Malaysia: More animal attacks with loss of habitat

New Straits Times 28 Feb 11;

From wild macaques living in suburban areas to tigers in the east coast, more and more animals are turning on humans. EVANGELINE MAJAWAT finds out why

TAMBUN Gediu was hunting for squirrels in the fringes of Belum Forest last week when a tiger pounced on him. The hunter had become the hunted.

The Orang Asli escaped the tiger’s deadly jaw-grip after his wife hit the big cat repeatedly on its head with a big ladle.

Tambun is a lucky man. Not so for first-time parents V. Nehru and V. Revathy of Seremban, whose 4-day-old daughter died after being bitten by a long-tailed macaque last year.

These stories are just some of the many human-wildlife conflicts that occur in Malaysia.

In the last three years alone, the Wildlife and National Parks Department recorded close to 35,000 cases of wildlife attacks.

The human casualties did not reflect the shocking number of cases as only five deaths were recorded between 2008 and last year, and 28 were injured.

Most cases Most cases cases involved monkeys (long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques) and snakes (cobras and pythons).

These animals lived close to humans in small pockets of greenery in the city.

Attacks by bigger and rarer species such as elephants, tigers and civet cats occurred mostly in rural areas, especially villages or plantations.

“Unlike the last decade, the current trend shows that human-wildlife conflicts are not restricted to agricultural and rural areas, but also urban areas,” department director-general Datuk Abd Rasid Samsudin said.

Human-wildlife conflict is a phrase used by scientists to describe killings, mauling and crop-raiding by animals on human settlements. The reason why these conflicts happen are obvious — loss of habitat.

“The biggest mistake commonly committed by urban dwellers when sharing space with small animals is feeding them.

“Feeding macaques and wild boars will only make these animals bolder, which can lead to disastrous incidents,” said Rasid, adding that these animals were aggressive, territorial and would attack if threatened.

Improper rubbish and food waste disposal also meant a higher chance of human-wildlife conflicts.

In 2006, participants of the Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Workshop Report by the World Wide Fund For Nature-Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) stated that farmers could reduce the chances of these conflicts with simple and inexpensive steps.

The cheapest was to ensure that all livestock were reared in proper paddocks which kept the cattle and goats in, and the tigers out.

A suggestion to emulate the practice in the Sundarbans, India, where workers wear human masks at the back of their heads, was also highlighted as a cost-effective measure.

Keeping a buffer zone between the plantations and surrounding forests also helps. It was reported that most tiger attacks happened in rubber plantations.

Methods to prevent elephant attacks include setting up electrified fences, digging trenches and using repellents.

But the best measure, according to scientists and environmentalists, would be protecting the animals’ habitat and creating wildlife corridors to connect fragmented forests.

While villagers usually organise hunts for rogue animals, Rasid warned that no animal can be killed unless there was “an immediate danger to human life”.

“Villagers are not allowed to go after these animals. Instead, they are advised to contact the nearest wildlife office.”

The department has methods of reducing human-wildlife conflicts and killing wildlife is only the last resort.

“We would usually chase the animals deep into the forest, capture and relocate them, and in other cases, set up electric fences around villages,” said Rasid.

For Malaysian Nature Society communications head Andrew Sebastian, education and awareness are key to reducing deaths and injuries to both humans and animals.

“People must learn and appreciate boundaries and respect the space that wildlife need.”

Enough to keep him off the jungle
P. Chandra Sagaran New Straits Times 28 Feb 11;

"I AM not going back into the jungle... I am afraid the animal will attack me again."

This was the response of tiger-attack victim Tambun Gediu, 60, when asked whether he would continue hunting in the jungle.

The injury on his right knee had restricted his movement.

Tambun, of Kampung Sungai Tiang, 75km from Grik, was hunting squirrels on Feb 12 when he was attacked.

He tried to climb up a tree but the animal caught him and dragged him down.

He owed his life to his wife, Han Besau, 55, who courageously drove the beast away by hitting it on the head with a large wooden ladle.

Tambun suffered injuries in the head, face, neck and both knees.

Speaking from his bed at Grik Hospital last week, the Orang Asli villager said he was recovering but doctors wanted to keep him for observation.

He said this was the first time he had come face to face with a tiger, which left scars all over his body.

"My knee hurts whenever I walk but my other injuries are healing."

The stitches on his wounds were removed earlier last week.

Tambun is expected to be back at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun in Ipoh today for a check-up.

His son Amir, 19, who was at the hospital to look after him, said his father was traumatised.

"We will just do what we are doing like cultivation, but confined to the vicinity of the village. Fishing is the other source of food for us," he said.

Another Orang Asli from the same village, S. Ringet, 52, said the incident had discouraged villagers from going into the jungle.