WILDLIFE RESERVES
Preserving a Vanishing Wildlife

Renowned for one of the earth's most complex eco-system, Malaysia is home to diverse wildlife - the product of a very long period of continuous-evolution.

In safeguarding the country's forest heritage and thereby providing sanctuary to many near-extinct and rare wildlife species more than 20.6% of Malaysia's virgin land have been set aside as national parks and wildlife reserves where forests are protected from any form of development.

Peninsular Malaysia's reserves for the conservation of wildlife come under the control of the department of Wildlife and National Parks, a federal agency in Kuala Lumpur, with offices in each state.

One of these reserves is Taman Negara (The National Park). Covering 4,343 square kilometres of primeaval rainforest Taman Negara is the country's premier wildlife reserve. It holds one of the richest mammal faunas in the world.

Elephants, tigers, gaur, tapir, barking deer, sambar deer, sun bear and primates are found in the dense forest. Sightings, though, are rare.

In Sarawak, the national parks and wildlife reserves are managed by the Forestry Department. Wildlife reserves include the Samunsam Wildlife Sanctuary established to protect the Proboscis Monkey, and the sanctuaries for Orang Utan covering 168,600 hectares in the Gunung Lesong and the Lanjak-Entimau area.

Sabah's wildlife reserves are managed by the State Forestry Department. Of these, the Orang Utan Sanctuary at Sepilok, is perhaps the most well-known.

Wildlife and endangered species in Malaysia are protected by the National Parks Act 1980 and the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972. These offer some measure of protection to the endangered wildlife species.

Since the February 1988 amendment to the Wildlife Act 1972 came into force, a number of big cases have been brought to court. One significant case, the largest in the history of the wildlife department, involved a serow (capricornis sumatraensis) whose existence is lost to poachers for its meat and purportedly medical properties.

Eleven men were caught in possession of freshly shot serow. Eight of the men with shotgun were compounded RM5,000 each, while the others were fined RM3,000 each.

The Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris) whose claws have been sought after for decorative uses, is another animal that is given strict protection. Total protection was given to the tiger in 1971.

Anyone found wearing a claw tiday would be fined. The tiger was hence, left alone and the population increased. From 250 in 1971, the tiger population, today, is 600.

Dwindling numbers of endangered species cause grave concern to wildlife conservationalists. In an attempt to reverse the decline of species captive breeding of animals is sought.

Encroaching development in forested areas threatens animals' loss of habitat and affects their genetic deversity. In an effort to find food in a shrinking land, many animals enter the fringes of the territory belonging to rural settlers, and damage cultivated crops.

Since 1969 wild elephants have destroyed over US$100 million crops, mostly of oil palm, their favourite food.

In order to conserve wildlife, large animals are captured and translocated at a suitable area where they would be able to roam freely.

While moving animals from their natural habitat may not be the most ideal it may, perhaps, offer a chance of survival for species that may otherwise be subjected to a fate similar to that of the dodo.

Here are some species of wild life found in Malaysia.
01. Sumatran Rhinoceros

An extremely rare mammal that is threatened with total extinction. It is probably the only surviving rhinoceros in Malaysia. It stands 4ft. tall at the shoulders. It roams in the remoter parts of the jungles and feeds on leaves, knocking small trees down and trampling all over them to get at the shoots.
02. Gaur

The Gaur or Seladang is the larger of the two kinds of wild cattle found in Malaysia. Fully-grown it weights about 1 ton. It turns savage and dangerous if molested. Usually found grazing in small herds in open country and river valleys.
03. Lesser Mouse-Deer

The smaller of the two kinds of mouse-deer found in Malaysia. Fully-grown it is about 1� ft. long, and weighs less than 4lbs. It is often seen alone in the forest, by river banks, in swampy areas or hills. Sometimes it turns up at plantations or vegetable gardens looking for food. Nick-named the "Sang Kancil" in Malay folklore.
04. Tapir

There are only a few Tapirs left in this country. Unless protected they may soon become extinct. Despite its large size the Tapir is quite harmless. Fully-grown it is almost 3� ft. tall at the shoulders. The adult moves about alone. It feeds on leaves and shoots that grow among the jungle undergrowth.
05. Orang Utan

The Orang Utan is the biggest of all the Malaysian apes. It is found only in Borneo and Sumatra. A fully-grown male weighs about 450lbs. The Orang Utan lives in trees in the virgin jungle, although the female is sometimes seen with her baby on the ground. Ruthlessly pursued by animal dealers, the Orang Utan is seriously threatened with extinction
06. White-Handed Gibbon

The White-handed Gibbon is related to the ape family. It is about the same size as an ordinary monkey, but it has no tail. It lives in trees and rarely descends willingly to the ground. It feeds on fruits, shoots, leaves and even spiders and insects. In captivity it will eat cooked rice, meat and vegetables. It has a musical hooting cry, sounding somewhat like 'wa...wa'
07. Common Palm Civet

There are many types of civets found in Malaysia. The Common Palm Civet is the commonest and best known. It looks rather like a large grey cat with short legs, a long pointed face and a very long tail. It sleeps during the day, hiding beneath the roofs of houses and sheds. At night, it hunts for food, making bold raids in hen roosts and fruit gardens.
08. Barking Deer

This is the smaller of the two kinds of true deer found in Malaysia. When fully-grown it measures 3ft. long and weights about 28-35lbs. Only the males have antlers. The Barking Deer lives in the hillside forests. When it calls it sounds like a dog barking from a distance. Hence its name.
09. Plantain Squirrel

There are many kinds of Malaysian squirrels, but the most common is the Plantain Squirrel. They are found in great numbers in lowland forests and often are hunted down as pests in coconut groves or orchards. They are very active by day and can be seen running up and down the branches of trees.
10. Malay Bear

The smallest existing bear, but it is just as powerful and formidable as the bigger species. Fully-grown it measures about 4�ft. in length and weighs about 124 lbs. It likes to raid nests of wasps and bees for the larvae and honey. Though it is usually found in virgin jungle it sometimes wanders into coconut groves, sago or oil palm plantations.
11. Common Porcupine

This is the largest of the Malaysian porcupines. Fully-grown it measures about 2�ft. long with a 7 inch tail and weights between 17�-21lbs. It is a nocturnal animal and lives entirely on the ground in large burrows. It eats all kinds of fruits and roots. Sometimes it even feeds on the meat of dead animals.
12. Long-Tailed Macque

The Long-Tailed Macaque or Kera is the most common of the 5 species of monkeys found in Malaya. The young monkeys have tails as long as their bodies. As they grow old, the males often lose their tails and sprout grey side-whiskers. This monkey is found in many parts of the country, sometimes seen even in the outskirts of towns.


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