Brown Sea

This is how the sea surrounding Kuah town in Langkawi looked like after a heavy downpour for more than six hours since last night. These pictures were taken early this morning.

Siltation from land development?? What goes into the river will end up into the sea, right?

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Face Of Climate Change In Langkawi

Earth day for 2013 is on Monday, 22nd April. The global theme for Earth day this year is: The Face of Climate Change.

The link to this video is here

Will the face of climate change be increased for our beloved island or the other way around?

While I do not have the answer for now, I wonder if we will face adverse climate condition here or will we affect the other parts of the planet?

Langkawi is struggling to save her own rainforest and now she is completely helpless in the current state of her remaining original habitat.

These recent photos were taken along the path of the new road which is now being built between Telaga Harbour and Mutiara Bay at Pantai Kok.

A "Rockblaster"

Development benefits the economic for the island. However, where do we draw the line between over developed and being sustainable? Langkawi is a preferred holiday destination because of her rainforest and the wildlife. I want to see genuine nature-loving tourists returning to Langkawi for her natural beauty and being respectful with her environment.

Multi-billionaire companies will tell the world that they will replant the trees after the development of a virgin rainforest. You and I know that replanting trees will never be the same as the original state. And yet, most of us accept the fact that the act of replanting trees is better than nothing. And yet, it is still not the same.

Rest in peace to those fallen trees .... and Happy Earth Day all!

Other interesting related links:

1. Land Agreement for Land Development At Burau Bay

LEASE AGREEMENT FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT AT BURAU BAY

WRITTEN BY LADA ON 28 MARCH 2012. IN CATEGORY NEWS

Langkawi, March 28: The Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) made a major announcement today to lease the land surrounding Burau Bay Resort to Syarikat Benua Mahsuri Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of Tradewinds Corporation) for the development of a luxury hotel.

The land in the lease agreement is for 36.7 acres of LADA-owned land officially designated as H.S(D) 3/96 Lot 1718 in the Padang Mat Sirat district.The land was originally developed in 1991 by Syarikat Pernas OUE (Langkawi) Sdn Bhd, who built Burau Bay Resort. After the lease expired in 2000, LADA gave the management of the land and resort to Syarikat LADA-Eco Tourism for 10 years. The decision to lease the land to Syarikat Benua Mahsuri was actually made last year, but discussions to finalize the details of the development were only completed recently.

Syarikat Benua Mahsuri plans to build an upscale hotel with an eco-resort concept, complete with a high-end spa and top-notch luxury facilities. The project is expected to attract more affluent travelers to Langkawi and to increase per capita income for tourism. The hotel will also provide more than 400 new jobs.

Project development is in accordance with initiatives 4 and 5 of the Langkawi Tourism Blueprint, which targets the beautiful northwest region of the island for the development of more ultra-luxurious resorts to attract the wealthiest and biggest-spending world travellers to Langkawi within the next few years. Additionally, this development will help address the shortage of rooms in Langkawi during peak season.

The lease agreement was signed by LADA CEO, the Honourable Tan Sri Khalid Bin Ramli, and witnessed by Y.Bhg Dato’ Fauziah Bt Yaacob, Board Member and LADA Director. Signing for Syarikat Benua Mahsuri was Tradewinds Corporation CEO Mr Shaharul Farez Hassan and witnessed by Dato 'Aziz Bin Shahar, Corporate Advisor to the Al-Bukhary Group.

LAST UPDATED ON 16 OCTOBER 2012

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My Light Encounter With A Poacher

It was a Saturday. Weekend for all. A picnic time for local folks in the park and as for myself, it was just another day on the forest trail. 

Walking quietly on the trail while listening for any new bird calls, my smell sense was rudely triggered with the smell of cigarette. My alert senses increased and immediately it send out a message, "Intruder"...beep beep beep 

My alert senses was correct. A "sinister" was lurking around the corner of a connecting trail. He was wearing a long sleeve yellow shirt, bearing a company name of "Lafarge". On the note, Lafarge is a cement company on Langkawi which is harvesting the limestone area in Teluk Ewa and now this company is threatening Gua Pinang in Kubang Badak.

Our eyes met. I was neither smiling nor frowning. My expression was expressionless and I thought I was. I continued to stare directly into his eyes. At an angle of my sight, I noticed him holding a parang (machete). And so was I. Should a few steps from him towards me, I am ready for his head with my blunt parang as I thought to myself.

What's next?

I stepped forward instead, closer to him. We didn't speak until I thought he mumbled something. And so I break the ice by asking him in Malay, "Are you chopping down the tree?"

He replied, "Eh...no la". 

"And then, what are you doing?", I asked again.

"Catching birds", he answered. 

He returned a question to me, "What are you doing here?" 

"I am catching those who are catching birds", I said in return. 

"Eh eh", he said.

"What bird are you catching?". I noticed there were calls of Asian Fairy Bluebird around and no bird cages with him but he was holding a very small tied-up sack and plastic bag. I have never seen locals catching Asian Fairy Bluebirds and the variety of birds they would go for would be bulbuls and Oriental Magpie robins.

He replied, "Dunno. My friend is coming soon. Are you alone?"

"Nope. My friends are behind." I lied. 

I continued, "You cannot catch birds here. Is wrong."

And so, I walked away. After less than 100 meters away from him, I picked up my mobile phone and started to call the Perhilitan (Wildlife Department) officers. I called two numbers of the Perhilitan which I usually liaised with. And I was unable to connect to both of them at all. As if their phones were switched off and so I contacted one of their top officers instead.

After informing the situation to this officer, he told me that there is nothing they can do. 

Eh? Why?

The area where I was is under the State government and so most of Langkawi. And Perhilitan is under the Federal government. Which means that the officers are not able to go into the area to chase the poachers out unless these poachers were caught in possession of protected wildlife. 

"If that's the case, there is no protection to our wildlife here then?" I asked.

"Unless the State government placed personnel to monitor the parks and the rainforest. But unfortunately, they have no funds to hire rangers to look after. Because most areas in Langkawi are not under the Federal government, our Perhilitan rangers will not be placed in those areas.", the officer explained.

"If that's the reason, what's the point of having the Perhilitan department on Langkawi then? I mean Perhilitan has done some good jobs in nabbing poachers in Langkawi but if they don't have full authority over what needs to be done to protect the wildlife here, then what's the point?" 

And then he went on about people not putting wildlife protection in the election manifesto and so the politicians of both parties will not bother as an issue to be addressed. 

Sounds like I have heard of this sort of story before and I am so fed up of all this political issues governing the welfare of our wildlife.

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A New Year 2013 Post

Festive season is the time of joy of giving and sharing. What a joyous moment to be able to  capture this beautiful moment of a male Great Hornbill passing food to his beloved expectant wife which is now being imprisoned in a tree cavity until she is ready to be out again.

A male Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) feeding his mate in a tree cavity

Is the female having a time of her life inside?... click "read fullpost" below

A labor of love, endurance and commitment shown by this monogamous pair. Indeed it is tiring for the male to fly in and out to feed her while she is sitting in there waiting for food. If you think it is an easy job for the female then think again. Mind you, it is not a nice feeling to be confined in a very tight space for 8 to 10 weeks filled with the smell of urine and feces even though there is constant cleaning in the nest. Is mentally tough!! 

When people had their lucky moments to see this live, some took the trouble to ask me if the hornbills are endangered. Yes, if their natural habitat is continuously being taken away. Big trees being ripped away by deforestation due to the rising tide of human population, development and greed. Langkawi is at the edge of losing her natural charms..."naturally langkawi"

My New Year rambling starts here. I decided to have a quiet new year on my own since I  got jaded with jamming in places filled with new year revelers and traffic congested roads.  And so, I picked up a movie to watch on New Year's eve and Hellboy II: The Golden Army was my choice. It has been ages since I watched this sequel of Hellboy (my favorite hero character) and I have forgotten the entire story. 

Here's the story extracted from Wikipedia: Hellboy II The Golden Army:

"In Christmas of 1955, a young Hellboy is told a bedtime story by his adoptive father, Trevor Broom, involving an ancient war between man and magical creatures, started by man's greed. After years of battle and defeat of the magical creatures' forces, the master of the goblin blacksmiths offers to build an indestructible golden mechanical army for King Balor, the one-armed king of the elves. Influenced by his son Prince Nuada, Balor orders the building of this Golden Army. Soon the humans attack again but the Golden Army devastates them; Balor creates a truce with the humans to stop the bloodshed: Man will keep his cities and the magical creatures will keep their forests. Nuada does not agree with the truce, and leaves in exile. The magical crown controlling the army is broken into three pieces, one piece going to the humans and the other two kept by the elves, so the Golden Army can never be used again"

The humans have eventually pushed the magical creatures out of their natural home and their habitats were taken over by developments. Prince Nuada returns and consumed by hate, he declares war on humans. And the story goes on with Hellboy and his team saving the humans from being attack by the Golden Army. And of course, who wins? Prince Nuada could have won the war but the director dictated the winner...

Prince Nuada: Image taken from entertainment.wikia.com

In my own ponder, humans can win over nature or we think we can. And Nature eventually has her own way to return with a bigger clobber over us. When will the revenge takes place? In her own sweet time and it will be the time when humans are overly complacent with our own created world.

And so with Langkawi, will there be a Prince Nuada hiding in the mountains of Macinchang or Gunung Raya, still asleep and the forest creatures are awaiting for his return to declare war on us? Or it should be the job of Puteri Mahsuri? Perhaps not. The power of Puteri Mahsuri's curse has already depleted. And so, wake up Prince Nuada!

Thanks for reading my ramblings.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY BLOG FOLLOWERS AND THE FOREST CREATURES

p/s: You must watch this movie!

Link:
Wikipedia: Hellboy II - The Golden Army

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My Ramblings: Of Conservation and Business

As I was browsing through my previous postings and updating them, I came across the link on letter to the Editor. The letter dated October 19, 2009, was written to highlight on the potential threats to the eco-sensitive of Pulau Payar Marine Park. Reading the letter again, I can't help but to ponder that this letter was mostly written by Mandy did produce positive result in the end.  

The mainstream newspaper did not publish the letter. Thankfully, MalaysiaKini and EcoMalaysia.org did.

Before the link will be removed forever, here's the contents of the letter (is quite a lengthy one):

Pulau Payar Marine Park has come a long way since it was first declared as a Fisheries Prohibited Area in 1985 and later gazetted as a marine park in 1994. Since then the tiny island of Pulau Payar, which measures a mere 1.75 km in length and 0.5 km at its widest point, has seen a lot of development, changing its face on the eastern seafront and making it a popular destination for reef-related recreational activities such as snorkelling and scuba-diving.

A small island located 19 nautical miles south of Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Payar, once a hidden treasure trove of marine fauna and flora known mainly to the local community of scuba divers, is now on the list of places to visit for many visitors to this region, both locals and foreigners. 

This is to be expected considering the Pulau Payar Marine Park is rather well-known for its rich marine life in terms of diversity of coral reefs and fishes over small areas throughout the group of four islands - Pulau Payar, Pulau Kaca, Pulau Lembu and Pulau Segantang - that make up the entire marine park.

In the 1980s, a small Marine Park Museum, a small jetty and limited accommodation was built to house one Fisheries Department Ranger on Pulau Payar. In the 1990s, along with its marine park status, the floating platform with underwater observatory and shower facilities came into existence and was moored off the beach at Pulau Payar. A few years later, several chalets were built by the Kedah state government but the project was discontinued due to constraints of water and electricity supply. 

Instead, expansion works were then carried out on the small museum converting it into the existing Marine Park Centre; public washrooms were rebuilt to cater to the influx of large numbers of visitors, the jetty was extended and more boardwalks were put in place in the name of tourism. 

Until today, Pulau Payar Marine Park remains the only pristine coral reef environment along the West Coast of Malaysia. A study conducted in 2006 by Yusri Yusuf of Universiti Sains Malaysia found that a comparison of total species of coral reef with other islands of Malaysia has shown that Pulau Payar has the highest species count.

Coral reefs have been facing environmental stress with increasing water temperatures since the El Nino phenomenon in 1997-1998 and will now be stressed further with rising temperatures due to climate change. Increasing water temperatures interrupt the metabolic activities of the zooxanthellae that live among the corals leaving the corals bleached white. 

Coral bleaching can also be caused by exposure to chemicals, sedimentations and excess nutrients such as ammonia and nitrate from plant fertilisers and household products entering the reef ecosystem. All these possible causes will arise from operating a resort on Pulau Payar.

As of today, the chalet project has been revived and construction works commenced two months ago. As such, in addition to environmental stress, there will be increasing stress from human impacts. 

For how long can the Pulau Payar Marine Park hold its status with all the threats man continuously throws at its coral reefs and its fragile marine ecosystem?

The issue of concern is that to maintain the pristine beauty of the marine heritage of Pulau Payar, development should be at a minimum and accommodation should not be allowed for obvious reasons. 

With this happening, primary threats to the coral reefs have been put in place with increasing nutrient run-off from human activities, sediment run-off from land/forest clearing for development and increasing sanitary and waste disposal problems, which would all be contradicting to the conservation of a marine park, no matter how ‘eco’ this resort claims to be.

The Pulau Payar Marine Park is one of the most frequently visited marine parks in Malaysia. With mass tourism and the daily operations of a resort on the island, fresh water intrusion will affect salinity levels at the sea and increase sedimentation load on the corals. Shampoo, detergent and lotions also contain chemicals that are harmful to marine life.

How would sedimentation, low salinity level and nutrient run-off affect the corals?

Freshwater adds salinity stress, causing a low salinity level and increasing sedimentation load. Similarly, when existing ground cover is disturbed, large quantities of fine soil particles are carried by rainwater into the ocean. These particles decrease visibility in the waters and the sediment blocks out light, thus reducing the growth of coral. At high rates of sedimentation, all corals will eventually be buried by sediments and killed.

Nutrient run-off from human activities into the reef system also encourages the growth of algae, which competes with corals for living space and light. Added nutrients could favour algal blooms, thereby retarding the growth and recovery of corals, even stopping their recovery, and finally causing death.

Once the corals die, fish and other marine species will eventually die, too.

Is there any mandate for a reef check survey to be carried out now before construction work continues further and the resort starts operation? And will this ‘eco-resort’ be environmentally responsible enough to engage an independent party to conduct regular quarterly reef check surveys to ensure the ecosystem has not deteriorated further? Will its operations be discontinued should there be signs of irreparable damage to the corals? Would it be too late by then to reverse these damages?

In many countries throughout the world, when an area is designated as a nature reserve or a marine park, great efforts are endeavoured to maintain it in its natural state as much as possible so that the public or visitors may enjoy the true value and heritage of the park in its original, undisturbed environment.

In Malaysia, however, it seems that an area that is designated as such would often become the target of more development, making it more urbanised rather than to conserve nature in its natural heritage. The Pulau Payar Marine Park is one such example. The irony is that marine parks were created as a means to protect an area of sea (or lake) to sustain its reef resources and to preserve its marine ecosystem, which is often a very sensitive environment. 

It would be recommended to issue a stop-work order immediately and move the resort out from Pulau Payar. At the same time, the authorities should look into restricting visitor numbers in a move to conserve and protect this marine ecosystem.

Looking at the bigger picture, the state government and local development authorities should also check themselves on the amount of development allowed on both Pulau Payar and Pulau Langkawi. It may seem lucrative to keep building more resorts, malls and theme parks to bring in the tourist ringgit. But how sustainable can this be for the islands?

Let us not forget that even with its duty-free status, Langkawi cannot compete with other cities like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong for ‘shopping tourism’. In the first place, tourists do not come from far to visit Langkawi for shopping. Instead, they are here for the nature that can be found here. 

In this respect, the Kedah state government and local development authorities should look into spending on conserving nature and protecting our forests to boost eco-tourism rather than focusing on clearing more land and forests for many more buildings and development projects. 

We are concerned islanders and we do not want to be in a mourning over the loss of the jewel of Langkawi in the near future. We are here protecting the rice bowl of the islanders.

Back then, I do remember how we were responded when we seek support from the MNS Langkawi. And below is the reply from the former MNS Langkawi Chairman back in 2009 (known as "junglewalla" the famous naturalist and proclaimed conservationist of Langkawi):

Note: Mr XX is someone that the name will not be revealed here

*From:* junglewalla <junglewalla@gmail.com>
> *To:* mnslangkawi@yahoogroups.com
> *Sent:* Thu, September 3, 2009 2:25:46 PM
> *Subject:* [mnslangkawi] Re: Pulau Payar Eco Dive Resort
>
>
> Hi Guys,
> I have spoken to Mr.XX on the phone yesterday and he informed me 
> this. Before being awarded the project the state goverment wanted the 
> best practice in place and made an inspection visit of his resort in 
> the east coast before the final desision was made.Some measures he has 
> in place are:
>
> 1. The grey water and black water sewage system at the resort complies 
> with international and national standards. All Treated water will be 
> used on the plant of the resort and not discharged into the ocean.
> 2.There will be a combustion generator(?) to power the resort but in 
> addition it has solar panels to light up the guest rooms at night.
> 3.All gabbage produce at the resort will be transported back to the 
> mainland or island.
>
> Mr. XX  has invited mns members to make an effort to visit to the 
> resort at P. Payar for a site inspection.May i suggest to our members 
> that we make a visit as soon as possible so as to satisfy any doubts 
> that we may have. This will also give us the opportunity to spot any 
> bad practices at the site and advice him early. This will allow for 
> the problem to be nib at the bud early. I am sure Mr. XX 
> understands that being environmentally friendly can be good for business.
>
> I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the group for the 
> passion and love you have shown for the island's environment. Keep it 
> comming.
>
> We must not only be seen to be a watch dog for the environment but 
> must be prepared to engage with stakeholders and goverment bodies. 
> While being critical we must also provide solutions. We must ensure 
> before any public action (newspaper,t. v., boycott etc) is taken on 
> errant individuals or companies that we must have throughly 
> investigated the matter and that we are proven right. This is to avoid 
> any legal liabilities upon us.
>
> Bear this also in mind..... that very so often we must stop and look 
> into the mirror and ask ourself this question .... What can I as an 
> individual do for the environment? .... Is the detergent that I am 
> using at home environmentally friendly or not and does it end up in 
> the ocean too?...or... .Am I still using styrofoam to pack my makan or 
> using the tiffen at the back of my car?....
> Anybody want to go into the environmentally friendly product business?
> Small deeds add up.
>
> Love & Peace
>
> Junglewalla
>

In the end, that's the end from junglewalla. No followups, no site visit nor efforts to help provide any solutions, nothing.  And yes sir, they did their own research before writing the letter. So, I wonder on the wonders of this conservationist. And now I have learnt that when conservation works and business interest comes together = zero conservation.

 

Though the deed may be small but thank you very much to Mandy, Malaysiakini and EcoMalaysia.org.

And if you are wondering why I am bringing up the past, I wonder myself too. I am NOT a conservationist. I am simply doing this dirty job of highlighting some of the issues online while mostly others prefer to rah-rah the issues over a teh-tarik at the mamak stall.

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Ignorant Tourists, Slacking Authorities

Just when I thought it was a happy ending to the shark feeding at Pulau Payar Marine Park Langkawi, an American family I met today reported their experiences there two days ago.

And sadly, the shark feeding is still happening at Pulau Payar. Standing on the jetty, some ignorant tourists were throwing in scrap food from their lunch pack provided by their operators to the blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus). The father of this family was swimming at the area where the food were thrown in. One of the sharks was swimming towards him and luckily it dodged when it saw a huge figure. It was scary enough for that man too. 

A tourist billboard encouraging the public that it is fun to do shark feeding...damn!

When will people ever learn about the impact and the risk of shark feeding? Please read the story on a shark attack incident here: Report on Shark Attack

Where are the marine park officers/staff to ensure the feeding is totally banned?

 

Apart from the feeding, the family reported having to see two hundred over visitors at the marine park. He commented that it was just too many people for that sort of space and Pulau Payar snorkeling area is not that big. The family was concerned over the tourists stepping on the corals and stirring up the sand or sediments. 

In 1998, Li Ching Lim conducted the carrying capacity assessment of Pulau Payar Marine Park, Langkawi. From the comprehensive report, Ching Lim stated that the carrying capacity concept is not able to produce a "magic number" that can dictate the number of tourists and divers which the marine park can support. As such, a formula was included in the report to act as  guidelines to determine the carrying capacity alongside with proper care and management of the reef.

And has the authorities adhere to the assessment guidelines?

A piece of advice for discerning tourists coming to Langkawi. Please do some homework and select the responsible nature tour operators. If you need to know recommended tour operators, you may leave me your email address on the comment box. Pulau Payar (Payar Island) is the only best snorkeling and diving site for the West Peninsula Malaysia. For it is now spoiled, let us not spoil it further.

Reference:

1. Carrying capacity assessment of Pulau Payar Marine Park

LANGKAWI NATURE BLOG

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Speak About Nature Conservation

It was two days ago when I was on the jetty at Kilim Geoforest Park and had an opportunity to observe a group of kayakers paddling towards the floating platform. A support boat came in shortly and three nature guides alighted with a couple of white sugar bags or gunny sacks. 

The elderly looking guide grabbed the sacks, placed them beside a rubbish bin and started going up the cemented steps. Then his colleague went to the sacks, inspected the contents and she held up one of sacks saying, "What are we going to do with these? Are just going to leave them here?" The elder guide simply replied, "If you want, you can take them home." "No, I don't want to but we just can't leave them  here.", she said. They seemed to be "tai chi-ing" the sack back and forth. Finally all three of them took the sacks and carried up to the jetty.

What were they up to?

 
I followed them from a distance watching their next course of action. They walked towards a bridge that connects to the broken boardwalk at the back of the mangroves. Long green pods came out from those sacks. Each one of them took out a handful of those long pods and  started dropping them one by one. The elder guide dropped the pods as if he was throwing darts while the female guide was more careful in dropping the pods. Most of the pods managed to stay upright on the mudflat and the rest of them... err... good luck. 

After they left the jetty, I walked over to the bridge to take a look at those long pods. Those were the seedlings of Rhizophora spp., less than fifty of them and I am uncertain from which area of the mangroves that they sourced from. I didn't have my camera with me and so, no pictures were taken.

This picture was taken in December 2010 showing an area next to Bat Cave (Gua Kelawar) where schools/groups did some planting here but those seedlings didn't survive. There is a signage in the middle of the mudflat indicating the previous group who did the planting.

I found out later from a local boat operator that this tour company organised a mangroves planting project for a school program. The students kayaked to the planting plot which was nearby to the Bat Caves (Gua Kelawar). Most plantings were done there but through the years, that area have a high unsuccessful growing rate. I wonder why do groups still want to plant on that area.

Those seedlings must be the remaining ones from the planting activity. I would definitely feel sorry for those seedlings if they were actually left beside the rubbish bin and thankfully they now have return to their habitat. I am not perfect myself and I do make mistakes sometimes but I felt it is disrespectful of how this elder guide of this company (Note: the name of the company is publicly withheld)  treated those seedlings immediately after the planting. Perhaps he will be a better role model for his next involvement in nature conservation with those kids.

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Run Wildlife Run!

Snakes! Tigers! Lizards! Pangolins! Bears! 

Calling all wildlife in the forest! Run for your lives!

For the wildlife Kingpin is freed - again...

Old habits are hard to die

For the hunting and trading will resume

Wildlife trader Anson Wong freed

February 22, 2012

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 22 — Anson Wong Keng Liang is a free man today after the Court of Appeal here allowed his appeal to reduce the jail sentence handed down to him for illegally exporting boa constrictor snakes without a permit, Bernama Online reported today.

The news portal also reported that Justice Datuk Wira Low Hop Bing, chairing a three-member panel, reduced the wildlife trader’s jail term from five years to 17-and-a-half months.

The panel held that the revised jail term, which Wong served from September 7, 2010 until today, would serve the interests of justice.

The court allowed Wong’s appeal to set aside a Shah Alam High Court decision to increase his jail term from six months, as imposed by the Magistrate’s Court, to five years.

Justice Low said when increasing his jail term, the High Court had erroneously put certain facts under consideration such as the alleged torture endured by 95 boa constrictors after they were placed a small bag together.

He said the High Court judge had also erroneously considered two venomous rhinoceros viper snakes, which were found in Wong’s bag but not stated in the charge against him as well as the allegation he was keen on profiting from his venture.

Bernama reported Low as saying the charge against Wong was one of exporting the boa constrictors without a permit. As a result, all other considerations fall outside the ambit of the charge which warranted the Court of Appeal’s intervention.

He also said the High Court did not make any reference to Wong’s guilty plea.

The panel also affirmed the High Court’s decision in setting aside the RM190,000 fine imposed on Wong by the Sepang Sessions Court as it exceeds the maximum RM10,000 fine which the Sessions Court can legally impose.

In January, the 53-year-old trader obtained leave from the Court of Appeal to appeal against the decision of the High Court in November 2011 which had increased his jail term from six months to five years.

In September 2011, the Sepang Magistrate’s Court sentenced Wong to six months’ jail and fined him RM190,000 after he pleaded guilty to illegally exporting the endangered species without a permit at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang at 8.50pm on August 26, 2011.

Wong was in KLIA on transit from Penang to Jakarta when the snakes were found in his suitcase.

The High Court imposed the five-year jail term on Wong after allowing the prosecution’s appeal for a heavier sentence. The court, however, set aside the RM190,000 fine.

The above source was taken from  The Malaysian Insider: Wildlife trader Anson Wong freed

Wildlife conservationists will know who this Kingpin is. Sadly, Malaysia has a reputation of being a hub for illegal wildlife trading (Report dated August 10th, 2009 from theStar: Malaysia is a hub for a multi-billion-ringgit global trade in illegal wildlife)

How Malaysia can stand as a nation that will fight for wildlife conservation and against illegal wildlife trading? 

More links to stories on this kingpin:

1. National Geographic: The Kingpin (in text)

2. National Geographic: Wildlife Kingpin Jailed

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Wildlife Murders In Langkawi

Of all the diurnal primates found on Langkawi, they are the shiest and gentle among all. They usually mind their own business and take off when you get close to them. Their shyness and gentleness are the unique traits that draw other primates to admire them and perhaps getting as near as possible to shoot them - with cameras.

This particular gentle diurnal primate is one our island's wildlife attraction, the Dusky Langur (Trachypithecus obscurus), which mostly can be found at the edge of the rainforest, in plantations or even nearby housing estates. 

A Dusky Langur (Trachypithecus obscurus) looking curious

The other primate that I am referring to is us (you and me) which belongs to the homo sapiens species. 

Decent homo sapiens like us would shoot them with cameras, either the pro ones or the not-so-pro ones. However, there is another group of homo sapiens in which I refer them as the evil ones that have shot some of these Langurs with shotguns or rifles.

Yes... with real guns! This news I received today was reported by one of our Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) member in Langkawi. 

This image was taken from MNS Langkawi
Many thanks, Alif Emmes and the informer for sharing this

Click below for the story...

This was reported and posted by one of MNS Langkawi member via Facebook:

"No, this is not a stock image downloaded from the internet. 

This is reality in Langkawi. It shows a dead Langur mother shot by local villagers on the 20th of January 2012 at the foot of the hillside at Pantai Tengah. My informant was on his bicycle when he drove around the corner and the dreadful sight of the dead monkey hanging head down in the tree opened up to him. At the same time he caught the three local culprits by surprise. They were dragging along two injured and blood covered baby Langurs. One of the men carried a brand new 16 gauge shotgun. 

My informant immediately started to question the guys and managed against their will to get hold of the two babies which had strangling roots tight around their neck. Not feeling comfortable with the rifle in his opponent’s hands and worried about the well being of the little orange ones he headed direct towards the animal clinic. While one of the monkey babies died in the first night, the second one seems to be ok so far and hopefully might stay alive.

I am actually wondering that only a few days after a similar incident in Pantai Kok again Lemurs were killed. There are plenty of Macaques to see on Langkawi but Lemurs are rather seldom to see. And these few are destroying the rubber plants on his plantation one of the guys claimed? Is it coincidence or are the "hunters" after the Lemur babies? Is maybe someone paying good money for them? I know quite a few licensed hunters and none of them would ever shoot an animal mother carrying children. It is not only cruel by all means it is also absolutely illegal."

Note: The author wrote "Lemur", in which he was referring to the "Langur".  

The President of MNS, Professor Maketab has sent an email to an officer in the Perhilitan (Wildlife Department), Haji Ramli Ahmad and we all want to see some actions taken.

Dusky Langur is a protected species under our Wildlife Department, click here for the list of protected mammals. Dusky Langur is under item 3. Even though they are protected, however, they are protected only up to a certain extend depending on which schedule that this species is listed under. 

Based on the report, these Langur/s were shot in places like Pantai Tengah and Pantai Kok area, in which these are the highly touristic areas. There was another comment in that same Facebook page reported that gun shots were heard in the area of Seven Wells waterfall. Another touristic spot. These poachers have became so daring. 

The reasons given for the shooting these Langurs are rubbish and absolutely not acceptable. There are other ways to curb this problem should these evil men claimed that these Langurs were destroying their plantation. Or it could be another reason that their plantation is illegal that they refuse to work with the relevant authorities to resolve the issue. Mind you that there is a group of inhabitants here whether they are locals or not, are destroying the gazetted rainforest in conversion to plantations. This is what we refer as "Land Grabbing", which is rampant and uncontrollable in Langkawi. When Dusky Langurs remaining habitat is destroyed by these evil ones, where else can they go "cari makan" (looking for food)? 

While tomorrow is Friday, which is the start of the weekend for all government agencies. From the informer's report, the murder incident happened on the 20th January 2012, which happens to fall on a Friday. Do you notice the pattern or the modus operandi of these poachers? 

First the Hornbills and now the Langurs (and of course there are a lot more wildlife been trapped, shot and yet to be reported), I wonder what will be the next drama that will bring down Langkawi's image as an eco-tourism destination?

I am looking forward for some answers from our Perhilitan and will update all of you should I have any. Should anyone out there sees suspect/s as such, please shoot them with camera as evidence. Even shooting their getaway vehicle registration number will help.

Note: Thank you to Kathrin Loffler, Vanessa and Pam Hill for the alert...yeah.. I love the power of Facebook!

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