Best of our wild blogs: 11 Jun 17

HSS at Pesta Ubin!
Herpetological Society of Singapore

Morning Walk At Lower Peirce Reservoir Park (10 Jun 2017)
Beetles@SG BLOG

Bukit Panjang Butterfly Garden
Butterflies of Singapore

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Malaysia: Action plan to save the Sunda clouded leopard

STEPHANIE LEE The Star 11 Jun 17;

KOTA KINABALU: The Sunda clouded leopard will be the next endangered animal to be saved and protected in Sabah, said Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) director Dr Benoit Goossens.

Dr Goossens said an action plan will be drawn up after a three-day workshop organised by DGFC and the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), which will focus on recommendations on how to better protect the species.

The workshop is set to run from June 12 to 14 and will feature local and international scientists, governmental agencies as well as industry players.

“We hope that the state government will adopt the Sunda Clouded Leopard Action Plan for implementation to save the species, which is threatened by habitat loss and forest fragmentation in Sabah,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

Dr Goossens said the centre, SWD and collaborators from Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), the University of Montana and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research have been collecting crucial information on Sunda clouded leopard populations in Sabah for the last 10 years.

He said this includes demography, behaviour, landscape ecology and genetics.

“During this project, we carried out surveys using camera traps in several protected areas such as Crocker Range, Tawau Hills Park, Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Kinabatangan, Malua, Ulu Segama, and Maliau Basin,” he said.

He added that the research findings showed that there are roughly 700 Sunda clouded leopards in Sabah.

Dr Goossens said these projects and efforts are made possible with a total commitment of RM3.96mil from Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) since April 2011 to conduct research on three species over a six-year period.

The three species are the proboscis monkey, the Sunda clouded leopard and the Bornean banteng.

Meanwhile, YSD chairman Tun Musa Hitam said the Foundation was looking forward to the submission of the state action plan on the conservation of the proboscis monkey to the Sabah government.

DGFC is currently in the midst of drafting the plan to be submitted to the Sabah government.

This action plan is the product of a workshop and conference organised by DGFC and SWD four months ago, which focused on the conservation of the proboscis monkey.

Musa said it was crucial for the state action plan to be adopted and implemented by the Sabah government as it is backed by scientific research and expert opinions as well as input from industry leaders.

He added that he hoped the same would be replicated for the Sunda clouded leopard, which he said is one of his favourite animal species due to its sheer beauty.

"This species, like many others, is under severe threat from poachers, habitat loss and fragmented forest areas,” said Musa.

"We must act immediately and effectively to stop further decline in the population or risk losing a precious species that is vital to the ecosystem it inhabits," he added.


Experts convene in KK to discuss conservation of Sunda clouded leopard
AVILA GERALDINE New Straits Times 11 Jun 17;

KOTA KINABALU: Wildlife experts will engage in a long and detailed discussion on how to best protect one of Sabah’s iconic but endangered animals – the Sunda clouded leopard – at an international workshop beginning tomorrow.

Scientists, governmental agencies and industry players are expected to attend the three-day workshop on the issue at the Le Meridien Hotel here, organised by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) and the Sime Darby Foundation.

DGFC director Dr Benoit Goossens said the workshop will see participants proposing recommendations for better protection of the endangered species based on findings of an extensive five-year research conducted by the centre and the SWD.

“I hope the Sabah government will adopt the Sunda Clouded Leopard Action Plan for implementation to save the species, which is threatened by habitat loss and forest fragmentation in Sabah.

“For the past 10 years, SWD, DGFC and collaborators from Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), the University of Montana and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research have been collecting crucial information on Sunda clouded leopard populations in Sabah, including demography, behaviour, landscape ecology and genetics.

“During this project, we carried out surveys using camera traps in several protected areas, and we estimate the population (of Sunda clouded leopards) to be around 700 individuals in Sabah,” added Goossens.

The protected areas are the Crocker Range, the Tawau Hills Park, the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Kinabatangan, Malua, Ulu Segama and the Maliau Basin, among others.

Earlier this year, a workshop and conference focusing on the protection of the Proboscis monkey was held, and the DGFC is currently drafting a state action plan on the conservation of the species for submission to the state government.

Meanwhile, Sime Darby Foundation chairman Tun Musa Hitam stressed that the local government must adopt and implement the state action plan, which is backed by scientific research, expert opinions and input from industry leaders.

“We also hope that the same will be replicated for the Sunda clouded leopard, which is one of my favourite animal species due to its sheer beauty.

“This species, like many others, is under severe threat from poachers, habitat loss and fragmented forest areas,” he said.

The foundation has been supporting DGFC since April 2011, with a total commitment of RM3.96 million over a period of six years, to conduct research on three species – the Proboscis monkey, the Sunda clouded leopard and the Bornean banteng.


Move to protect the Sunda clouded leopard
STEPHANIE LEE The Star 12 Jun 17;

KOTA KINABALU: The Sunda clouded leopard will be the next endangered animal to come under protection in Sabah.

This will hopefully be made possible after local and international scientists, government agencies and industry players come together in a three-day workshop on how to protect the species.

The workshop, from today to Wednesday, organised by the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) and Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), expects to see recommendations based on findings of a five-year extensive research on Sunda clouded leopards conducted by DGFC and SWD.

DGFC director Dr Benoit Goossens said they expect to have a Sunda Clouded Leopard Action Plan for Sabah drafted based on the recommendations.

“We hope the state government will adopt the action plan to save the species, which is threatened by habitat loss and forest fragmentation in Sabah,” he said in a statement.

Dr Goossens said the centre, SWD and collaborators from Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), University of Montana and Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research have collected crucial information on Sunda clouded leopard population in Sabah including demography, behaviour, landscape ecology and genetics for the past 10 years.

“During this project, we carried out surveys using camera traps in several protected areas such as Crocker Range, Tawau Hills Park, Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Kinabatangan, Malua, Ulu Segama, and Maliau Basin,” he said.

image: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/06/12/move-to-protect-the-sunda-clouded-leopard/~/media/f0f46ce3ff904f50b7515a6df100a18c.ashx?h=413&w=620

Safe and sound: A female Sunda clouded leopard named ‘Rahsia’ rescued during the project. Inset: A Sunda clouded leopard seen at the Crocker Range National Park near Keningau, Sabah.
Safe and sound: A female Sunda clouded leopard named ‘Rahsia’ rescued during the project.
The population is estimated to be around 700 in Sabah.

Dr Goossens said these projects and efforts were made possible with the support from Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) since April 2011, with a total commitment of RM3.96mil over six years, to conduct research on three species – Proboscis monkey, Sunda clouded leopard and the Bornean banteng.

Four months ago, DGFC and SWD organised a workshop and conference on the conservation of the Proboscis monkey, which saw recommendations for drafting of a state action plan to conserve the endangered species.

YSD chairman Tun Musa Hitam said it was crucial for the state action plan to be adopted and implemented by the Sabah government as it is backed by scientific research and expert opinions as well as input from industry leaders.

“We must act immediately and effectively to stop further decline in the population or risk losing a precious species that is vital to the ecosystem it inhabits.

“We have already lost one of our last three Sumatran rhinoceroses, a species on the brink of extinction. Let us learn from this,” he added.

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Malaysia: Rapid development causing heat effect

RAZAK AHMAD The Star 11 Jun 17;

PETALING JAYA: Temperature differences between parts of Kuala Lumpur and its neighbouring rural areas have been found to be as high as 10°C and the gap is widening, research has shown.

This is causing heavier rainfall, resulting in more severe flash floods and hotter temperatures in the city and suburbs than surrounding areas. Ironically, the rainfall is heavier in the cities than in rural areas such as Hulu Langat, where the dams are located.

Climate expert Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah from Universiti Malaya said this was due to the “urban heat island” effect, where cities get increasingly warmer compared to surrounding rural areas due to rapid development.

“Due to the increased development of Greater Kuala Lumpur, the urban heat island or hot areas are growing,” he said.

The differences in temperatures between urban and rural areas are also widening by 0.4°C per decade.

Apart from getting hotter, the country’s urban areas are also likely to get heavier rainfall as more rain can occur when a bubble of heated air forms over a very warm area.

Citing a 2014 study on the urban heat island effect in the Klang Valley by fellow academic Dr Illyani Ibrahim, Dr Azizan said Petaling Jaya received increasingly more rain between 1983 and 2007 compared to Hulu Langat, located just 22km away.

The increased rainfall in urban areas, Dr Azizan warned, could add to the risk of flash floods in cities.

“This is because much of the rainwater cannot be absorbed into the ground in built-up areas, causing it to remain on the surface, especially where drainage is poor,” he said.

Dr Azizan was commenting on the findings of a World Bank report which found temperature anomalies in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Penang, Johor Baru, Kuantan and Kota Kinabalu growing faster than the global average (see graphic).

The report, titled “Achieving a System of Competitive Cities in Malaysia”, said climate change is expected to worsen the urban heat island effect and cause more heatwaves and heavy rain in urban areas.

Heavy and more frequent precipitation events are expected and will increase the risk and severity of urban flooding and landslides, according to the study, which was released in December 2015 and carried out with the cooperation of the Economic Planning Unit and Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

Parts of the Klang Valley, including Kuala Lumpur, have become notorious for being inundated during heavy downpour in recent months.

In one of the most recent episodes, four roads in Kuala Lumpur – Jalan Bangsar, Jalan Semantan, Jalan Pantai Baharu and Jalan Pudu – were flooded following heavy rain, causing cars to be submerged in water up to their windows.

Other cities, including in Penang, have also been hit by a rising number of flash floods.

On May 27, a downpour which lasted for a few hours submerged the inline baggage area of the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas on the island and flooded several low-lying areas on the mainland.

Dr Azizan said green areas in cities should be protected to help reduce the urban heat island effect.

Green lungs and other forested areas help to cool down urban areas and act as a sponge to absorb excess rainfall in the event of heavy storms, reducing the risk of floods, he said.

“Keeping the city green does not mean we should build more golf courses,” he added.

“It means we need to protect the forested areas in our cities due to the forests’ higher leaf index and ability to help reduce temperatures and absorb water.”

He said improving drainage and planning for future flood mitigation projects similar to Kuala Lumpur’s Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) could also help.

“When we spent billions of ringgit to build the SMART tunnel, some people said it was a waste of money. But now it’s considered a success.”

He said the focus should be on how to protect other parts of the city, which are also prone to flash floods, especially in light of rapid development.


‘Gazette town and city plans to reduce environmental risk’
The Star 11 Jun 17;

PETALING JAYA: Local plans that spell out the dos and don’ts of how each town and city in the country can be developed need to be gazetted and followed strictly by the state and local authorities, said the Malaysian Institute of Planners.

Its president Ihsan Zainal Mokh­tar said this could help reduce the potential harm that development can bring to the environment.

Commenting on a World Bank study that found temperature anomalies in Malaysian cities growing faster than the global average, Ihsan said it was important to have a good local plan and stick to it.

“A local plan not only spells out population density, which areas need road coverage and where to build schools, but also identifies which green areas can’t be touched,” he said.

Controversial proposals to develop green areas that get easily approved despite opposition by residents are an example of what can happen when a local plan is not gazetted.

“If a local plan is drawn up but not gazetted, it results in less control in development.

“If we don’t stick to the local plan, we will leave more room for interest groups to push their agenda in how an area should be developed, rather than public interest,” Ihsan added.

He said while a number of cities and towns had gazetted local plans, Kuala Lumpur and Penang had yet to gazette their local plans, namely the Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 and Penang Local Plan 2020.

To reduce the potential risk of flash floods as a result of higher rainfall in urban centres due to rising temperatures, Ihsan said several measures could be taken.

They include increasing the number of detention and retention ponds.

A detention pond is a low-lying area that holds a set amount of floodwater while slowly draining to another location. A retention pond is designed to hold a specific amount of floodwater indefinitely.

Ihsan also said more greenery could be introduced along footpaths.

Another method is to use bioswales, which are long trenches containing vegetation that receive rainwater run-off and work by slowing down water infiltration.

On the World Bank study which found urban sprawl contributing to greenhouse gases and raising temperatures, he said control measures could include allowing higher density only for projects near the city centre.

“Urban sprawl also involves building many highways into the cities which take a lot of the forests, causing temperatures to rise,” he said.

“Cars travelling into urban centres are also a source of urban heat, so one way to tackle the problem is by improving public transport.”


Groups spell out ways to cool down cities
FATIMAH ZAINAL The Star 12 Jun 17;

PETALING JAYA: It’s the little acts like conserving water and saving electricity – even planting a tree – that can help cool the urban heat island effect in the cities, say environment groups.

Malaysian Nature Society president Henry Goh said while authorities should set aside enough land for green lungs in the cities, the public could also do their bit to help maintain such spaces.

“The first thing to inculcate among the public is to share the knowledge why trees are important to mitigate the heat exchange in regards to industrial emissions of heat and pollution.

“The public can also help by practising more care when disposing waste. Adopt the habit of reducing, recycling and reusing waste,” said Goh.

Conserving water, saving electricity and supporting anti-plastic campaign, he said, would also help towards reducing greenhouse gas and heat.

Power Shift Malaysia co-founder Adrian Yeo said even a simple effort such as planting a tree counted.

They were commenting on Sunday Star’s front page report about the urban heat island effect in Kuala Lumpur caused by rapid development.

A study had showed that the city was not only getting much hotter – up to 10 degrees more – than surrounding rural areas but it was also experiencing heavier rainfall, leading to more severe flash floods, and higher temperatures.

EcoKnights president Yasmin Rasyid said property developers could build each home with a rainwater harvesting tank.

“This can retain rain water for outdoor use before all of this rushes into the drains as storm water and floods the lower areas,” she said.

Yasmin said for free green lungs in the city, vertical gardens on rooftops could also be created, functioning as cooling systems for the buildings.

WWF policy and climate change head Lavanya Rama Iyer said urban folks should continue demanding the protection of existing green lungs such as in the recent cases of Bukit Gasing and Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

“All of us should signal to decisionmakers from local governments that greening the city is necessary for national well-being and development should not compromise this,” she said.

Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka) president Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Aki urged all environmental NGOs to convene a summit to map out a blueprint.

“Deforestation must be stopped immediately. We need to slow down our development. A sustainable plan is needed to look into conservation and preservation.”

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Malaysia: Johor entry points screening tightened after Singapore's new Zika cases

The Star 10 Jun 17;

BALIK PULAU: Malaysia has tightened health screenings at all entry points, especially in Johor, following reports of two new cases of the Zika virus in Singapore.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said so far, there were no reports of the mosquito-borne viral infection involving Malaysians.

"I want the Johor Health Department to be more careful and alert, and perform more stringent monitoring, especially at the Malaysia-Singapore entrance.

"We have body temperature sensors that can detect those having fever at entry points in Johor, and if there are cases (of zika) health officials must take appropriate action.

"But so far, there has been no new cases in Malaysia," he told reporters after presenting contributions to the needy in the Balik Pulau parliamentary constituency here Saturday.

Singapore confirmed two new cases of the virus, bringing the total number of reported cases in the country to eight.

In September last year, a woman from Bandar Botanic, Klang in Selangor became the first Malaysian to be infected with the virus after visiting her daughter, who was also infected, in Singapore.

In another development, Dr Hilmi, who is also Balik Pulau MP, denied that the ministry had banned the sale of a popular brand of dates after reports on social media claimed they contained worms.

"I have received complaints that staff from the state health department had notified traders of dates not to sell the fruit distributed by a popular brand when in fact, the ministry has never issued such a ban on the matter, and we have made inspections at the warehouse of the company concerned, and no worms were found as claimed on social media.

"Even if there was such a case, maybe there were parties who had disguised themselves as health department staff or it could be from a competitor.

"However, if date traders are approached by health department staff forbidding them to sell the fruit, they can report it to the health ministry," he said.

He noted the worms found in dates were also not detrimental to health as they were similar to those found in fruits such as durian and mangoes. - Bernama


Johor on alert for Zika
ZAZALI MUSA The Star 11 Jun 17;

JOHOR BARU: Johor is closely monitoring for Zika cases in the state following reports of two new cases in Singapore.

State Health, Environment, Education and Information committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said the focus would be on two land links to Singapore - the Johor Causeway and the Second Link Crossing in Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah.

"Thousands of people are using both links daily and we are monitoring the situation," he said in a statement on Sunday.

Ayub said staff from the state Health Department would monitor the body temperature of travellers at the Johor Causeway and the Second Link Crossing using thermal scanners, which have been set up.

"We are also taking preventive measures in housing estates or locations where many Malaysians live and travel regularly to the republic," he added.

Ayub said that the state Health Department would deploy more medical staff at the two entry points if more Zika cases were reported in Singapore.

It was reported on Saturday that Malaysia had tightened health screenings at all entry points, especially in Johor, following reports of two new cases of the Zika virus in Singapore.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said so far, there were no reports of the mosquito-borne viral infection involving Malaysians.

"I want the Johor Health Department to be more careful and alert, and perform more stringent monitoring, especially at the Malaysia-Singapore entrance.

"We have body temperature sensors that can detect those having fever at entry points in Johor, and if there are cases of Zika, health officials must take appropriate action," he added.


Zika screening intensified at all major entry points
The Star 11 Jun 17;

BALIK PULAU: Malaysia has intensified health screenings at all entry points, especially in Johor, following reports of two new cases of the zika virus in Singapore.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said so far, there are no reports of the mosquito-borne viral infection involving Malaysians.

“I want the Johor Health Department to be more careful and alert, and perform more stringent monitoring, especially at the Malaysia-Singapore entrance.

“We have body temperature sensors that can detect those having fever at entry points in Johor, and if there are cases (of zika), health officials must take appropriate action.

“But so far, there has been no new cases in Malaysia,” he told reporters after presenting contributions to the needy in the Balik Pulau parliamentary constituency yesterday.

At the event, a total of 850 recipients received cash assistance, rice and other necessities.

Yesterday, Singapore confirmed two new cases of the zika virus, bringing the total number of reported cases in the republic to eight.

In September last year, a woman from Bandar Botanic, Klang in Selangor, became the first Malaysian infected with zika after visiting her daughter, who was also infected with the virus, in Singapore.

In another development, Dr Hilmi, who is also Balik Pulau MP, denied that the Health Ministry had banned the sale of a popular brand of dates after reports on social media claimed they contained worms. — Bernama

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Malaysia: Sabah farmers at higher risk of catching monkey malaria

The Star 11 Jun 17;

KOTA KINABALU: Adult male farmers are more than twice as likely to contract Plasmodium knowlesi (P. knowlesi) – a malaria parasite usually found only in monkeys – than other people in their communities, according to a report.

The study was conducted by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, and the Sabah Health Department.

The research team found that farmers in Sabah who work in plantations, clear vegetation and take part in forestry work are the most at risk.

P. knowlesi is a zoonotic malaria parasite which is common in forest-dwelling macaque monkeys and transmitted between hosts by mosquitoes. It has a rapid growth rate in the blood that can lead to a high level of parasites in a short time and can cause severe and fatal disease.

Recent deforestation in the Sabah region has brought humans into closer contact with the forest.

P. knowlesi is now the most common form of human malaria in many areas of Malaysia, and has also been reported across South-East Asia.

In 2014, the Health Ministry reported that 2,584 out of the country’s 3,923 malaria cases derived from P. knowlesi, and that proportion is known to have risen further.

The researchers conducted a large case control study of more than 1,000 people in the Sabah districts of Kudat and Kota Marudu. Individuals with P. knowlesi were compared with those with other types of human malaria and a control group without malaria.

Detailed questionnaires recorded information on daily activities, residence and the frequency with which participants saw monkeys.

Men are four times more likely to have P. knowlesi infection than women, and although male farmers are more likely to contract monkey malaria, they are not at higher risk of contracting other types of malaria.

Indoor work such as shopkeeping, traditional female household duties, and studying are associated with a lower risk of P. knowlesi malaria in these communities.

The findings suggest that humans working on the fringes of the forest are at risk of contracting P. knowlesi, as well as in the forest itself when they carry out activities such as hunting.

A number of cases in women and children were also found which, along with the characteristics of mosquito and macaque populations, need further investigation.

Monkey malaria alert in Sabah
RUBEN SARIO The Star 11 Jun 17;

KOTA KINABALU: Health authorities in Sabah are intensifying their hunt for the Anopheles mosquitoes that are known for transmitting an emerging disease called Plasmodium knowlesi malaria from monkeys to humans.

Infectious Disease Society of Kota Kinabalu president Dr Timothy William said steps are being taken to reduce breeding sites of the mosquitoes apart from spraying insecticides where these insects are prevalent.

He said health officials were doing all things possible to optimise the treatment of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria or more commonly known as monkey malaria in humans through early detection.

“Those known to be suffering from this disease are given immediate treatment with Artemisinin combination therapy and early referral to tertiary care hospitals for severe cases.

“There is continuing research on this emerging disease,” said Dr William, the principal investigator of an international study on monkey malaria and co-author of the report that was recently published in The Lancet Planetary Health.

He was also the infectious disease consultant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here when the study was carried out in various parts of Sabah three years ago.

Chris Drakeley, Professor of Infection & Immunity from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and principal collaborator on the study, said P. knowlesi is a complex and potentially life-threatening parasite.

“Conventional approaches used to tackle malaria such as drugs or bed nets cannot be used to combat P. knowlesi as monkeys are the host and the risk is associated with outdoor work.

“Our study offers important insight into where social interventions are likely to have the biggest impact,” he said.

“We will continue to work with our colleagues in the Malaysian Health Ministry to improve awareness and education for local residents about areas of risk and how they can prevent mosquito bites,” he added.

Dr Matthew Grigg, Menzies Research fellow and lead author of the study, said: “Malaysia’s national malaria eradication plan is proving extremely effective in reducing case numbers of other types of malaria.

“However, we found that cases of P. knowlesi are on the rise due to a number of human behavioural factors such as farming, land clearing activities, working on oil palm plantations, and travelling or sleeping outside.”

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Indonesia: Suspected land burner arrested in Riau

The Jakarta Post 10 Jun 17;

The Riau Land and Forest Fire (Karhutla) task force has arrested a suspected land burner in Meranti Island regency.

“They found equipment such as a chainsaw, a kerosene jerry can, a lighter and a cell phone,” Karhutla Riau task force deputy commander Edwar Sanger said as quoted by Antara in Pekanbaru on Saturday.

He said the suspect, S, was arrested on Friday evening in Tebing Tinggi district, Meranti.

Suspicion of unlawful activity was raised during a routine patrol conducted by the Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) together with the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police.

During the patrol, personnel found traces of burned soil. A hut allegedly inhabited by land burners was found not far from the location.

Following up on the report, the task force, comprising personnel from the 462 Command Battalion of the Air Force Special Forces (Paskhas), the Riau Police’s Special Crime Detective Directorate and BPBD Riau flew to the location on a Puma HT-3310 helicopter and another helicopter provided by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

Paskhas and police personnel later searched the hut where they found a man strongly suspected to have burned the land. The 40-year old was flown to Pekanbaru for further questioning and the police sealed the burned land.

“We will pursue the mastermind of the land burning. We will uphold the law to create a deterrent effect,” said Edwar. (ebf)

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