The Star, Malaysia : Dangerous wildlife won’t be protected

Wednesday December 10, 2003

Dangerous wildlife won’t be protected

JACK WONG at the Sarawak State Assembly

KUCHING: Wild animals that pose immediate danger to the people will be removed from the list of protected animals in the state.

This is following the passing of the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003 which empowers the state minister in charge of wildlife to review the list from time to time.

Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Datuk Dr James Masing, who tabled the bill, said due to the protection given to some wild animals like crocodiles, their population had grown and now threatened human lives.

“An example is the increasing number of attacks by crocodiles on people in some of the rivers.

“Since the Wildlife Protection Ordinance was passed in 1988, 11 attacks had been reported and the victims were fishermen or those bathing in the rivers.”

He also said the crocodile population in the state’s main rivers had grown since 1998.

A survey by the Forest Department had revealed that Sungai Bako had the highest density of the reptiles – an average of eight crocodiles per kilometre, he said.

“There have also been reports of other wild animals destroying crops and fruit trees in other areas,” he added.

While protecting wildlife was deemed necessary to prevent them from becoming extinct, Dr Masing said it was also vital to safeguard human life from the potential danger of an increasing wildlife population.

He said the amendments would empower wildlife officers or any other authorised persons to shoot or capture any wild animals that endangered human lives.

The bill also provides rules to regulate the construction and maintenance of any building or structure for swiftlet nests that could be collected and sold.

The assembly also approved the Public Parks and Greens (Amendment) Bill 2003 that enables the state Planning Authority to impose conditions requiring a developer to reserve land for open spaces or green areas in any development area.

Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Adenan Satem, who tabled the bill, said it reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to provide green belts in towns.

Adenan said the state had declared 1,198ha of land as special areas under the ordinance.