Lungs of the earth

Lungs of the earth

A senior botanist shares his thoughts on sustainable use of rainforests with HILARY CHIEW.

HAVING spent a good part of his research career in the Amazon jungles, Prof Sir Ghillean Prance does not want to see the world’s largest tropical rainforest disappear.

After the great destruction of the rainforest at a reported rate of 32,500ha a day or about eight football fields a minute in the 1980s and 1990s due to cattle ranching, the onslaught has not subsided.

Like many conservationists, Prance, who was director of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew between 1988 and 1999, is perturbed by expanding soy plantations in Brazil.

“I’ll be meeting the Brazilian environment minister soon to discuss the impact of soy plantations. I think it’s my responsibility as a scientist to make use of the opportunity to talk to decision-makers and make meaningful intervention,” revealed the botanist during a recent visit to Kuala Lumpur.

Soybean, which originated from China, has taken root in cleared Brazilian forests as farmers have bred appropriate strains. Prance said soy plantation depletes soil fertility after some years, hence more forests need to be cleared for farmers to gain access to fertile land.

He advocates ethno-botany, a branch of botanical studies which acknowledges rainforest dwellers’ knowledge and sustainable extraction of plants.

Instead of cash crop production, he promotes sustainable harvesting of high value, non-timber forest products, such as the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa), an important plant that has brought much-needed socio-economic progress to the interiors of Brazil.

An authority on tropical botany, Prance has led 16 scientific expeditions into various parts of the Brazilian Amazon and is known for his work on the Brazil nut.

His research on the coconut-sized nut uncovered a delicate web of ecological interdependencies. Female Euglossine bees (or Orchid bees), which pollinate the Brazil nut plant, hold one of the keys to the riddle of the species. They mate only with males which have successfully gathered a complete cocktail of scents from several orchid species – all of which grow only in undisturbed forest.

Understanding such interdependencies is vital for the survival of less economically significant species, and in turn conserves the biological diversity of the Amazon.

Brazil nuts come entirely from wild collection and have been touted as a viable species for generating income from a tropical forest without destroying it, if managed properly.

As the scientific director of the Eden Project in Cornwall, England, Prance continues with his campaign to integrate ethno-botany into the bigger conservation scheme to save the Amazon.

“Eden Project works through educating the public on the importance of plants to the world. We have an extension project in the field to stimulate change on the ground and these experiences are shared with visitors. For instance, we promote free trade products which reward the farmers for producing their crops in a sustainable manner that ultimately benefits them economically and ecologically,” he said.

It is not just for sentimental reasons that Prance is disturbed by the current land use pattern in Brazil. It is the role of the Amazonian rainforest in regulating global climate that is of great concern to the botanist who is also looking into the impact of a warmer earth from a botanical perspective.

Scientists have warned that carbon emissions reduce the amount of water vapour, released through evaporation, that feeds the region’s rain clouds.

The destruction of the Amazon might be large enough to change the climate of the rainforest and of the world. Last year, the Amazon experienced its driest year since 1926. Shallow rivers cut off river transportation and emergencies were declared for many interior towns.

Prance noted that the average first flowering date of 385 British plant species has advanced by 4.5 days during the past decade.

“Sixteen per cent of species flowered significantly earlier in the 1990s than previously. These data reveal the strongest biological signal yet of climate change. Flowering is especially sensitive to the temperature in the previous month, and spring-flowering species are most responsive. This will affect both the structure of plant communities and gene-flow between species as climate warms,” he added.

Under Prance, Kew Garden set up the Millennium Seed Bank to collect seeds from species that are threatened with extinction. The vaults now hold 700 million seeds representing 14,000 species from 126 countries. Stored at -20°C, most will last for more than 200 years. Faced with climate change, scientists are beginning to work on adaptation strategies, studying how seed quality varies with changes in climate.

Despite the grim outlook of the state of the earth, Prance is hopeful. He was particularly encouraged by the sight of participants in a cultural parade 2,400km up the Amazon River carrying placards with a green message.

He said environmental consciousness has grown over the years and people understand the significance of protecting the environment. “When more and more people learn about the environment, they can influence policies,” he added.

Recent expedition reports sighting of wild Sumatran rhino

Recent expedition reports sighting of wild Sumatran rhino
10 Jul 2006
Roy Goh


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KOTA KINABALU: A recent expedition to the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Lahad Datu has lifted hopes for the preservation of the Sumatran rhinos.

For the first time ever, a wild Sumatran rhino was manually photographed while members of the three-week expedition also recorded two sightings and other signs indicating that the rhino’s population may grow if its surroundings remain undisturbed.

The expedition, from June 17 to July 6, was jointly conducted by SOS Rhino, an international organisation dedicated to the protection of rhinos, together with the Sabah Wildlife Department and Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

The findings of the expedition is the second major breakthrough in Sabah this year. Last month, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - Malaysia and the Sabah Wildlife department announced the first ever photograph of a wild Sumatran rhino taken by motion-triggered camera.

A member of the expedition team, Arief Rubianto, a ranger from the SOS Rhinos' Rhinos Protection Unit of Indonesia, said the team detected seven rhinos.

"Of the seven rhinos detected, three were confirmed males, one female with a young, another female on its own while the seventh rhino was detected but its gender could not be confirmed," he said.

Two of the rhinos were detected visually while the rest were detected by footprints, scratch marks from their horns and droppings. It is estimated that there are at least 15 to 20 rhinos in the wildlife reserve.

"We surveyed about 25 per cent of the area, which is about 120,000ha. I believe there could be more rhinos," said Arief who has been protecting rhinos in Indonesia for the last 13 years.

Arief also believed that the number of rhinos in the reserve would grow up to 30 within the next five to 10 years if the area remains undisturbed.

Meanwhile, Dr MS Thayaparan, a programme officer with the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), who is also SOS Rhino programme officer, said the university and the organisation has worked together in the last five years on conservation studies.

A conservation club is also being planned by UMS to raise awareness of the Sumatran rhinos which is one of the most critically endangered species in the world.

Rainforest World Music Festival: Struggling to be heard

Struggling to be heard

By MUMTAJ BEGUM

Except for a few people in the audience, nobody else at the Sarawak Cultural Village understood what singer Nahawa Doumbia from Mali was saying to them in French. What more for the audience to comprehend the lyrics to her songs that are said to be “stories from her life” sung in Bambari (one of the languages in Mali). Yet the listeners – comprising a vast mix of nationalities themselves – gathered for the recent Sarawak Rainforest World Music Festival just couldn’t get enough of the singer and the musicians accompanying her. Nahawa and the four-man band garbed in traditional stitches were the last act of the first night of this festival held in Santubong, Sarawak.

Cries of “satu lagi” and “we want more” did not fall on deaf ears and she complied by playing a song before she bid adieu just minutes shy from the stroke of midnight. Just like so many West African selections at previous editions of the fest, Nahawa was a firm delight.

On stage she is a force to be reckoned with. Not only because her voice is undoubtedly a powerful tool, but her personality tells us that she is truly at home on the stage. Jovial throughout the set, she cajoled the audience to sing along, and yes, in Bambari. She even encouraged members of the audience to come up and dance with her. One music lover fell down to his knees and touched her feet with his forehead worshipping her after he got a chance to share the stage with her.

This contrasted to the unsmiling woman who came to the press conference held 12 hours earlier (last Friday). It is as if the tragedy of how she had to hide her talent when she was growing up still affected her till today. Sitting down, she related her life in a resigned manner.

Of course, a more logical explanation could be that she was just jetlagged, having flown in the day before!

Her life was struck with misfortune a week after she was born; her mother passed away, leaving Nahawa to be cared for by her grandmother.

As translated by the group’s road manager Tom Puechavy, Nahawa told of how her grandmother went around the village called Manankoro looking for a mother who could breastfeed the newborn. In the end, the grandmother was given two cows to provide the milk.

Tragedy ensued.

With a slight smile, Nahawa recalled in French, “The first cow fell into a well and the second one died after a tree struck by lightning fell on it. You can still see the tree even today.” Her grandmother finally found some women to breastfeed her.

During one of her workshops at the fest, Nahawa spoke more about her music and life. Having lived with all these terrible events, she turned them into a heartfelt number titled Djiwe – that brought the workshop to a standstill. While the words do not signify anything to us, the emotion she conveyed in the song came out loud and clear.

Nahawa started singing when she was seven simply for the reason it gave her pleasure. But it was not something that was encouraged in the Wassoulou region (south of Mali). Her grandmother was Muslim and Nahawa’s want to sing was frowned upon. Furthermore, she was not of the right descendant in Mali. (Only the jali, the Manding caste that performs music, became singers). To put a stop to this, her grandmother got a magician to rid Nahawa of this gift. In her 2000 album titled Yaala, there is a song titled Minia in which she sings of a wicked wizard who is after her.

The strict ruling in Mali changed in the 1960s and the government believed that the development of the country could be achieved through music. Hence every two years, a meeting of youths called National Youth Week was organised by the country’s Ministry of Culture and the talented ones could showcase their talents.

She continued, “My friends and neighbours told me that I should take part in this contest.”

She did and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. With a career spanning nearly 20 years, she has slowly gained a steady following worldwide. Her albums are released in France and in Britain; she has put out records under the acclaimed Stern’s Music imprint.

She started her career by singing Didadi music, a rhythm from her village and played by youngsters there. Over the years, she has added instruments and her music and style have evolved with her but the basis of her music remains the traditional Didadi music. Her songs are made of hard issues such as rights of women and children, the conditions of the poor folk and working hard.

At this point of time, the band comprises a guitarist (N’gau Bagayok), Drissa Sidibe on a lute known as kemele n’goni and two percussionists – Al Hassane Sissoko (on djembe) and Mamadou Diarra on dhoundoun). She has eight albums to her name.

Nahawa Doumbia proves, above all, that music truly crosses all the invisible boundaries. And what would be a tragedy is not to see this performer in action.

Courts should be tough with them

Courts should be tough with them
15 Jun 2006
LORETTA ANN SOOSAYRAJ Petaling Jaya

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I REFER to the report where two men pleaded guilty to possessing 137 pangolins in Tanah Merah, Kelantan ("Pangolin tra- ders plead guilty" — NST, June 13).

Pangolins are totally protected under the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972.

Sentencing has been fixed for July 14 and the two men risk a maximum jail term of three years, a fine of RM3,000 or both on one charge, a jail term of up to six years, a RM6,000 fine or both on another charge, as well as a separate charge which carries a jail term of 10 years, a fine of RM10,000 or both.

This means that if the court decides to impose the maximum sentences for these two wildlife criminals, they could be behind bars for a total of 19 years each and be poorer by RM19,000.

The laws provide adequate penalties for these criminals. Now it is up to the courts to impose these penalties. For illegal wildlife dealers, even the maximum fines are usually not sufficient punishment.

But long custodial sentences could mean the difference. This will ensure they are physically unable to go back to the business of illegal wildlife trading and they can spend their time behind bars repenting.

And, hopefully, the memory of imprisonment will induce them to never return to their shady dealings once released.

Cruel trade

I REFER to the NST report on the pangolin smugglers. I hope that the two who pleaded guilty to possessing 137 pangolins in Tanah Merah are given the maximum sentence.

Not only did they break the law, they were cruel to animals and upset the balance of nature.

There have been many seizures of pangolins and turtles from Malaysia in Thailand. The animals are always in a terrible state. This cruel trade must stop.

LEONIE VEJJAJIVA

for Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand

Courts should be tough with them

Courts should be tough with them
15 Jun 2006
LORETTA ANN SOOSAYRAJ Petaling Jaya

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I REFER to the report where two men pleaded guilty to possessing 137 pangolins in Tanah Merah, Kelantan ("Pangolin tra- ders plead guilty" — NST, June 13).

Pangolins are totally protected under the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972.

Sentencing has been fixed for July 14 and the two men risk a maximum jail term of three years, a fine of RM3,000 or both on one charge, a jail term of up to six years, a RM6,000 fine or both on another charge, as well as a separate charge which carries a jail term of 10 years, a fine of RM10,000 or both.

This means that if the court decides to impose the maximum sentences for these two wildlife criminals, they could be behind bars for a total of 19 years each and be poorer by RM19,000.

The laws provide adequate penalties for these criminals. Now it is up to the courts to impose these penalties. For illegal wildlife dealers, even the maximum fines are usually not sufficient punishment.

But long custodial sentences could mean the difference. This will ensure they are physically unable to go back to the business of illegal wildlife trading and they can spend their time behind bars repenting.

And, hopefully, the memory of imprisonment will induce them to never return to their shady dealings once released.

Cruel trade

I REFER to the NST report on the pangolin smugglers. I hope that the two who pleaded guilty to possessing 137 pangolins in Tanah Merah are given the maximum sentence.

Not only did they break the law, they were cruel to animals and upset the balance of nature.

There have been many seizures of pangolins and turtles from Malaysia in Thailand. The animals are always in a terrible state. This cruel trade must stop.

LEONIE VEJJAJIVA

for Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand

Love your wildlife : What to Know Before Buying a Pet Parrot

How delightful it is to be in the presence of such magnificent creatures as parrots! Their stunning color combinations and attention grabbing mimicry create quite an impression on both young and old alike. Have you been thinking about buying a parrot of your own? Parrots are quite unlike any other pet and they have distinct attributes that make them both loveable and frustrating. Before you choose to own a parrot it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of their qualities to ensure that they will fit with your lifestyle. LIFE SPAN Are you planning to commit to a pet for your entire lifetime? While a dog may average 10 to 15 years and a cat slightly longer, some species of parrots live up to 65 or 75 years! That means that not only will the bird live as long as you, quite likely it will survive you and its living arrangements will need to be provided for in advance. Many parrots find themselves in new homes every few years. Despite your loving commitment your bird will likely need a new home when you are no longer able to care for it. You don't want your aged bird to suffer the stress of constantly changing homes so determine what arrangements can be made to satisfy your bird's needs. MESS Birds are messy - no matter what species. Their natural instincts to spread seed throughout the forest has not disappeared and you will need to deal with the seeds thrown out of the cage on a daily basis. Leaving seeds strewn about can attract rodents and become a source of bacteria. Parrots will also produce a fair amount of waste every day. Not cleaning their cages and dishes routinely can lead to infections and is also not healthy for humans. Parrots that are allowed to roam freely can also cause extensive damage to furniture and other items. Large species like the Macaw have a strong bite and can chew furniture, rip wallpaper or knock items over. NOISE While you may find their calls and chattering adorable, your neighbors may not. Different species have different vocalizations. If you live in an attached or semi-attached housing you may have to rule out certain species like Cockatoos which are extremely loud. RESPONSIBILITY Owning a parrot is a privilege and with that comes responsibility. Taking care of your bird does not have to be costly if you clean and feed your bird properly but you will have to invest in proper housing so your bird is comfortable. If you have other pets, such as dogs or cats, you must protect your parrot from being harmed. Never leave other pets alone with your parrot. Many parrots will also develop strong attachments for a certain individual in the family. While the growing loyalty may be appreciated by the favored person it can cause problems when birds become overly protective of their loved one. On the other hand, a parrot is a social and intelligent animal which will become easily bored. A busy home or single owner who has time to give plenty of attention to the bird would be best. Along with people you may find your parrot craves the company of another bird. This is particularly true when the bird matures (around 5-8 years for large species). If you decide to provide a mate for it you must also take responsibility for the increased care and possible babies that may arrive. Parrots bring great joy to the lives of individuals who appreciate them despite the work involved. You owe it to your pet to learn as much as possible about their care so you can commit to them and provide a loving home for as long as possible.
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New species of parrot, mouse found in Philippines

New species of parrot, mouse found in Philippines

By Alexandra Hudson
MANILA (Reuters) - A brightly plumaged parrot and a long-tailed forest mouse unique to the Philippines have been discovered in the vanishing rainforest of a tiny tropical island, U.S.-based researchers said on Thursday.

Camiguin, a volcanic island in the southern Philippines, is a treasure trove for fauna, and already had an endemic species of rodent and frog before the discovery of the rusty brown mouse and the green hanging parrot, known among locals as "Colasisi."

But Camiguin's wildlife was at risk from deforestation, researchers, writing in "Fieldiana:Zoology", a scientific journal published by the Chicago-based Field Museum of Natural History, warned.

"Knowing that at least 54 species of birds and at least 24 species of mammals live on Camiguin and that some of these animals are found nowhere else on earth, makes us realise how important this island is," said Lawrence Heaney, curator of mammals at the Field Museum.

"For these animals to survive, we've got to save the dwindling forests where they live."

A diverse archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines hosts a wealth of endemic flora and fauna but more than 70 percent of its original forests have been destroyed.

Camiguin was once almost entirely covered by rain forest but by 2001, only 18 percent was still forested due to logging, agriculture and human settlement. Half of the island, a popular diving destination, is covered with coconut plantations.

The new species of parrot was known to locals because of its value in the pet trade. The bird's throat and thighs are bright blue and the top of its head and tail are brilliant scarlet-orange.

Males and females have identical plumage, which is quite unusual in this group of parrot, and researchers gave it a new name -- Loriculus camiguinensus or Camiguin hanging parrot.

Little is known about the new species, spurring interests in the scientific and conversation community to establish the size of its population.

The mouse, discovered high on the steep slopes of one of the island's volcanoes, was new to locals.

The rusty-brown rodent, known as Apomys camiguinensis, has large eyes and ears and feeds mostly on insects and seeds.

Kill the forest, lose cures

Kill the forests, lose cures
By RUBEN SARIO
sario@thestar.com.my
KOTA KINABALU: Compounds derived from plants growing in the Borneo rainforest hold the promise of cures for cancer, AIDS and malaria.
But the greatest fear for scientists is that these jungles are being cleared faster than they can develop the drugs.
“It takes a long time before a substance found in a plant can be developed as an efficient drug and used by doctors,” said Universiti Malaysia Sabah Assoc Prof Dr Menno Schilthuizen.
He authored a World Wide Fund for Nature report on Borneo rainforest plants currently being researched for their medicinal properties.
“I believe that hundreds of plants have been screened, dozens of compounds have been identified but only a few of them are now clinically tested,” added Dr Schilthuizen, who expressed concern over the forest clearing.
His report was recently released in Switzerland.
According to his report, an Australian pharmaceutical company had identified a promising anti-cancer substance in a shrub found in Sarawak.

An eye for beautiful birds

An eye for beautiful birds

WHEN one wakes up in the morning, it is always a pleasure to hear the singing of birds such as the bulbul.
There are lots of birds in Malaysia which are stunningly beautiful and many people had taken to bird watching as an enjoyable pastime.
It is easy to start bird watching. One needs only sharp eyes, a great dose of patience and binoculars.
A good place for bird watching is Pangkor Island in Perak. Toge-ther with some other Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) members from Penang, Perak and Selangor, this writer recently travelled to the island to watch pied hornbills.
The trip was organised by Con-nie Khoo who is fondly known as the ‘Hornbill Lady’. We stayed in the Sunset View Chalets managed by Noordin Bakar who is a great cook and singer.
On arriving at the chalet, we changed into our green pants, shirts and hats. We started trek-king into the forest nearby. Con-nie, who had organised many bird watching trips for MNS members, took a great photograph of two white-bellied sea eagles copulating.

AERIAL ACROBATICS:Pied hornbills snapping up breadcrumbs thrown in the air above them during feeding time.Great patience is necessary to watch birds.
The rainforest track was narrow and the light was fading as we stalked a flashy bird, its piercing calls coming from high on the tree tops, which had eluded us for an hour.
Suddenly there was a movement and in a flashing sweep of yellow and black tail plumes, a crested goshawk alighted on a high branch, allowing a view through binoculars.
“Sshh!” whispered Connie, and we admired its brownish, speckled head and chestnut-coloured body.
Although it drizzled, we were not discouraged and trekked in raincoats. We were rewarded with sights of bulbuls, blue-throa-ted bee eaters, kingfishers and sparrow hawks.
We returned to the chalets and at 6.15pm, Noordin whistled and called for his beloved hornbills.
Loud squawking was heard and some pied hornbills dived in mid air for breadcrumbs.
At 6.45pm, there was a raptor watch.
Raptors, or birds of prey, are among the most spectacular birds in the world. They are highly mo-bile and graceful predators.
In Malaysia, the raptors seen in-clude buzzards, black baza, gos-hawks and sparrowhawks.
It was a joy watching the raptors dancing and frolicking in the sky. Suddenly, Connie gasped and silenced us. She had caught sight of a spotted wood owl in a tree across our chalet. What a delight!
Digiscopes or spotting scopes were focused by the birders and many tourists peeped into the scopes to view the enchanting owl.
The next day after trekking, I swam in the warm sea and saw hornbills on the trees.
Besides bird watching, there are some sights to see in Pangkor. I went on a motorcycle to Teluk Da-lam with another member of the group. There were people drying squids and anchovies in the fishing village.
On the east coast of Pangkor, one can visit Sungei Pinang Kechil. This town has an Indian temple. The Chinese temple and the mini Great Wall of China are worth a look in Sungei Pinang Besar.
There is an old Dutch fort at Teluk Gedung which was built in 1670.

Happy earth day

The Story of Earthday
Earth Day is in the Spring Every Year.
Earth Day was started in 1970 by a man named John Mc Connell from the United States. It was originally held on the annual celebration of the March Equinox and still is by many people. However, it is generally celebrated on April 22. Earth day is now celebrated worldwide.
Earth Day is a very special day specifically designed for all of us to think about earth issues . It is not only a special day in the town where we live, but a day that the whole world participates in! Often there are celebrations, events or campaigns that concern us with earth matters.


Earth Day is a time to celebrate gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress. Earth Day is a time to unite around new actions. Earth Day and every day is a time to act to protect our planet.

Johor gives Bigfoot full protection

Johor gives Bigfoot full protection



JOHOR BARU: News of the alleged capture of a baby Bigfoot in Kota Tinggi last month has started an international debate on the need to protect the mythical creature.

Following this, the Johor Government has announced total protection for the Bigfoot, as a State heritage, which cannot be injured, captured, transported out of the State or killed.

This has won the praise of the American based Bigfoot Research Organisation (BFRO), which said: "The proactive step by Johor to declare the Bigfoot totally protected has disproved the assumption that no government would ever declare the species protected until at least one specimen was obtained by a hunter.

"Given the rarity of the species, it would have been a sadly ironic event if the world’s first declaration of protection would have required the death of one of these rare animals."

BFRO in its website said Johor had thus taken another bold, historical step that other countries could only follow.

It added that the governments of Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, India, China, Russia, America or Canada did not collect information on Bigfoot sightings from their citizens for the purpose of government-sponsored scientific research.

"Sightings in all of those countries do not get documented by any government agency. In the US and Canada, sightings reported to police and forest rangers are ignored and denied, even if the witnesses are the police and rangers themselves," it said.

"Malaysia is the only country that attempts to collect information on sightings from its citizens. Although sightings and track finds are not frequent, the Malaysian Government is still the only government in the world that will not hesitate to disclose any sighting information to the media.

"Laws regarding endangered species are typically set this way to provide for situations where a newly-discovered species with a very limited habitat is in need of immediate legal protection to prevent its extinction."

The only previous ‘law’ enacted that prohibits the killing of the Bigfoot is the 1969 ordinance in Skamania County, Washington.


Bigfoot capture a tall tale
20 Apr 2006

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JOHOR BARU: The story of a baby bigfoot being captured in Kota Tinggi appears to be just that: A tall tale.


Enquiries with the State Government, state wildlife department and national wildlife department drew a blank on the issue.

State Environment and Tourism Committee chairman Freddie Long said he read about the alleged incident in a newspaper yesterday.

"We are not sure if wildlife officers really caught a baby Bigfoot. I only came to know about it from a newspaper report," he said after the weekly State Executive Council meeting here yesterday. State Wildlife director Abdul Razak Majid also denied knowledge.

A Bahasa Malaysia daily reported that a baby Bigfoot had been shot with a tranquiliser gun and transported to Kuala Lumpur.

Loris ....slow ....slowly

any of the tailless Indo-Malay primates, family Lorisidae, of the genera Loris (slender loris) and Nycticebus (slow loris). Lorises are found in forested regions and may be recognized by their soft, gray or brown fur; huge eyes encircled by dark patches; and shortened index fingers. They are arboreal and nocturnal, curling up to sleep by day. They move with great deliberation and often hang by their feet with their hands free to gain holds on branches or to grasp food.

The slender loris (L. tardigradus) of India and Sri Lanka is about 20–25 centimetres (8–10 inches) long and has long, slender limbs, small hands, a rounded head, and a pointed muzzle. It feeds on insects and small animals and apparently is solitary. The female usually bears a single young after about 160–170 days' gestation.

The two species of slow lorises are more robust and have shorter, stouter limbs, more rounded snouts, and smaller eyes and ears. They are found in Southeast Asia and the Malay Peninsula. The smaller species (N. pygmaeus) is about 20 cm long; the larger (N. coucang) is about 27–38 cm long. Slow lorises are slower moving than slender lorises and feed on insects, small animals, fruit, and vegetation. The females bear one (sometimes two) young after about 190 days' gestation.

loris

The Slow Loris is a small nocturnal and slow moving animal. It has a very short tail, conspicuous ears, big eyes and a sofl fur. It is also arboreal and its main diet consists of small animals, mostly insects and pulpy fruit. The Slow Loris is normally found in secondary forest, gardens and cocoa plantation. The main threat to this species is habitat destruction and hunting. This animal is also listed as a protected animal under the Fauna Conservation Ordinance, 1963.

Source : Wildlife of Sabah In Danger, Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Sabah Wildlife Department, 1993.

Tapir .....shy inhabitant of the forest

(genus Tapirus) any of four species of hoofed mammals, the only extant members of the family Tapiridae (order Perissodactyla), found in tropical forests of Malaysia and the New World. Heavy-bodied and rather short-legged, tapirs are 1.8 to 2.5 m (about 6 to 8 feet) long and reach about 1 m at the shoulder. The eyes are small, the ears are short and rounded, and the snout extends into a short fleshy proboscis, or trunk, that hangs down over the upper lip. The feet have three functional toes, the first (inner) being absent, and the fifth reduced in front and absent in the hind foot. Body hair is short and usually sparse but fairly dense in the mountain tapir (T. pinchaque, formerly T. roulini). There is a short, bristly mane in the Central American, or Baird's, tapir (T. bairdii) and the South American lowland tapir (T. terrestris; see photograph). This geographic distribution, with three species in Central and South America and one in Southeast Asia, is peculiar. Fossil remains from Europe, China, and North America show that tapirs were once widespread, but the extinction of intermediate forms has isolated the living species.

The three New World species are plain dark brown or gray, but the Malayan tapir (T. indicus) is strongly patterned, with black head, shoulders, and legs and white rump, back, and belly. The young of all tapirs are dark brown, streaked and spotted with yellowish white. A single young (rarely two) is produced after a gestation of about 400 days.

Tapirs are shy inhabitants of deep forest or swamps, traveling on well-worn trails, usually near water. When disturbed, they usually flee, crashing through undergrowth and often seeking refuge in water. Their main enemy wherever they are found is man; in South America the jaguar is a principal predator, and in Asia the tiger is another predator. Despite declining numbers caused largely by habitat destruction, tapirs are hunted for food and sport in many parts of their range.

Rainforest

Rainforest also spelled rain forest luxuriant forest, generally composed of tall, broad-leaved trees and usually found in wet tropical uplands and lowlands around the Equator.

A brief treatment of rainforests follows. For full treatment, see tropical forest.

Rainforests usually occur in regions where there is a high annual rainfall of generally more than 1,800 mm (70 inches) and a hot and steamy climate. The trees found in these regions are evergreen. Rainforests may also be found in areas of the tropics in which a dry season occurs, such as the “dry rainforests” of northeastern Australia. In these regions annual rainfall is between 800 and 1,800 mm and as many as 75 percent of the trees are deciduous.


Tropical rainforests are found primarily in South and Central America, West and Central Africa, Indonesia, parts of Southeast Asia, and tropical Australia. The climate in these regions is one of relatively high humidity with no marked seasonal variation. Temperatures remain high, usually about 30° C (86° F) during the day and 20° C (68° F) at night. Where altitude increases along the borders of equatorial rainforests, the vegetation is replaced by montane forests, as in the highlands of New Guinea, the Gotel Mountains of Cameroon, and in the Ruwenzori mass of Central Africa. Tropical deciduous forests are located mainly in eastern Brazil, southeastern Africa, northern Australia, and parts of Southeast Asia.

Other kinds of rainforests include the monsoon forests, most like the popular image of jungles, with a marked dry season and a vegetation dominated by deciduous trees such as teak, thickets of bamboo, and a dense undergrowth. Mangrove forests occur along estuaries and deltas on tropical coasts. Temperate rainforests filled with evergreen and laurel trees are lower and less dense than other kinds of rainforests because the climate is more equable, with a moderate temperature range and well-distributed annual rainfall.

The topography of rainforests varies considerably, from flat lowland plains marked by small rock hills to highland valleys criss-crossed by streams. Volcanoes that produce rich soils are fairly common in the humid tropical forests.

Soil conditions vary with location and climate, although most rainforest soils tend to be permanently moist and soggy. The presence of iron gives the soils a reddish or yellowish colour and develops them into two types of soils—extremely porous tropical red loams, which can be easily tilled, and lateritic soils, which occur in well-marked layers that are rich in different minerals. Chemical weathering of rock and soil in the equatorial forests is intense, and in rainforests weathering produces soil mantles up to 100 m (330 feet) deep. Although these soils are rich in aluminum, iron oxides, hydroxides, and kaolinite, other minerals are washed out of the soil by leaching and erosion. The soils are not very fertile, either, because the hot, humid weather causes organic matter to decompose rapidly and to be quickly absorbed by tree roots and fungi.


Rainforests exhibit a highly vertical stratification in plant and animal development. The highest plant layer, or tree canopy, extends to heights between 30 and 50 m. Most of the trees are dicotyledons, with thick leathery leaves and shallow root systems. The nutritive, food-gathering roots are usually no more than a few centimetres deep. Rain falling on the forests drips down from the leaves and trickles down tree trunks to the ground, although a great deal of water is lost to leaf transpiration.



Most of the herbaceous food for animals is found among the leaves and branches of the canopy, where a variety of animals have developed swinging, climbing, gliding, and leaping movements to seek food and escape predators. Monkeys, flying squirrels, and sharp-clawed woodpeckers are some of the animals that inhabit the treetops. They rarely need to come down to ground level.

The next lowest layer of the rainforest is filled with small trees, lianas, and epiphytes, such as orchids, bromeliads, and ferns. Some of these are parasitic, strangling their host's trunks; others use the trees simply for support.

Above the ground surface the space is occupied by tree branches, twigs, and foliage. Many species of animals run, flutter, hop, and climb in the undergrowth. Most of these animals live on insects and fruit, although a few are carnivorous. They tend to communicate more by sound than by sight in this dense forest strata.

Contrary to popular belief, the rainforest floor is not impassable. The ground surface is bare, except for a thin layer of humus and fallen leaves. The animals inhabiting this strata, such as rhinoceroses, chimpanzees, gorillas, elephants, deer, leopards, and bears, are adapted to walking and climbing short distances. Below the soil surface, burrowing animals, such as armadillos and caecilians, are found, as are microorganisms that help decompose and free much of the organic litter accumulated by other plants and animals from all strata.

The climate of the ground layer is unusually stable. The upper stories of tree canopies and the lower branches filter sunlight and heat radiation, as well as reduce wind speeds, so that the temperatures remain fairly even throughout the day and night.

Virtually every group of animals except fishes is represented in the rainforest ecosystem. Many invertebrates are very large, such as giant snails and butterflies. The breeding seasons for most animals tend to be coordinated with the availability of food, which, although generally abundant, does vary seasonally from region to region. Climatic variations, however, are slight and thus affect animal behaviour very little. Those animals that do not have highly developed modes of quick locomotion are concealed from predators by camouflage or become nocturnal feeders.

Logging threatens wildlife at Temenggor forest

Nation
Tuesday April 11, 2006


Logging threatens wildlife at Temenggor forest


ROYAL BEAUTY: The Rafflesia azlanii is among 3,000 species of flowering plants in the Belum- Temenggor forest.
GRIK: A species of Rafflesia named after Sultan Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak, hornbills which flock in the thousands, a habitat for 14 globally threatened mammals and a major water catchment for Perak – all these are at stake if the Temenggor Forest Reserve continues to be logged.

Highlighting the detrimental effect of timber harvesting on wildlife, the Malaysia Nature Society (MNS) is urging a stop on logging there and for the forest to be protected and added to the Royal Belum State Park.

Anthony Sebastian, chairman of the MNS science and conservation committee, said making Temenggor a part of Royal Belum would create a large and contiguous tract of forest that was vital for wildlife.

“Royal Belum by itself is insufficient for long-term survival of large mammals such as the Asian elephant, Sumatran rhinoceros, Malayan tiger and Malayan tapir,” he told reporters during a site visit.

The 117,500ha Royal Belum was declared a protected area in 2003 but the adjoining Temenggor forest remains a “production forest” for timber harvesting.

Sebastian said allowing logging in Temenggor contradicted the National Physical Plan, which identified the Belum-Temenggor forest as an “environmentally sensitive area” where no development, agriculture and logging should be permitted.

He said logging would silt up rivers and the lake, and hence threaten the viability of the Temenggor Dam as a source of water and hydropower. It would also affect the livelihood of the orang asli, who catch fish, collect jungle produce and grow rubber and fruit trees.

Scientists believe that the Belum-Temenggor forest is some 130 million years old, making it older than the Amazon and Congo forests and hence, much more complex in biodiversity. The area hosts more than 3,000 species of flowering plants, including the Rafflesia azlanii, which was scientifically described only in 2003.


MATURE TREE: The untouched Belum forest abounds with huge trees such as this one, enveloped by a strangling fig. The Royal Belum was declared a protected area in 2003 but the adjoining Temenggor forest remains a “production forest” for timber harvesting.
It harbours 274 bird species, including the globally threatened plain-pouched hornbill. MNS surveys found this species flies in flocks of over 2,000 – a phenomenon recorded nowhere else in the world – and roosts in the Temenggor forest.


“This is the only place in the country where all 10 species of hornbills are found. Logging will deny hornbills of fig trees which they feed upon and the tall mature trees which they nest in,” said Sebastian.

Scientific surveys of Belum-Temenggor have found 64 species of ferns, 62 of mosses, 100 of mammals, 168 of butterflies, 252 of moths, 25 of cicadas, 36 of aquatic bugs, 95 of leaf beetle, 51 of land snails, 24 of amphibians, 21 of lizards, 23 of snakes, 23 of freshwater fish and seven of turtles.

Sebastian believes that the Temenggor forest, with its untouched wilderness and rich wildlife, has immense tourism potential that can be tapped to provide the state with revenue.

The Hairy orang-utan

Introduction

orangutan

(Malaysian“person of the forest”)





also spelled orang-utan the only Asian great ape, found in lowland rainforests on the Southeast Asian islands of Sumatra and Borneo. The orangutan possesses cognitive abilities comparable to those of the gorilla and the chimpanzee, which are the only primates more closely related to humans.





Photograph:Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)
Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)
Russ Kinne/Photo Researchers



The orangutan is not as powerfully built as the gorilla but is larger than the chimpanzee. The adult male is typically twice the size of the female and may attain a height of 1.3 metres (4.3 feet) and a weight of 130 kg (285 pounds) in the wild; females weigh 37 kg or less. Older males develop wide cheek pads, a unique feature among primates. The typically dark tan or brownish skin is covered with relatively coarse and usually sparse red hair. Adult males and some older adult females may have partially or entirely bare backs, but the hair on a male can be so long as to look like a cape when he moves his arms.

Orangutans are the largest arboreal animals, spending more than 90 percent of their waking hours in the trees. During the day most of their time is divided equally between resting and feeding. Orangutans are predominantly ripe-fruit eaters, although they consume more than 400 different types of food, including invertebrates and, on rare and opportunistic occasions, meat. Almost every night orangutans construct a sleeping platform in the trees by bending and breaking branches, leaves, and twigs. Unlike the African apes, orangutans frequently use vegetation to protect themselves from the rain.

In addition to feeding and resting, orangutans also spend short periods of time traveling through the forest canopy, where they typically scramble by using all four hands and feet. Orangutans occasionally swing through the trees using only their arms (brachiation). Although their legs are short, their arms are proportionately the longest of those of the great apes. The hooklike hands have long fingers and palms with short thumbs. The feet resemble the hands in having opposable big toes that are similar to the thumbs. Another arboreal adaptation is flexible hip joints that allow orangutans similar movement in their legs and arms. On the ground orangutans are slow; a person can easily keep pace with them. They are not knuckle walkers like the African apes but instead walk on closed fists or extended palms.

There are two phases of sexual maturation among males—adult and subadult. Adult males are larger and exhibit striking secondary sexual characteristics, particularly the flat and prominent cheek pads that develop along the sides of the face. The pads enhance the size of the head and are linked with increased levels of testosterone. Adult males also have a throat pouch that serves as a resonating chamber for the “long call,” a sequence of roars that can sometimes be heard for 2 km (1.2 miles). Males typically vocalize for a minute or more; calls up to five minutes in length have been recorded, giving the call its name. Females virtually never give the full sequence of the long call, as it serves to space males and attract sexually receptive females. Otherwise, orangutans are generally silent. Subadult males lack the wide cheek pads and large throat pouch, and they generally do not long call. Although smaller than adult males, subadults are still as large as or larger than adult females. Subadults may remain in this state for 10 to 20 years. This arrested development has been linked with stress associated with the presence of adult males.

Orangutans live in a semisolitary social organization that is unique among monkeys and apes. Population densities usually average only two to three individuals per square kilometre (about five to seven per square mile), with adult males having larger home ranges than females. Adult males are the most solitary, avoiding each other and associating only with consorting females or former consorts. Subadult males associate primarily with females. Adult females live with their dependent young, but adolescent females are almost gregarious. Sexually receptive females may attract several males, both adult and subadult. Males, adults in particular, behave aggressively toward other males at this time, with combat taking place in the presence of receptive females. Most mating takes place in the context of consortships that last 3 to 10 days and are correlated with ovulation. Subadult males often forcibly copulate with females at times other than during ovulation.

Female orangutans have the longest breeding interval of any mammal, giving birth on average once every eight years. Wild females generally first give birth when they are 15 or 16 years of age, but females as young as 7 have given birth in captivity. Gestation is about eight months. Newborns weigh less than 1.5 kg and have prominent white patches around their eyes and mouths as well as scattered over their bodies. Slow growth and development are consistent with the orangutan's long life span—60 years has been documented in captivity.

Orangutans are generally placid and deliberate, and in captivity they have shown considerable ingenuity and persistence, particularly in manipulating mechanical objects. They have demonstrated cognitive abilities such as causal and logical reasoning, self-recognition in mirrors, deception, symbolic communication, foresight, and tool production and use. In the wild, orangutans use tools, but at only one location in Sumatra do they consistently make and use them for foraging. In this context they defoliate sticks of appropriate size to extract insects or honey from tree holes and to pry seeds from hard-shelled fruit.

As recently as 1980, 100,000 orangutans existed in the wild. By the end of the 20th century, there were 25,000 or fewer. Huge fires in the late 1990s, as well as conversion of tropical forest for agriculture, logging, and mining, have wiped out large areas of habitat. These factors, along with the poaching of orangutans for their infants, which are sold as pets, and the killing of orangutans as agricultural pests, have put wild orangutans in danger of extinction.

Orangutans are classified with the African great apes, gibbons, and humans in the family Hominidae of the order Primates. Most authorities divide orangutans into two subspecies, the Bornean (P. pygmaeus pygmaeus) and the Sumatran (P. pygmaeus abelii), but others consider them as separate species. During the Pleistocene Epoch (1,800,000 to 10,000 years ago), the orangutan range was much more extensive, and orangutan remains have been found as far north as southern China.

Biruté M.F. Galdikas
Additional Reading
Jeffrey H. Schwartz (ed.), Orang-Utan Biology (1988), is a detailed description of orangutan anatomy, physiology, and evolution. Birute Galdikas, Reflections of Eden: My Years with the Orangutans of Borneo (1995), is a narrative account of the primatologist's study of orangutans in Borneo. H.D. Rijksen and E. Meijaard, Our Vanishing Relative: The Status of Wild Orang-utans at the Close of the Twentieth Century (1999), comprehensively discusses data on the distribution and population of orangutans, threats to their survival, and plans for their conservation. Orangutans: Just Hangin' On, produced by Argo Films for WNET and National Geographic Television as part of the PBS television series Nature, documents on video the research being done on both captive and wild orangutans, including studies of intelligence.

Malaysians, Thais and Indons to decide fate of 54 orangutans

Malaysians, Thais and Indons to decide fate of 54 orangutans

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - The fate of 54 orangutans illegally smuggled into Thailand nearly two years ago will be decided at a meeting of Malaysian, Thai and Indonesian wildlife officials later this month in Bangkok, officials say.

The move comes amid a campaign by international non-governmental organizations calling for sanctions against Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Saudi Arabia, which they accuse of failing to return more than 100 illegally smuggled orangutans.

The two-day talks beginning April 21 in the Thai capital Bangkok are expected to produce an agreement that will pave the way for the primates to be returned to either Indonesia or Malaysia, once tests have determined their country of origin, Schwann Tunhikorn, deputy director of Thailand's National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, told The Associated Press.

"We are doing all we can. We don't want to get stuck with these orangutans,'' Schwann said.

"We want to send them back but we want to do it the right way ... That is why we need to discuss how best to determine which population these 54 orangutans come from.''

Thai authorities in 2004 confiscated more than 100 orangutans from the private Safari World zoo near Bangkok, where they were forced to perform in daily boxing matches.

A court ruled earlier this year that 54 of the orangutans were illegally smuggled into the country.

The remainder have since been returned to the zoo, after the owners proved they were purchased before Thailand amended its law in 1992 to make smuggling illegal.

CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna, lists orangutans as endangered, meaning trade in the animals is tightly restricted.

Orangutans are native to Indonesia and parts of Borneo island, but not Thailand, where questions have been raised about the origins of those held in private zoos.

Some are believed to have been smuggled to Thailand, though others have been bred from legally imported animals.
In March, 40 conservation groups called on CITES Secretary-General Willem Wijnstekers to implement sanctions against the four countries "who are blatantly disregarding the spirit, if not the rules, of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species.''

The groups singled out Thailand for delaying the return of the 54 orangutans, while accusing Cambodia of refusing to confiscate 22 others that are reportedly being forced to entertain tourists by cycling, boxing and skateboarding in daily shows.


They also said Malaysia has failed to return an orangutan to Indonesia while one had disappeared after being confiscated in Saudi Arabia.

"The smuggling of highly endangered orangutans is an appalling activity,'' Sean Whyte, coordinator of the Born To Be Wild Campaign, said in a statement.

"Any country which condones this trade deserves to have sanctions brought against it by CITES.''

Pangolin..yuks... scaly and they eat ants!!!!

Pangolin
also called Scaly Anteater, any of the armoured placental mammals of the order Pholidota. Pangolin, from the Malayan meaning “rolling over,” refers to this animal's habit of curling into a ball when threatened. About eight species of pangolins, usually considered to be of the genus Manis, family Manidae, are found in tropical Asia and Africa. Pangolins are 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 feet) long exclusive of the tail and weigh from 5 to 27 kg (10 to 60 pounds). Except for the sides of the face and underside of the body, they are covered with overlapping brownish scales composed of cemented hairs. The head is short and conical, with small, thickly lidded eyes and a long, toothless muzzle; the tongue is wormlike and extensile, up to 25 cm (10 inches) in length. The legs are short, and the five-toed feet have sharp claws. The tail, about as long as the body, is prehensile, and, with the hind legs, it forms a tripod for support.



Some pangolins, such as the African black-bellied pangolin (Manis longicaudata) and the Chinese pangolin (M. pentadactyla), are almost entirely arboreal; others, such as the giant pangolin (M. gigantea) of Africa, are terrestrial. All are nocturnal and able to swim a little. Terrestrial forms live in burrows. Pangolins feed mainly on termites but also eat ants and other insects. They locate prey by smell and use the forefeet to rip open nests.

Their means of defense are the emission of an odorous secretion from large anal glands and the ploy of rolling up, presenting erected scales to the enemy. Pangolins are timid and live alone or in pairs. Apparently usually one young is born at a time, soft-scaled at birth and carried on the female's back for some time. Life span is about 12 years.

Pangolins were once grouped with the true anteaters, sloths, and armadillos in the order Edentata, mainly because of superficial likenesses to South American anteaters. Pangolins differ from edentates, however, in many fundamental anatomic characteristics.



The earliest fossil Pholidota are bones indistinguishable from those of the African giant pangolin, found in a cave in India and dating to the Pleistocene Epoch (about 10,000 to 2,500,000 years ago).

Binturong??? Never heard of it..........

binturong

(Arctictis binturong), catlike carnivore of the civet family (Viverridae), found in dense forests of southern Asia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It has long, shaggy hair, tufted ears, and a long, bushy, prehensile tail. The colour generally is black with a sprinkling of whitish hairs. The head and body measure about 60–95 centimetres (24–38 inches) and the tail an additional 55–90 cm (22–35 in.); weight ranges from about 9 to 14 kilograms (20 to 31 pounds). The binturong is principally nocturnal and arboreal in habit, using its prehensile tail as an aid in climbing. It apparently feeds mainly on fruit but also takes eggs and small animals. In some areas it is tamed and is reported to make an affectionate pet.

Mummy what is a tiger ??????

Tiger


(Panthera tigris; also Neofelis tigris, or Leo tigris), great cat of Asia, the largest member of the cat family (Felidae). Like the lion, leopard, and others, the tiger is one of the big, or roaring, cats; it is rivaled only by the lion in strength and ferocity.

The tiger is thought to have originated in northern Eurasia and to have moved southward; its present range extends from the Russian Far East through parts of China, India, and Southeast Asia. There are about seven or eight generally accepted races of tiger. Of these, the Javan tiger, Bali tiger, and Caspian tiger are believed to be extinct; the Chinese tiger is near extinction; and the Sumatran, Siberian, and Indian subspecies are listed in the Red Data Book as definitely endangered.
The size and the characteristic colour and striped markings of the tiger vary according to locality and race. Tigers of the south are smaller and more brightly coloured than those of the north. The Bengal tiger (P. tigris tigris) and those of the islands of Southeast Asia, for example, are bright reddish tan, beautifully marked with dark, almost black, transverse stripes; the underparts, inner sides of the limbs, the cheeks, and a large spot over each eye are whitish.

The very large and very rare Siberian tiger (P. tigris altaica) of northern China and Russia, however, has longer, softer, and paler fur. There are a few black and white tigers, and one pure white tiger has been recorded.
The tiger has no mane, but in old males the hair on the cheeks is rather long and spreading. The male tiger is larger than the female and may attain a shoulder height of about 1 m (3.3 feet); a length of about 2.2 m, excluding a tail of about 1 m; and a weight of about 160–230 kg (350–500 pounds), or a maximum of about 290 kg.
The tiger inhabits grassy and swampy districts and forests; it also haunts the ruins of buildings such as courts and temples. A powerful, generally solitary cat, it swims well and appears to enjoy bathing. Under stress, it may climb trees. The tiger hunts by night and preys on a variety of animals, including deer, wild hog, and peafowl. Healthy large mammals are generally avoided, although there have been recorded instances of the tiger having attacked elephants and adult buffalo. Cattle are sometimes taken from human habitations. An old or disabled tiger or a tigress with cubs may find human beings an easier prey and become a man-eater.
In warm regions the tiger produces young at any time of year; in cold regions it bears its cubs in spring. Litter size is usually two or three, and gestation averages 113 days. The cubs are striped and remain with the mother until about the second year, when they are nearly adult and are able to kill prey for themselves. The tigress does not breed again until her cubs are independent. The average life span of a tiger is about 11 years.
Because it is so closely related, the tiger can be crossbred in captivity with the lion; the offspring of such matings are called tigons when the sire is a tiger, and ligers when the sire is a lion.
The tiger has been the subject of much folklore and superstition. It has been hunted for sport and for fur. In parts of its range it is valued for the supposed curative, protective, or aphrodisiac properties of various parts of its anatomy.
Other animals sometimes called tigers are the clouded leopard (q.v.), or clouded tiger; the puma (q.v.), or deer tiger; and the sabre-toothed cat (q.v.).

Snaring poachers and saving tigers

Snaring poachers and saving tigers
Protecting endangered tigers is a complex task that warrants a variety of policy interventions. The Centre's decision to set up a dedicated investigative task force consisting of officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Forest department, and other agencies is one such measure. A professional task force against poaching and wildlife crime that is sensitive to conservation imperatives will remove a major lacuna in the implementation of Project Tiger. Shocking levels of poaching have been recorded in the last decade and over 600 kills catalogued by non-governmental organisations such as the Wildlife Protection Society of India. As the only country with a significant number of tigers surviving in the wild, India has for long been the hunting ground for international poaching networks that trade in tiger skins, bones, and parts. Such groups are able to operate virtually unchallenged because enforcement of the Wildlife Protection Act is pathetic. Poachers have jumped bail and gone underground to resume illegal wildlife trade. The CBI has suggested to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that there is a need to revisit the Act to curtail bail options, remove provisions for remission and suspension of sentences, and set up exclusive courts to hear wildlife cases. A stronger law, however, can only be as good as the cooperation the CBI gets from State police forces — and the law enforcers get from society.
Scientists feel confident of achieving an increase in tiger populations because the species breeds fast in a protected environment. Much of this anticipated success will depend upon the response of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the custodian of the flora and fauna in the few available protected forests. This Ministry has been perceived to be unduly receptive to industrial investment proposals that damage the ecology of protected areas. The Cat Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union (also known as the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) noted this worrying trend in the wake of the Sariska crisis. "In booming India, industrialisation rules; a senior official in the Ministry of Environment declared in a World Bank journal that environment legislation and processes are causing risks for investors and need reforming," observes the IUCN in an editorial on the future of the tiger. What is needed is reform that aids and strengthens conservation. The Prime Minister, who leads the national rescue effort, must eliminate policy conflicts that affect the health of forests. The poaching of tigers and their prey is widely acknowledged to be a serious threat and the new investigative task force and similar agencies can make some gains in this area. Yet, for Project Tiger to succeed, a congenial environmental policy is an imperative. India needs to act with a clear understanding that the tiger has a future only if habitat is preserved, conservation science improved, and field protection within forests strengthened.
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