Turtle Volunteer Programme: Sun, Sea and Heroes in a Half Shell!

Returning to active blogging:

I have been so busy with my various trips, activities and volunteer commitments for the past year that I ceased updating my blog, except for Letters to the Editor. I decided to return to active blogging because I missed blogging. I write for myself, and I had enjoyed recording things for posterity. I missed typing out my thoughts. opinions and feelings. I missed interacting with other bloggers. I am pleased that I have made the decision to return to active blogging.

Turtle Volunteer Programme, 1st - 2nd Sept 2012:

It has been a good year for volunteering and outdoor trips for me, and so I decided to organise a little volunteering trip of my own, which would be open to both Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and non-MNS members, to give everyone an opportunity to get acquainted with protected species and to give Mother Nature a hand.

After several months of writing official letters to the powers-that-be for permission and making arrangements for accommodation and our trip itinerary, we finally finalised the trip for the long Independence Weekend of 1st - 2nd September. We would be visiting and volunteering at the Turtle Information and Management Centre at Pantai Padang Kemunting, Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah, Melaka. I had attended a volunteer programme there back in 2006 and found it to be a very enlightening, empowering and moving experience. The programme then was run by WWF Malaysia. They have since groomed the local youths to take over and run a grassroots organisation called Hawksbill EcoClub. Around 20 of my friends signed up (there were initially 30 registrants, but several pulled out due to family and other commitments) for the programme and so we met up at the Centre on a sunny Saturday afternoon.



A group photo for posterity outside the Centre.



The first activity on the itinerary is a compulsory briefing and video presentation on the threats faced by sea turtles and the work done by the Turtle Information and Management Centre. This is one of the slides on the conservation work done by the Dept of Fisheries and the Turtle Information and Management Centre. The turtle eggs are removed by licensed egg collectors within 2 hours of being laid and transferred to the hatchery and incubation rooms to prevent egg harvesting by profiteers. Turtles are part of our natural heritage and should be protected.



Hawksbill turtles feed on sea sponges (not the synthetic stuff you wash dishes with) and measure 70-90 cm on average. They can weigh between 35 and 75 kg.



Mohala, Mary and Keats viewing the exhibits and plaster models of turtles at the gallery within the Centre.



There were 5 turtles in a pond within the centre compound for rehabilitation and research purposes. They will be released into the sea once the biologists have determined that they are ready to go.



Rangamal and her nephews befriending a little hawksbill turtle. These turtles are used to the presence of humans and were not unduly stressed out.



Mohala, Sheela and Ilani are all smiles as they get ready to do the beach cleanup.



Ee Phin and Stefan hard at work collecting beach litter.



Starting them young: Rangamal teaches her nephews, Danush (5) and Karthik (11) about pollution and littering and gets them to assist in the beach cleanup.



Mary and Sheela sweep up the leaves while Nic (my best friend) pulls out a weed so that its roots will not end up depriving the turtle eggs of moisture.



The beach cleanup crew hard at work. Much of the litter consisted of pieces of polystyrene foam from the cooler boxes used by fishermen. I plan to write to the Dept of Fisheries to offer ideas on how to phase out the use of foam coolers due to the detrimental effect they have on wildlife. (Photo credits: Mary Chan)



I found a tube of toothpaste, while Aravind found a heart-shaped container! It's amazing what people leave on the beach! (Photo credits: Mary Chan)



We gathered at the hatchery after completing the beach cleanup to receive further instructions from Encik Mohammad.



We regrouped at the Centre after dinner for a briefing session before we started on our night walk and turtle observation activities.



Four hatchlings emerged from their shells around 10 p.m. They are always passive and disorientated right after hatching.



The four hatchlings were transported to a secluded area on the beach for release. This was the last photo I was able to take before we were instructed to switch all our flashlights, cameras and mobile phones off to avoid confusing the turtles as they make their way into the great big sea. I prayed hard for the little turtles' safety and well-being.



Another batch of turtle hatchlings emerge out of one of the nests. Stay strong and stay safe, baby turtles! See you in 15 - 20 years!



Pakcik Harun, one of the licensed egg collectors (seated) who we met during the night walk. He was so passionate and knowledgable! I hope he grooms others to follow in his footsteps. Props to Pakcik Harun!



Participants on the night walk to visit all the nesting sites. I was the sweeper as usual.



Party in our room after midnight. A bottle of gin, a bottle of wine and 3 bottles of vodka is a recipe for a MASSIVE HANGOVER and HEADACHE!



Time to give the turtles a bath to scrub all the algae and parasites off their carapace on Sunday morning. Stefan carries the turtle carefully while I receive it from inside the cleaning pool. (Photo credits: Mary Chan)



Gosh, I look so happy here. As Aravind said, I am always happy when I am giving something a bath.



Bathing turtles was more fun than we could have imagined!



Keats and Mohala's turtle is trying to run away to avoid being bathed!



Goodbye, Turtle Information and Management Centre, and see you again next year!



To find out more about the Turtle Information and Management Centre, contact them at the numbers and address provided below:

Pusat Penerangan dan Pengurusan Penyu
Turtle Information and Management Centre
Pantai Padang Kemunting,
Masjid Tanah,
Pengkalan Balak,
Melaka.
Phone/Fax: 06 384 6754
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/#!/hawksbill.ecoclub.3

Letter to the Editor: Harasment of Wildlife Can Never Constitute Ecotourism

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:HARASSMENT OF WILDLIFE CAN NEVER CONSTITUTE ECOTOURISM




A video clip and photographs which surfaced on the Internet this week of a group of tourists and snorkelers harassing, restraining and attempting to ride on a sea turtle created an uproar among netizens and necessitated an investigation by the Departments of Fisheries and Marine Parks. What appalled netizens was not only that the tourists were engaging in the thoughtless, cruel and irresponsible act of harassing the turtle, but were encouraged to do so by the tour operator / snorkelling guide as part of their marine holiday experience. There was no regard for the safety, welfare or well-being of the unfortunate turtle, in spite of the obvious consequences that stress would have on the feeding, mating, breeding and resting patterns of a wild sea turtle.



All too often, such instances of cruelty to wildlife are passed off by irresponsible tour operators as ecotourism. Tourists are only too happy to have a photo opportunity with restrained crocodiles, tigers, turtles, primates and dolphins in order to have their “money’s worth” from the holiday package. There are insufficient regulations on what businesses may use the label of ecotourism, despite the existence of a National Ecotourism Plan and a relatively sophisticated legal framework where wildlife and the environment are concerned. Some tour operators and tourist destinations even argue that direct contact with animals during activities such as elephant rides, photo opportunities with captive wildlife, the feeding of wild birds and monkeys and petting zoos are important to enable tourists to get acquainted with wild animals and thus learn to love them. This idea is not only fallacious but also harmful to the welfare of animals.



Consumers should carry out basic research on tourist destinations and tour operators before paying for services and experiences that may in fact harm animal populations, the natural environment and the local community. A basic guide to choosing a responsible ecotourism service or experience may include the following tips:

· Do not engage in activities such as the feeding of wild birds, wild boars and macaques. Feeding wild animals causes them to lose their fear of humans, which makes it easy for them to be hunted or poached. It may also lead to a rise in aggression and human-animal conflict. Macaques are frequently emboldened by contact with humans and end up trespassing into buildings and attacking people. Feeding animals also affects their ability to learn to forage for their own food, and causes them to be dependent on humans for food. Human food such as processed snacks and sweets can also pose health and choking hazards to animals.

· Do not patronise the services of companies that drive off-track to harass animals. Insist on walking to a sensitive ecological site to appreciate the flora and fauna present. Ecotourism must necessarily sensitize people to the beauty and fragility of nature.

· Do not engage in activities such as elephant rides or photo opportunities with tigers, wild birds, reptiles and other wild animals. Most of the animals used in photo shoots are physically restrained using ropes and chains, or doped or overfed into becoming lethargic and passive so they could be easily handled. Animals are trained to give rides or perform tricks through beatings and cruel training methods, including by the withholding of food. Learn to appreciate wildlife as they are, and from a distance, without feeling the need to manhandle and hold them. Be happy in the knowledge that you have seen them in their natural environment, and that your tourist dollars will help maintain their sanctuary and improve their living conditions.

· Conduct due diligence on the destination you are about to visit. Research the travel operators or destination, and read the reviews and complaints of other travellers. Some zoos, safari parks and aquariums may have directly contributed to the poaching of animals from the wild, or resorted to cruel and stressful training methods. Avoid any travel attraction featuring performing animals. Animals performing tricks do not teach you anything about the natural history of the animal, their conservation status or their needs.

· True ecotourism will take into account natural resource and waste management, provide empowerment and economic opportunities to indigenous and local communities, minimises environmental impact, and fosters environmental awareness and respect for the environment, local population and animals. Good ecotourism practices may include activities such as beach and reef cleanups, tree-planting, data collection work and other hands-on activities that enable holidaymakers to make a positive difference to the ecologically sensitive site they are visiting.



We encourage all travellers and netizens to be proactive and play the role of the eyes and ears of non-governmental organisations and enforcement agencies, since a boycott by a handful of individuals may not have the same leverage and impact as a public campaign to end harmful practices and prosecute offenders. The trade in and consumption of wildlife should be reported to WWF Malaysia, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks or the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT) Hotline. Cruelty to and mistreatment of wildlife should be reported to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and the state SPCA, which can then assist in investigations and lodge an official report with the Department of Veterinary Services. Any offence involving marine life should be reported to the Department of Fisheries and Marine Parks. Responsible tourism begins with you and me. It is up to us not to invest in cruelty and environmental damage and destruction. It is hoped that the culprits in the turtle harassment video and pictures will face the maximum penalties stipulated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and / or Fisheries Act 1985.

WONG EE LYNN
COORDINATOR, GREEN LIVING SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP
MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY (MNS)

Letter to the Editor: Retain Bukit Kiara as a Green Lung

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
RETAIN BUKIT KIARA AS A GREEN LUNG

While concerned citizens and civil society groups are heartened by the large turnout at the "Save Bukit Kiara" walk to show solidarity in the matter of the construction work taking place within Bukit Kiara (The Star, July 15), we are disconcerted by the Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung's somewhat contradictory explanation that the construction and clearing work was for the purpose of protecting the park from illegal encroachment and to develop the park as a big-scale public park.

It must be pointed out that the construction of the 3.5m-high security fence by the National Landscape Department entailed the felling and destruction of thousands of mature indigenous forest trees. Further, the fence restricts the movement of wildlife. The construction of a road in order to put up a fence to protect the park from "illegal encroachment" also has the ironic effect of opening up access to the forest to vandals, poachers and those with ill-intentions, as can be seen from the increase of litter ever since the commencement of the construction work.

Nature lovers and residents of the areas surrounding Bukit Kiara have already indicated their strong preference for keeping Bukit Kiara pristine, instead of fashioned into a giant playground planted over with non-indigenous flora. The flora of Bukit Kiara is part of our natural heritage that no amount of secondary replanting and landscaping by even the most well-meaning of developers and landscape architects can replace.

Green lungs such as Bukit Kiara provide valuable ecological services, such as maintaining freshwater quality, hydrological integrity, flood mitigation and carbon storage and sequestration. They provide the community with aesthetic pleasure as well as opportunities for contact with the natural environment.

The loss of green sanctuaries such as Bukit Kiara to superfluous development projects is an erosion of our right to a healthy environment that the Malaysian public will not countenance. It is imperative that the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Ministry of Housing and Local Government and National Landscape Department halt all construction and land-clearing activities, review any requests from private owners for development projects within the vicinity of this ecologically-sensitive site, and immediately gazette the areas of Bukit Kiara that are under state ownership as a permanent forest reserve.


WONG EE LYNN
Coordinator, Green Living Special Interest Group,
Malaysian Nature Society

Letter to the Editor: Provide Facilities for the Disposal of Electronic Waste

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR THE DISPOSAL OF ELECTRONIC WASTE


Earth Hour was observed on March 31st by people across the country who profess concern for the environment and climate change. However, the fleeting and superficial nature of the event makes it of dubious educational and practical value. Several organisations and corporate entities, however, must be commended for implementing environmentally responsible initiatives that go beyond the hour-long festivities. This includes HSBC's used battery collection programme (Metro, 30th March), scheduled to run until June 5.

The predicament of the public now, however, is where to dispose of used batteries for recycling after this programme ends. It is common knowledge that batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which can contaminate the environment when batteries are improperly disposed of. When incinerated, certain metals could be released into the air or can concentrate in the ash produced by the combustion process.

The disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) such as dry cell batteries and light bulbs has been a perennial problem for ordinary citizens trying to find a solution to e-waste management. The Green Living Special Interest Group of the Malaysian Nature Society collects used batteries from the public but faces problems trying to locate a facility willing to accept them for reclamation, recycling, or safe disposal. The only authorised scheduled waste contractor in the country is unwilling to agree to anything other than a one-off collection as a goodwill gesture. Unlicensed "recycling" outfits which claim to "recycle" computers and other electronic waste items more often than not strip and recover only valuable metals from the electronic products and dispose of the rest of the items in the trash, where they invariably end up in landfills. It is ironic that the Ministry of Housing and Local Government claims that Malaysians do not recycle enough, yet when initiatives are made by environmental organisations to collect electronic waste and hazardous household waste for recycling or safe disposal, no corporate or governmental entity is able to offer a solution.

We would strongly urge the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment to implement measures to streamline and increase the recycling and safe disposal of electronic waste. These measures would include:

1. Phasing out the use of mercury-containing batteries through legislation;

2. Ensuring uniformity in the collection, storage and transportation of batteries and hazardous waste;

3. Requiring manufacturers to provide facilities for the collection of used batteries and electronic products for recycling, and instituting “producer take-back” measures;

4. Providing facilities to collect electronic waste and hazardous household waste, including batteries, electrical appliances, light bulbs, paint and chemicals, at accessible locations, such as in front of local council buildings and residents' associations’ buildings.

In the meantime, the public would be well-advised to reduce the number of batteries entering the waste stream by not purchasing unnecessary battery-operated products and by purchasing and using rechargable batteries instead of single-use batteries.

Keeping toxic metals and environmental pollutants out of our waste stream and thus our air, soil and water should be a national health and safety concern, and not merely a month-long Earth Hour corporate social responsibility project.





WONG EE LYNN
Coordinator, Green Living Special Interest Group,
Malaysian Nature Society

Letter to the Editor: Making Our Roads Safer For Cyclists

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
MAKING OUR ROADS SAFER FOR CYCLISTS




Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Rafizi Hamdan, the cyclist who was killed in a tragic hit-and-run accident on 18.3.2012.



As a cycling enthusiast and advocate, I am saddened by the news, and I seriously question the basic sufficiency of measures that ensure the safety of cyclists in Malaysia. I concur with the views of LaTua Cycling Club President Jafaar Abdul Rahman that cyclists should not have to wait for bike lanes to be constructed all over the country before motorists pay heed to the safety and presence of cyclists who share their roads. I was hit by a car once while cycling on a road shoulder in Petaling Jaya, and the driver averred that she had swung into the road shoulder without warning because she did not expect to see a cyclist there, and believed that all cyclists should restrict their cycling activities to parks and jogging tracks. The apathy of the authorities towards the safety and rights of cyclists has merely enabled and encouraged such arrogance from motorists, and deterred people from cycling to work and other destinations.



Most regular cyclists in Malaysia believe that the onus is on them to avoid getting involved in an accident, and most practice “safe cycling” rules – wear a helmet, use a headlamp and reflectors, wave to signal when you wish to cross the road, stay out of motorists’ blind spots and don’t ride against traffic. However, there does not appear to be a corresponding sense of responsibility from the authorities and motorists towards the safety of cyclists.

Actions and implementations that can save the lives of cyclists and pedestrians would include:

· Making existing road shoulders wider;

- Erecting signs along roads frequently used by cyclists to warn motorists about the presence of cyclists and to remind motorists to keep a distance of at least 1.5 metres from cyclists;

- Taking stern action against motorists who drive on the road shoulders and emergency lanes;

· Providing safety islands at vulnerable pedestrian/cyclist crossing points;

· Making sure that public pavements are kept clear of obstructions for the use of pedestrians and cyclists;

· Helping to create pedestrian and cycle paths routes along public roads, especially those within the vicinity of schools and public transport hubs;

· Erecting sheltered walkways in the vicinity of public transport hubs that are kept illuminated at night to encourage the public to take public transport in lieu of private car use even at night or in poor weather;

· Enhancing signage and pavement markings to indicate pedestrian and cyclist crossings for all road users;

· Greater use of speed and red light cameras at susceptible intersections;

· Improving existing roads to allow for pedestrian and cyclist crossings;

· Enforcing speed restrictions at pedestrian and cyclist crossings;

· Improving intersection design;

· Improving the location of crossings to maximise line-of-sight for oncoming vehicles and other road users;

· Improving signage, pavement markings and lighting at all pedestrian and cyclist crossings;

· Installing auditory pedestrian signal devices and retime pedestrian and cyclist crossing signals; and

- Allowing cyclists to bring their bicycles (particularly folding bicycles) on public transport.



We must aim to create a safe traffic system that does not unduly inconvenience road users. A reliable public transport system combined with better safety conditions for pedestrians and cyclists will go a long way in lessening traffic congestion, slowing down the need to build more roads and highways and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Rising fuel prices, carbon emissions and air and noise pollution are all compelling reasons to introduce and develop ‘green commuting’ plans with the aim of reducing the impact of travel to and activity during work. Cycling, both as a means of transportation and for recreation, has immense health, economic and environmental benefits. The option of cycling on public roads should not be closed to cyclists by virtue of high accident rates and the indifference of the authorities and motorists. The authorities must view Rafizi’s untimely demise as a wake-up call to develop and implement measures to ensure the safety of cyclists.

WONG EE LYNN
PETALING JAYA

How Society Views My Profession Meme

You know the "How Society Views My Profession" internet meme going viral on Facebook in the past few days? Here's one I made with Covert Big Bro's help!

Letter to the Editor: Regulate the Pet Industry

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

REGULATE THE PET INDUSTRY

(Image credits: Animal People Online)

The proposal by local animal welfare groups to regulate the pet industry is a timely and necessary one (“Groups barking up the wrong tree, say pet shop owners”, 12 Dec 2011). Pet store operators understandably have vested interests to protect in objecting to any such initiative on grounds of lack of fairness, as their profit margin from the sale of pet supplies and providing boarding and grooming services would be smaller than from the sale of pets.

At present, the licensing of pet shops falls under the jurisdiction of local councils. There are no adequate guidelines to ensure the health, safety or welfare of the animals or the humans who come into contact with them.

Animals for the pet trade are frequently raised in deplorable conditions, and wildlife is often passed off as legitimately captive-bred animals without any verification procedure or animal or environmental protection criteria being set. The absence of guidelines and regulations in the pet industry often means that customers have no redress if they have purchased inbred, ill, diseased or disabled animals. These animals thus frequently end up being abandoned or euthanised.

A flash flood in downtown Kuala Lumpur several years ago, which saw hundreds of animals drown in their cages at a pet store in Brickfields, as well as a more recent incident involving the abandonment and starvation of over 300 pet cats left at a pet store and boarding facility in Damansara, are testimony to the shortcomings of the current laws governing the pet industry.

Pet store operators argue that better regulation and enforcement of pet stores and breeders would be a better option than an outright ban on the retail sale of pets. However, a ban would have several advantages over mere regulation. Pet breeders would be compelled to comply with health, safety and animal welfare standards in order to register their operations as businesses, and the fact that potential pet owners would now have to deal directly with breeders would enhance transparency and accountability in the pet industry. There would be fewer impulse purchases of companion animals if potential customers were privy to the actual living conditions of breeder animals. A ban would also help reduce stray overpopulation, as there will be fewer opportunities for the indiscriminate breeding and dumping of animals. Potential pet owners would also be more inclined to adopt from animal shelters and rescue groups, which are generally stronger advocates and practitioners of vaccination and neutering than pet stores. This will in turn reduce the public costs of managing stray animal populations.

It must also be taken into cognisance that most existing pet stores, being shophouses and retail outlets within shopping complexes, are unsuitable and unsafe housing facilities for animals, in the event of a fire, natural disaster or disease outbreak. A ban on the retail sale of pets would therefore be in the best interests of animal welfare as well as human health and safety.

It is foreseeable that if such a ban were to be imposed with immediate effect without a grace period for compliance, many animals would end up abandoned or culled by pet breeders and stores. However, if sufficient time were given for compliance, breeding facilities and pet stores would be able to get themselves properly assessed by the authorities for licensing purposes. Animals past breeding age could be neutered and existing animals could be rehomed before the ban takes effect.

Progressive and compassionate communities around the world, including in San Francisco and Toronto, are urging their governments to ban the retail sale of pets. A growing number of cities, including Albuquerque and Irvine in the USA, have successfully implemented such a ban. Animals are not merchandise, but sentient beings that are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. In recognition of this fact, the call for a ban on the retail sale of pets and better legislation to regulate the pet industry is one that should be applauded by all right-thinking individuals.

WONG EE LYNN
PETALING JAYA