KUALA LUMPUR – The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has been urged to stop culling wild animals, and instead find more ethical and peaceful solutions to human-wildlife conflict.
The Gibbon Conservation Society’s plea comes in the wake of a mass shooting of 20 endangered dusky leaf monkeys in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan.
The group’s president, Mariani Ramli, in a statement also urged the department and police to launch an investigation into the incident under Section 86 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and other related laws.
“We are genuinely disturbed by this incident.
“The culling of dusky langurs (also known as lutungs) does not serve any good, and has traumatised humans who witnessed the merciless shooting of our wildlife.
“Other reasonable actions could have been taken, such as an investigation into the situation, before resolving to such drastic measures.”
Yesterday, The Vibes reported that 20 primates were killed by Perhilitan personnel, with only two from the same family surviving the shooting that took place on Wednesday, while one is seriously injured after being shot.
Perhilitan had purportedly acted on a public complaint of aggressive monkeys in the area, but residents rubbished this, saying the langurs are a shy species, afraid to even approach humans.
The matter first came to light after a resident of a government quarters in Batu Dua, Nurul Azreen Sultan, took to Facebook to highlight the killing of the langurs, known for the white patches around their eyes, giving them a bespectacled look.
Speaking to The Vibes, Nurul Azreen said the episode has traumatised her and her neighbours, who have never had any issue with the monkeys.
“The most upsetting thing was when my neighbour saw the mother langur being shot and falling to the ground.
“The mother langur then tried to reach out to her infant on the tree, but the Perhilitan officer killed the baby, too.”
She said the officer in charge of the operation later told her father via a WhatsApp message that the department received a complaint from an adjacent teachers’ quarters regarding a monkey attack in the area.
What is the justification for the culling?
Mariani said Taman Raja Zainal residents have peacefully coexisted with the group of monkeys for decades.
“Why is mass killing the ‘solution’ provided by our Wildlife Department?
“The people need an explanation from Perhilitan.”
In 2019, she said, Perhilitan Director-General Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said killing or treating animals in a cruel manner, even if they come into conflict with humans, is an offence.
Kadir was referring to Section 86 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, she added.
“When a citizen lodges a report to Perhilitan requesting for help to resolve a wildlife-related issue, they never wish for the animals to be killed.
“The department’s decision to cull the monkeys is an easy and quick response to a citizen’s call, not a humane or long-term solution.”
She said citizens expect professional resolutions, such as the relocation and rehabilitation of the animals in question.
“Instead, the people have, time and again, been disappointed, and are caught in a situation of guilt and moral dilemma.
“Culling an entire group of monkeys can cause negative ecological impact and drive an endangered species to extinction.”
Mariani said the incident calls for, among others, a revision of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, an upgrade of the status of dusky leaf monkeys from protected to totally protected, and a clampdown on illegal wildlife trade involving the species.
She pointed out that May 21 was Endangered Species Day and May 22 was Biological Diversity Day, adding that Malaysia is “lucky” to be listed as one of 17 megadiverse countries out of 195 countries worldwide.
Urbanisation is the root cause of many human-wildlife conflicts, as animals have no choice but to move into human residential areas, she added.
“The government seems to be lagging behind in conserving wildlife habitat hotspots, where cruel and greedy developers, and wildlife traders, have been allowed to exploit our natural heritage.
“We hope the authorities will communicate more with wildlife experts who are knowledgeable in handling human-wildlife conflicts and engage with local communities in integrated conservation projects.” – The Vibes, May 24, 2021
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