Elephant Conservation Vs Mass Tourism

The news below prompted me to write.....

It is true that tourists are not coming to Kuala Gandah as the Wildlife Protection Act 2010 was enforced. Elephants are not allowed to entertain tourists - so the law says. It is a strange law in Bolehland. Do you know that there is also a clause in the Wildlife Protection Act 2010 that says Government agencies can "bulldoze" salt licks for development? But salt licks are important for wildlife and especially elephants. Elephants are the flagship of the living ecosystem in jungle as they are able to dig up salt licks for other smaller animals. Its just hypocritical to have law that can destroy salt licks on one hand but on the other its a no-no! It is a noble gesture to prevent elephants from carrying tourists (as they said wildlife are best left in the wild) but then elephants can be playful and some are known to be highly intelligent.

 

The problem with dangerous elephants arises when the mahouts became stressful and started to torture the elephants. And that was the reason elephants trampled people. In another case, a friend  witnessed an elephant tour that saw two elephants attacking each other because the first elephant was fed with bananas while the second one which the tourist did not purchase for his elephant became angry. This jeolousy caused the elephants to fight although they didn't harm the tourists. It was a frightening experience for the two tourists riding on their backs. Also there are cases where mahouts used iron spikes to hit at their elephants so that the elephants can walk faster because there is a large crowd waiting for their turn to ride. After going many rounds, the elephants became tired but were forced to continue. That was the problem.

 

Community should be fed inorder for them to appreciate wildlife conservation. If laws are make to victimize rather than to find a win-win solution, then wildlife conservation might not work. Perhilitan should continue with the elephant rides but limit to certain hours. Well trained and tactful mahouts that are passionate with elephants are the solutions for elephant tourism. In the meantime, let see how this conservation issue could become another political issue.

You can't trust politicians - Bob Geldof

Today I read an interesting piece of news (news below). I would like to give an example of our natural environment, a salt lick. Meranto Salt Lick was destroyed by a Felda plantation. The Jeli-Gua Musang highway is less than 50 metres from the salt lick. Salt lick is an important component for the survival of wildlife. And the Laws of Malaysia, Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) of Chapter 4, Section 85 on Disturbing salt lick or its vicinity, clearly spell out the protection...BUT..upon reading further in that Section 85, I found some clauses that have no genuine interest of wildlife at all. If the offence by government then its ok to destroy salt lick. Bob Geldof is quite right!

 A local pointing to the destroyed Meranto Salt Lick

You can't trust politicians. It doesn't matter who makes a political speech. It's all lies - and it applies to any rock star who wants to make a political speech as well. - Bob Geldof

Laws of Malaysia, Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) of Chapter 4,

Section 85. Disturbing salt lick or its vicinity

(1) Save as otherwise provided in this section, any person who disturbs-

(a) any salt lick; or

(b) the land in the immediate vicinity of any salt lick, which land if disturbed would render the salt lick unattractive or unsafe to any wildlife,

commits an offence and shall, on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(2) For the purposes of this section, "disturb" includes to remove or agitate any soil, mineral, water, tree, shrubs, undergrowth or other vegetation in or on the salt lick or in or on the land in the immediate vicinity of the salt lick.

(3) This section shall not apply to-

(a) the Federal Government; or

(b) any State Government,

acting, as the case may require, in pursuance of any rural development scheme, urban development scheme, forestry management scheme or industrial undertaking.

-------read news below------

Monday June 11, 2012

DPM: Malaysia to protect environment while pursuing development

Star

YEOSU (South Korea): Malaysia has assured that it would never sacrifice its natural environment, which is well-endowed with flora and fauna, in its eagerness to become a developed country.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Government had taken various measures to protect the national treasures, including introducing laws and policies on conservation of the environment and biodiversity.

"We have also required states in the country which have jurisdiction over land and flora and fauna to undertake housing and industrial development without harming the environment," he told Malaysian journalists after launching Malaysia Day and visiting the Malaysian Pavilion at the Expo 2012 Yeosu on Monday.

Also present were his wife, Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas, Malaysian Ambassador to South Korea Datuk Ramlan Ibrahim and Expo 2012 Yeosu Committee chairman Kang Dong-suk.

"The demand for development is always there, the demand for land utilisation in plantation areas is always there, but there must be a balance between development and conservation of the environment.

"This is the responsibility of not only the ministries and the Government but also the states," he said.

"In our eagerness to become a developed country, Malaysia will not sacrifice the environmental treasure we have," he said.

He said the Government was committed to ensuring that at least 50% of the country remained environmentally green as agreed upon at the Rio Earth Summit 1992.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said it was also important to educate the young to enable them realise the importance of protecting the environment.

"We know that there is lack of proper conservation of the environment in some places in Malaysia and this has to be attended to not only by the ministry and the Government but also society," he said.

Commenting on the country's participation in the three-month expo, which will end on Aug 12, he said it helped Malaysia to display its rich biodiversity and culture and the Government's efforts to protect the environment. - Bernama