements, like having a light dinner beforehand if they are not keen on vegetables. The red packet can be adjusted according to the perceived value of the meal and venue.
However, she adds: 'The money is meant as a gift, not to pay for your attendance.'
# Call ahead of a dinner party to request a special meal option?
This is acceptable only if the request is made for religious, medical or strong ethical reasons.
'Fads and fancies have no place. It is easy to avoid eating something that is not appealing, without alerting anyone to the fact,' she says.
A seasoned host should always check guests' dietary requirements in advance.
But disclosure of social and environmental aspects of business not mandatory for now
Jonathan Kwok Straits Times 29 Aug 10;
The Singapore Exchange (SGX) is going green.
It is encouraging all listed firms to undertake 'sustainability reporting' - or the disclosure of the social and environmental aspects of their business - and has issued guidelines regarding this.
'Investors who lead world opinion expect listed companies to be accountable for their financial results, how they achieve the results, and what impact they have on the communities within which they operate,' said a regulatory announcement yesterday.
But SGX added that this disclosure of the social and environmental aspects of a listed company's business will not be mandatory at this stage.
Still, mandatory rules could be developed in future as more companies adopt such reporting.
The guidelines come amid allegations from environmental group Greenpeace that a unit of locally listed Golden Agri-Resources had cleared forests illegally in Indonesia.
Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology (Smart), which operates all oil palm plantations for Golden Agri, has refuted these allegations after conducting independent reviews by certification bodies and forestry experts.
SGX made no mention of the incident yesterday, adding only that the disclosures on sustainability of operations are particularly relevant for 'companies susceptible to environmental risks'.
These include oil and gas and mining companies, as well as those that produce significant pollutants, like chemical and apparel firms.
Firms that use natural resources heavily - such as palm oil producers and forestry companies - should also look at issuing reports, said the exchange.
SGX suggested that the disclosures should highlight companies' policies regarding sustainability issues and contain assessments of the risks or impacts of the companies' operations.
It added that companies can follow internationally established frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Reporting Framework.
The SGX guidelines were issued in conjunction with its annual Investor Day yesterday.
As SGX celebrated 10 years as a listed company, some 700 shareholders of the exchange gathered at the Suntec ballroom yesterday to hear from its top executives.
An afternoon panel session was also open to the general public, as were investment talks and an exhibition.
Mr David Gerald, president of the Securities Investors Association of Singapore (Sias), welcomed the SGX guidelines.
'Globally, there is a move towards recognising the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR). So it's timely that SGX is paying attention to such issues,' he said.
Mr Gerald added that Sias itself has decided that from next year, it will be giving attention to CSR practices in selecting companies for its Corporate Governance Awards.
There has been an increasing focus in the region on CSR practices. In 2007, Malaysia legislated that all companies listed on Bursa Malaysia must report on their CSR efforts, including the impact of their businesses on the environment.
Some companies listed in Singapore have already been issuing sustainability reports. These include Banyan Tree Holdings, Keppel Land, City Developments and Sembcorp Industries.
But not everyone is sold on the idea of companies reporting on their own environmental and social efforts.
'Wherever your operations are, whether in Australia or China, you will have to comply with the regulations there anyway. I don't see much value added to investors or to the company in issuing additional reports,' said Mr Edwin Goh, chief financial officer of China Animal Healthcare, which has plants in China producing drugs to combat diseases linked to animals.
Mr Goh said his company has not issued sustainability reports, but noted that before being awarded a licence to manufacture drugs, the Chinese authorities would have already inspected his firm's plants to ensure compliance with various requirements, including those related to the environment.
Report environmental, social risks, firms told
SGX also proposes listed firms follow a set of sustainability reporting guidelines
Jamie Lee, Business Times 30 Aug 10;
LISTED companies have been prompted by the Singapore Exchange (SGX) to manage and declare business risks linked to environmental and social issues.
In the wake of fresh allegations against Golden Agri-Resources over illegal forest clearing in Indonesia, SGX also noted that companies should disclose sustainability issues related to the firm if such matters have a material impact on the firm's share price.
The SGX has proposed that listed companies follow a set of guidelines on sustainability reporting, it said in a regulatory statement on Saturday.
Sustainability reporting is not compulsory at this point, with SGX noting that it would take a 'progressive approach' in deciding whether to make such reporting mandatory.
'As more companies become inspired to adopt sustainability reporting, it will be natural to take the next step on guidelines and standards leading to rules,' SGX said, adding that it encourages listed firms to adopt and continually improve on sustainability practices and reporting.
It said that listed companies should consider the environmental and social risks as part of its risk management framework, as well as mitigate and report such risks to stakeholders.
SGX listed some sectors that are more relevant to sustainability reporting - such as the oil & gas companies, palm oil producers and chemical firms - and said that a listing applicant is expected to disclose critical information linked to sustainability risks.
It added that a company should disclose information on matters relating to environmental and social risks, if it has a material effect on its share price, or if it has a long-term impact on the business performance.
'Should there be no sustainability impact, a negative statement would be informative,' SGX added.
The method used to evaluate such risks should be aligned with a performance measurement system that allows the company to compare its own sustainability efforts against stated objective and the efforts of other firms, SGX noted.
SGX highlighted the Global Reporting Initiative reporting framework - touted to be used most widely around the world - as a reference for companies.
Under this framework, companies ought to describe the most important risks from sustainability trends and indicate targets set to overcome them.
Palm oil producer Golden Agri-Resources came under fire recently after its subsidiary PT Smart was accused by Greenpeace of destroying orang-utan habitats and clearing forests without permits in its homeland Indonesia.
This led major palm oil buyers such as Unilever, Kraft and Nestle to stop buying palm oil from Golden Agri, though PT Smart has rejected these allegations.
Companies such as Keppel Land and City Developments are part of the handful of firms in Singapore that issue sustainability reports.
Lizard King animal smuggler snared
AFP Sydney Morning Herald 28 Aug 10;
Malaysia has arrested a notorious wildlife smuggler after the man tried to smuggle about 100 live snakes to neighbouring Indonesia, police and reports say.
Anson Wong, who has earned the nickname of Lizard King for smuggling wildlife, in particular reptiles, was detained by police at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Thursday night.
Wong, reportedly in his 50s, was nabbed after airline staff were alerted to a piece of broken luggage that was found to contain live snakes of various species.
International wildlife smuggler held at KLIA
Serean Lau, Ong Han Sean, Lee Yen Mun and Andrew Sagayam The Star 28 Aug 10;
SEPANG: A man, believed to be international wildlife trader Anson Wong, has been detained at the KL International Airport following the seizure of more than 90 snakes from various species.
It is learnt that the man was in transit from Penang to Jakarta on Thursday when he was detained by Malaysia Airlines staff, who had been alerted after a piece of luggage was reported broken. The snakes were found inside the bag.
According to a government official, 95 of the snakes are believed to be boa constrictors, two are suspected to be rhinoceros vipers and one is believed to be a matamata turtle.
Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed that a man named Anson Wong was picked up at 8.50pm on Aug 26, by airport security for allegedly trying to smuggle snakes. He has been remanded until Tuesday.
“We have handed the person over to Perhilitan (Wildlife and National Parks Department) for further investigations,” he said.
It had been reported by The Star in February that Wong had been linked to a Dec 15 seizure in the United States of various types of animals from an exotic animal outlet.
Two of the trader’s companies were found to have been supplying animals to the outlet.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) had claimed that CBS Wildlife and Sungai Rusa Wildlife, both owned by Wong, were supplying various types of animals and wildlife to US Global Exotics (USGE).
Wong pleaded guilty to trafficking in wildlife in the US and was sentenced to 71 months’ jail in 2000.
Boas, vipers and mata-mata turtle among smuggler’s loot
Teh Eng Hock The Star 29 Aug 10;
PETALING JAYA: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has confirmed detaining international wildlife trader Anson Wong at the KL International Airport (KLIA) on Aug 26.
Wong’s luggage broke on the conveyor belt and, upon inspection by Malaysia Airlines personnel, many snakes and a turtle were found, the department said in a press statement yesterday.
Perhilitan was then contacted and officers found 95 boa constrictors, two rhinoceros vipers and a mata-mata turtle.
The statement said Wong would be remanded until Aug 31 to facilitate investigation.
It is learnt that he was on transit from Penang to Jakarta when he was caught.
He has a record for wildlife trafficking and was jailed in the United States for 71 months in 2000.
The statement added that the boa constrictor was listed in Appendix II of the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 and Wong could be fined a maximum of RM100,000 for each animal or imprisoned up to seven years or both.
Wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC and World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia want the authorities to probe Wong for trading illegally in wildlife.
Commending the authorities on the arrest of Wong, they urged Malaysia to strictly enforce the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008, a legislation that regulates international trade of wild animals and plants.
“This matter cannot be taken lightly. Malaysia must rise to the challenge to rival those fearlessly involved in wildlife smuggling.
“Their attempt at mocking Malaysia’s legal system must be dealt with head-on.
“There is no excuse to be lax on a criminal offence of any nature,” said TRAFFIC Southeast Asia senior programme officer Kanitha Krishnasamy.
WWF Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Dr Dionysious Sharma said that as a convicted wildlife smuggler, Wong should be given the maximum penalty under the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) Act, including revoking all his permits to trade wildlife if found guilty.
“We look forward to the Wildlife Department and the Malaysian judiciary working together to prosecute this offender to the full extent of the law,” he said.
Enforce CITES Act, clamp down illegal wildlife trade
WWF 28 Aug 10;
Kuala Lumpur, 28 August - The opportunity has arrived for Malaysia to step up and put an end to illegal wildlife smugglers thriving in Malaysia; sullying the name of the country.
TRAFFIC Southeast Asia and WWF-Malaysia commend the Malaysia Airlines security staff and other enforcement authorities for being vigilant and successfully defeating yet another attempt for smuggling wildlife.
This case is yet another manifestation of Malaysia’s role as an illegal wildlife hub; be it as a source, destination or transit point.
A species from the Americas, the Boa Constrictor for which known wildlife trader Anson Wong was found with, is listed under Schedule One of Malaysia’s International Trade in Endangered Species in Act, for which trade is prohibited and regulated accordingly. Wong was also found with what is believed to be Rhinoceros Vipers and a Mata Mata Turtle. All Boa constrictors are listed in Appendix I or II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), and is therefore regulated or prohibited from international commercial trade.
Malaysia officials are urged to enforce its International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008, a legislation that regulates international trade of wild animals and plants. Under Section 12 of the Act, any person who is found in possession of a scheduled species commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine of up to RM 1 million, or to imprisonment for a term of up to seven years.
“This matter cannot be taken lightly. Malaysia must rise to the challenge to rival those involved in wildlife smuggling. Their attempt at cheating Malaysia’s legal system must be dealt with head-on.” said Kanitha Krishnasamy, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Senior Programme Officer. “There is no excuse to be lax on a criminal offence of any nature”.
This offence can be further penalised under Section 13 for individuals found to be in transit with a scheduled species, and Section 10 for exporting or importing scheduled species without a permit. Offenders can be punished through multiple charges under the law.
“As a convicted wildlife smuggler who was imprisoned in the U.S federal prison for 71 months, Anson Wong should be given the maximum penalty under the CITES Act, including revocation of all his permits to trade wildlife should he be found guilty, again. We look forward to the Wildlife Department and the Malaysian judiciary working together to prosecute this offender to the full extent of the law,” said Datuk Dr Dionysious Sharma, CEO of WWF-Malaysia.
As was made clear in the recent prosecution of two Malagasy women smuggling CITES- listed species, Malaysia no longer tolerates crimes of this sort. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia and WWF-Malaysia strongly urge that further investigations be carried out to clamp-down all establishments linked to this case and other operations that could possibly be used as a front for illegal wildlife trade.
Malaysia uncovers nearly 100 live reptiles in bag
Reuters 30 Aug 10;
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian airport security arrested a convicted wildlife smuggler after finding almost 100 live reptiles in his luggage, the country's Wildlife and National Parks Department said.
Anson Wong, already convicted of trafficking in wildlife in the United States, was in transit from the Malaysian island state of Penang to the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Thursday when Malaysia Airlines staff at Kuala Lumpur airport were alerted to a bag that had broken while on a conveyor belt.
The department, in a statement issued late on Saturday, said its enforcement officers found 95 boa constrictors, two rhinoceros vipers and a matamata turtle inside the luggage.
Boa constrictors are subject to regulations or a complete ban in international commercial trade as they are listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
The statement said Wong would remain in detention for two days. Under Malaysian law, if found guilty, he could face seven years in jail and fines of up to 100,000 ringgit ($32,000) for each animal or both.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Wong had previously pleaded guilty to a trafficking in the United States in 2001 and was sentenced to 71 months in jail.
TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring organization, said Malaysia must "rise to the challenge" of confronting new evidence of its role as an hub for those engaged in wildlife smuggling.
"Their attempt at mocking Malaysia's legal system must be dealt with head-on," said Kanitha Krishnasamy, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Senior Programme Officer.
On Friday, Thai customs officials found a two-month-old tiger stashed in a bag filled with tiger toys which had been checked in for an international passenger flight.
(Reporting by Royce Cheah; Editing by Ron Popeski)
(AFP) Google News 29 Aug 10;
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian marine police said Sunday they had seized 6,250 turtle eggs smuggled in from a neighbouring country to be sold on the island of Borneo as a delicacy.
Gan Ping Sin, the marine police chief of Sandakan, in Borneo's eastern state of Sabah, said the eggs, worth 11,250 ringgit (3,580 dollars), were seized in an operation on Friday.
"The turtle eggs were seized from a boat in the Malaysian water during our operation but the boat operator managed to escape," Gan told AFP.
"We believe the eggs are smuggled in from a neighbouring country," he said but refused to identify which one.
The turtle eggs have been handed to wildlife authorities, Gan said, vowing to step up police operations in the area which he said had seen "quite rampant" turtle egg smuggling.
Turtle eggs are openly sold in markets in parts of Malaysia. Turtles once arrived in their thousands to lay their eggs on Malaysian beaches but are now increasingly rare due to poaching and coastal development.
Under Malaysian law, it is illegal to collect turtle eggs without a permit from the fisheries department but steady demand for turtle products and eggs in Southeast Asia continues to drive the illegal trade.
This prompted environmental group WWF to launch a campaign to stop Malaysians eating turtles in April last year, in a bid to help save stocks of the sea creatures.
Antara 28 Aug 10;
Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - In dealing with Sumatran tiger attacks to housing complexes in Sumatra island, the Forestry Ministry planned to move the endangered species to three national parks, an official said.
"We have prepared three national parks as new home to the tigers," Director General of Conservatory Forest`s Security, Darori, said here on Saturday after attending the release of a previously captured Sumatran tiger to the Bukit Barisan Selatan national park area.
Darori said the three new habitats for the existing Sumatran tiger were Kerinci Seblat national park (Jambi province), Gunung Leuser national park (Aceh province) and Bukit Barisan Selatan national park (Lampung province).
He said the three parks covered a vast areas about 2 million hectares in average that the tigers would not have food shortage. Sufficient food, Darori said, would avoid the tigers from trying to enter people`s house to look for something to eat.
Previously, the Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said Indonesia which was known as a mega biodiversity country had recently witnessed a shrink in the population of its rare species due to deforestation.
He said the number of Indonesia`s endangered animals such as Sumatran tigers, Javanese rhinoceroses, and orangutans has dwindled because of deforestation activities conducted by the private sector as well as local communities.
The minister said the number of Sumatran tigers which was 800 heads in 2005, now is only around 400, while the Javanese tiger has totally become extinct.
The population of Sumatran elephants, which was 8,000 heads in 2000, now is only 2,000, and rhinoceros, which was about 40-50, is around 60 heads currently.
In order to help preserve the rare species, the forestry ministry has planned to develop 30 million hectares areas into forest conservation ones, according to the minister.
The ministry has also launched primary forests covering 43 million hectares, he said.
"These (primary) forests could not be converted into other purposes and it should be declared moratorium," he said.
Sumatran Tiger has rehabilitation in Lampung
Antara 28 Aug 10;
Bengkulu, Sumatra (ANTARA News) - A Sumatran tiger (Panthera Tigris Sumatrae), called Mekar, will undergo rehabilitation at Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park in Lampung Province.
Mekar was flown on a Cassa aircraft from Benkulu to Tambling in Lampung on Saturday morning for rehabilitation after having a treatment for more than one month at Bengkulu`s Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).
"The tiger will have rehabilitation at Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park after being treated for more than a month at BKSDA in Bengkulu," Directorate General of Forest and Natural Conservation (PHKA) spokesman Daroni said here on Saturday.
He said the future of Mekar was more promising in the 45-hectare national park in Tambling, Lampung, which was supported by Arta Graha group of business tycoon Tommy Winata.
A day earlier before being flown to Tambling, Mekar`s health condition was checked by a medical team from BKSDA and Indonesia Safari Garden.
Daroni said the two-year old tiger is 185 centimeters long, 77 centimeters tall, and weighs 63 kg.
"We have made an overall check to the tiger to examine its blood, heart, and physical condition and we found that it has been fit enough to undergo rehabilitation in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park," BKSDA veterinarian Erniyanti Musabine said.
BKSDA team from Bengkulu caught the tiger on July 11, 2010 at Mekar Jaya village in Seluma district, Jambi, and called it Mekar.
When the tiger was caught, it was suffering from dehydration, so the team had it treated by BKSDA.
Eras Poke Jakarta Post 27 Aug 10;
Kupang. Indonesia’s official compensation claim of Rp 22 trillion ($2.44 billion) for last year’s oil spill in the Timor Sea is grossly inadequate, activists say.
“We strongly reject the amount because it is not based on scientific research,” said Ferdy Tanoni, head of the West Timor Care Foundation, which has been lobbying on behalf of fishermen affected by the spill.
“If the environmental damage turns out to be more than Rp 22 trillion, who’s going pay the deficit? The local government does not have the money to cover it.”
Indonesia’s negotiating team on Wednesday presented the claim to Thailand’s state-controlled PTT Exploration and Production.
Its subsidiary, PTTEP Australasia, was operating the Montara oil rig when it caught fire off Australia’s northern coast in August last year and leaked about 400 barrels of oil a day for 74 days.
Indonesia claims the spill has affected large areas off East Nusa Tenggara, with fishermen reporting significantly lower catches.
However, PTTEP chief executive Anon Sirisaengtaksin said the energy firm and the Indonesian government had major differences over what the economic impact would be for fisheries and coastal communities.
The company has said “no verifiable evidence has yet to be presented to support any claim.”
Transport Minister Freddy Numberi, who is also head of the team handling the oil spill, said compensation was now being negotiated.
“The important thing is that we have already made our claims and there will now be other meetings which I hope will not last a long time,” he said.
But Ferdy said the government should have taken longer to determine how much compensation it was going to claim because about 1.5 million people in East Nusa Tenggara were depending on it.
“To clean up a 3,400-square-kilometer area of the ocean in Alaska contaminated by the Exxon Valdes tanker explosion in 1989 they spent $3.6 billion,” he said. “But for Timor sea incident, which spread across 78,000 square kilometers, the figure is only Rp 22 trillion?
“The Alaska incident happened 21 years ago but the impact is still being felt.”
Ferdy said that if in five years it was found that the 1.5 million people in the province were still eating contaminated fish, the government would not be able to press for more money.
“We have formed the Timor Sea pollution monitoring agency which will deliver its own claims,” he said.
“This agency consists of ocean experts from universities in the province, Australia and France. We will be sending the claim to them on September 10.”
But the deputy governor of East Nusa Tenggara, Esthon Foenay, said the local government has already given the province’s official compensation claim to Jakarta.
“The ones doing all the negotiating are the advocacy team,” Esthon said. “We only prepared evidence about the contamination in Kupang district, Kupang city, Rote Ndao, Sabu, Belu, Sumba, East Timor, and Lembata districts.”
Alex Oematan, the head of the East Nusa Tenggara Environmental Agency, said the compensation the province received would be distributed to affected fishermen and sea weeds farmers and spent on cleaning the water.
“It will also go to recovery of coral reefs, which could cost Rp 3.5 million to Rp 4 million per square meter of coral reef.”
Additional reporting by Fidelis E Satriastanti
It’s Claim and Counterclaim in Battle Over Timor Oil Spill
Fidelis E Satriastanti Jakarta Globe 30 Aug 10;
Jakarta. Indonesia on Monday said it had scientific evidence proving a 2009 oil spill in the Timor Sea reached the country’s waters, despite assertions to the contrary by the oil rig operator.
Last Wednesday, the Indonesian delegation seeking compensation for the oil spill, led by the Environment Ministry, presented the country’s claim to PTTEP Australasia, the operator of the Montara oil rig that caught fire off Australia’s northern coast in August last year and leaked about 400 barrels of crude a day for 74 days.
The delegation submitted a compensation claim for Rp 22 trillion ($2.4 billion).
PTTEP Australasia, a subsidiary of Thailand’s state-controlled PTT Exploration and Production, confirmed that it had received the claim, but said that it contained no verifiable supporting evidence.
Indonesia says the oil spill, one of the largest in Australia’s history, has affected large areas off East Nusa Tenggara — up to 78,000 square kilometers by August — with fishermen reporting significantly lower catches.
“We have presented our claim [to the company] and they are still looking through the reports,” said Masnellyarti Hilman, head of the Indonesian delegation. “In every negotiation, you cannot possibly get results right away.”
She said PTTEP Australasia had asked a lot of questions during the meeting about the reports on the spill, including the methodology used, the certification of the laboratories involved and also about the data sampling.
“What we have presented to them is just a summary of the reports — not very detailed — so they have asked us to include other documents,” she said, adding that the two sides would meet again after verifying the data. No date has been set for the next meeting.
However, Masnellyarti said the summary report had already presented strong evidence that the oil slick had reached Indonesian waters and caused damage to marine life.
“The report contains strong scientific evidence that the oil slick contaminated our seas,” she said. “First, from satellite images, footprints of the oil spill found in the Timor Sea match the Montara oil slick, and also from visual observations. This data is scientifically proven, we just need to complete the paperwork.”
Meanwhile, PTTEP said it was working with Australian authorities to monitor the environmental impact of the spill. The company said in a press release that it was working “to study the long-term effect on the environment.”
“The results of these studies will be released to the public when completed,” it said.
Masnellyarti said if the company wanted to collect data from Indonesian waters, it would need the permission of authorities here.
“It was agreed at the first meeting that we will conduct the research and present the data to them, and after that our scientists will meet to discuss and verify the reports,” she said. “Then we will negotiate.”
Firm rejects Indonesia’s claim on spill damage
Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post 31 Aug 10;
After two rounds of negotiations, Indonesia and Thai rig operator, PTTEP Australasia, failed to reach an agreement on whether the Montara oil slick polluted the Timor Sea. Indonesia has proposed a compensation payment of US$2.2 billion.
After the meeting, the PTTEP said in its statement the company found no verifiable evidence presented by Indonesia’s team to support the claims.
Indonesia said that the report submitted to the PTTEP had gone through analysis by a team of experts set up in Jakarta. “The data has been scientifically proven,” Indonesian advocacy team chief Masnellyarti Hilman told reporters Monday.
Indonesia’s team displayed maps of areas impacted by the oil spill which allegedly covered 70,341 square kilometer in the Timor Sea, affecting nine regencies in the area.
The map of affected areas was determined by satellite images and water samples collected in several locations.
“The impacted areas can be visibly seen,”Masnellyarti said.
Polluted water samples taken from the Timor Sea matched the oil finger print taken from Montara’s rig, she added.
The second meeting was held last week in Perth, Australia, where Indonesia had hoped the company would agree to a US$5 million down payment to repair environmental damage and pay compensation to affected local fishermen. Indonesia has so far spent Rp 1.9 billion ($ 213,483) on operational costs such as surveys, meetings and visits to Perth.
“The PTTEP still questions the methodologies used by Indonesia to take samples and calculate the financial compensation,” Masnellyarti said. “The company also question the accreditation of laboratories assessing water samples from the Timor Sea.”
Indonesia was also asked to submit a full report of findings and claims before scheduling new talks.
“We hope to finish the English-version of the report this month,” she said.
Masnellyarti declined to reveal Indonesia’s exact claim figures, but earlier Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi, who is also the Ocean Oil Spill Emergency Situations National Team chief, said the claim had reached $2.2 billion.
Indonesian officials have repeatedly said the PTTEP had agreed to pay compensation to Indonesia.
In the statement sent to The Jakarta Post, the PTTEP did not mention whether or not it agreed to pay compensation to Indonesia.
“We received claims for damages from the Montara incident in the Timor Sea. The company evaluated the oil slick during the incident and its after effects and found that the spread of the slick was limited to only an area surrounding Montara, PTTEP President and CEO Anon Sirisaengtaksin said, adding that the incident is under control.
The PTTEP and the Australian authorities have studied the long term environmental effects of the spread of oil from Montara in the Timor Sea.
Indonesia demands payout over oil spill
(AFP) Google News 31 Aug 10;
JAKARTA — Indonesia has demanded 2.4 billion dollars in compensation from a Thai oil company for damages related to a spill off the northwestern coast of Australia last year, a minister said Tuesday.
Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi said the claim for 22 trillion rupiah (2.4 billion dollars) had been presented during talks with PTT Australasia, a unit of Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production PCL, in Australia last week.
"Our calculation includes potential damage to the coral reef in the affected area," Numberi was quoted as saying by Dow Jones Newswires.
The minister is leading a government team in negotiations with the Thai company, which has asked for detailed scientific evidence to back up Indonesia's claims.
"PTTEP has ... joined hands with Australian authorities concerned to closely follow the environmental situation," the company said in a statement Friday, adding that the spill was limited to an area around its damaged Montara well.
"The result of these studies will be released to the public when completed."
The leak in the Timor Sea from August 21 to November 3 was the worst from an offshore oil platform in Australian history, although it was smaller than the recent BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Like the BP spill, it dragged on for months as the company tried to plug the flow with a relief well, a process that eventually succeeded.
It also led to calls for tougher regulation of offshore drilling and criticism of the authorities responsible for monitoring the operation.
Evidence given at a commission of inquiry showed the Montara slick grew to almost 90,000 square kilometres and entered Indonesian waters, according to environmental group WWF.
The West Timor Care Foundation, which supports poor fishermen in eastern Indonesia, estimates the spill affected the livelihoods of about 18,000 fishermen. Businesses such as seaweed and pearl farms were also reportedly hit.
Following this year's Gulf of Mexico spill, which was the biggest maritime spill on record and spewed some 4.9 million barrels of oil, BP set up a 20-billion-dollar compensation fund.
Indonesia demands payout over oil spill
Yahoo News 31 Aug 10;
JAKARTA (AFP) – Indonesia has demanded 2.4 billion dollars in compensation from a Thai oil company for damages related to a spill off the northwestern coast of Australia last year, a minister said Tuesday.
Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi said the claim for 22 trillion rupiah (2.4 billion dollars) had been presented during talks with PTT Australasia, a unit of Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production PCL, in Australia last week.
"Our calculation includes potential damage to the coral reef in the affected area," Numberi was quoted as saying by Dow Jones Newswires.
The minister is leading a government team in negotiations with the Thai company, which has asked for detailed scientific evidence to back up Indonesia's claims.
"PTTEP has ... joined hands with Australian authorities concerned to closely follow the environmental situation," the company said in a statement Friday, adding that the spill was limited to an area around its damaged Montara well.
"The result of these studies will be released to the public when completed."
The leak in the Timor Sea from August 21 to November 3 was the worst from an offshore oil platform in Australian history, although it was smaller than the recent BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Like the BP spill, it dragged on for months as the company tried to plug the flow with a relief well, a process that eventually succeeded.
It also led to calls for tougher regulation of offshore drilling and criticism of the authorities responsible for monitoring the operation.
Evidence given at a commission of inquiry showed the Montara slick grew to almost 90,000 square kilometres and entered Indonesian waters, according to environmental group WWF.
The West Timor Care Foundation, which supports poor fishermen in eastern Indonesia, estimates the spill affected the livelihoods of about 18,000 fishermen. Businesses such as seaweed and pearl farms were also reportedly hit.
Following this year's Gulf of Mexico spill, which was the biggest maritime spill on record and spewed some 4.9 million barrels of oil, BP set up a 20-billion-dollar compensation fund.
WWF 29 Aug 10;
Hunchun, China: Jilin province of China and neighbouring Primorsky province in Russia agreed today to collaborate formally in working towards the first transboundary Amur tiger protected area amidst celebrations for the second annual Amur Tiger Cultural Festival in the northeastern Chinese city of Hunchun.
The signed agreement, facilitated by WWF, the global conservation organization, will help wildlife authorities eventually establish a transboundary protected area – a cooperative conservation network that crosses country borders - in the provinces that are home to the world’s largest big cat. The population of the highly endangered Amur tiger is currently estimated at 500.
In the agreement signed by Jilin Provincial Forestry Department of China and two Russia agencies – the Wildlife and Hunting Department of Primorsky Province and Special Inspection “TIGER” of Russia (official name of the Bureau on Protection of Rare and Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna) – the two sides will work together in establishing a tiger conservation protected area in both provinces, as well as partner to restore the endangered species.
“A new transboundary protected area would provide a wider and healthier habitat for Amur tigers and other endangered species, such as the Far East leopard, musk deer and goral,” said Yu Changchun, Director of Conservation Department of Jilin Forestry Department.
“While tigers – the species at the top of the eco-system – are better conserved through the agreement, other species, the forest habitat and all the bio-diversity resources will also benefit from this protected area,” said Dr. Zhu Chunquan, WWF-China’s Conservation Director.
As part of the agreement, Jilin and Primorsky provinces will increase information sharing on Amur tiger and Far East leopard protection, work to adopt identical monitoring systems for tigers and their prey, and conduct joint ecological surveys and develop plans to launch an anti-poaching campaign along the China-Russia boarder.
Destruction and fragmentation of habitat, poaching and lack of prey have reduced the number of wild Amur tigers. One of six remaining subspecies of tigers, (and sometimes referred to as Siberian tiger), the Amur tiger is primarily found in eastern Russia, with a small number in northeastern China. Among that population, 20 tigers have been periodically spotted within the borders of China’s Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces.
“This agreement is a great boost for Amur tiger habitats in Russia and China. Since both countries play a crucial role in terms of global tiger recovery, a future transboundary network would represent a big step in WWF’s global tiger conservation effort,” said Dr. Sergey Aramilev, the Biodiversity Coordinator for Amur Branch of WWF-Russia, which is also involved in promoting the agreement. “There’s a lot of work to be done to implement this agreement, such as making sure it receives proper government funding, but this is a major step forward nonetheless.”
The agreement marks another milestone during the Chinese Year of the Tiger in 2010. WWF launched the TX2 campaign early this year, which seeks to double the number of wild tigers by the next Year of the Tiger in 2022. A groundbreaking tiger conservation declaration from the 13 countries that still have wild tiger populations was prepared in Bali, Indonesia in July this year, and is due to be signed before the close of Year of the Tiger at a tiger conservation summit hosted by Russia. The Declaration seeks to create a tiger recovery program that is global in scope while also promoting transboundary cooperation amongst the 13 tiger range countries.
Background of the Agreement:
The Amur Tiger Cultural Festival, which runs from Aug. 29-30, will include events such as a tiger conservation and economic development forum, costume parade, art performances and an ecological tour of tiger habitat. The China-Russia agreement will be one of the highlights of this year’s festival.
In addition to promoting the transboundary protected area, WWF-China successfully helped establish a protected area for tigers in Jilin. It is also working with northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, another important home to Amur tigers, to bring it under the fold of the transboundary protected area. If this plan comes to fruition, the protected area for Amur tigers and other threatened species would double.
While over 95 percent of Amur tigers are now found in Russia, the situation differed in the 1950s. An estimated 50 individuals were then found in the Russian Far East, while across the border in China, the total population stood at about 200. Thanks to anti-poaching efforts and other effective conservation policies, Russia’s tiger population recovered and has remained stable.
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