Source : Bernama.com, 04 Jul '08
By : Esme Farhah Kazaruddin
  

Located 105 km north of Kuala Lumpur and sitting at 1,524 metres above sea level, the hill station is a haven for bird watchers as it is the transitional rendezvous for migratory birds flying south to New Zealand and Australia between March and June every year, to escape from the harsh winter of Siberia.

Hence, last June 21-22, tourists and bird watchers gathered at Bukit Fraser for the Fraser's Hill International Bird Race 2008 to watch over 250 bird species like the Blyth's Hawk Eagle, Mountain Sulvetta, Streaked Spidercatcher and Grey-Chinned Minret.

The event is organised by Tourism Pahang with the collaboration of the Fraser's Hill Development Corporation (FHDC).

BIRD RACE

Since its inception in 1987, Bukit Fraser's International Bird Race has managed to promote Fraser's Hill as the ideal location for bird watching, which in turn has drawn tourists to the hill station.

Beside enriching the experience of its participants, the event also facilitates the documentation of new discovery of bird species.

First-timer Kozue Yamaguchi said he was impressed with the variety of bird species found at Bukit Fraser. "I get to see birds that I have never seen in Japan," she said.

Yamaguchi said the event, amidst the beauty the flora and fauna here, would go a long way towards enhancing Malaysia's reputation as a tourist destination.

MORE TOURIST ARRIVAL

Meanwhile, FHDC chairman, Datuk Maznah Mazlan, said that tourist arrival at Fraser's Hill has recorded an increase of 30 per cent annually.

Fraser's Hill ranks 23rd as the venue for the world's bird watching event and is on the top four list of locations for international bird race meets in Asia, coming after China, Thailand and Indonesia.

Maznah, who is also the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Environment, said the marked increase in the number of students participating in the bird race, indicates that it is a good form of investment towards increasing public awareness on the need to safeguard the environment.

It also augurs well for the tourism industry, Maznah added.

"The participation of school students is a new investment, as if they love and care for the birds, they will do the same thing for the birds habitat, ultimately they will love and care for the environment", Maznah told reporters after launching the bird race here.

Maznah also said that there has been an increase in the number of foreigners participating in the event. These include return visits by those who had participated in previous editions of the bird race.

COMPETITION

However, Fraser's Hill International Bird Race has received stiff competition from a similar events held in neighbouring Thailand, said Maznah.

"Thailand has some 1,500 species of birds as compared to Malaysia's 745 species, making the former more attractive for bird-watching," she said.

Maznah said that compared with her neighbour up north, Malaysia is considered a neophyte in terms experience, skills and knowledge in bird-watching. Tourist guides here have very limited knowledge about bird species and have to constantly refer to books and the information brochures already available.

She said the FHDC is hoping to recruit experienced bird-watching guides, including those from Perhilitan (Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department) or those who posses the relevant skills and knowledge.

FHDC is also taking steps to preserve the natural environment at Fraser's Hill to ensure that the hill retreat remain relevant as a destination for migratory birds.

TARANTULAS

Other than migratory birds, Fraser's Hill is also host to large and hairy tropical spiders called tarantulas (theraphosidae).

These arachnids face the threat of extinction, due to the general lack of concern for their survival, compounded by the callous act of either catching or mortifying them for sale as souvenirs. Their nests are difficult to find, as they are located on mountainous terrain. These insects can grow up to 15 cm long and their bite is rather painful and poisonous.

FHDC science officer, K.S Durai, who has been acting as guide for bird-watchers for the past 23 years, said the tarantulas in Frasers Hill are mostly over 40 years old.

Durai, who is considered by many as the walking encyclopaedia for Fraser's Hill flora and fauna, said male tarantulas usually die after reaching sexual maturity at the age of five years. However the female of the species have a longer life span and would lay eggs once a year, after the rainy season, said Durai.

He said the tarantula has a unique 'dual-tone' feature where the four front legs appear to have a golden tint while the four rear ones are dark blue in colour.

Durai said poachers usually catch the tarantulas, which are later sold in foreign markets, like in Japan, where each spider can fetch as high as RM228.

"The tarantulas are reared as pet even though they need a temperature range of 16 to 22 degrees Celsius to survive", he told journalists.

According to Durai, tarantulas are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and any person found guilty of keeping it illegally can be fined RM50,000.