Source : Sun2Surf, Malaysia, 16 Apr '07
By : Angela Hijjas
  

We still have no capacity for looking after the animals that are "rescued" from smugglers (the recent sale by Perhilitan of snakes to the highest bidder is one such case) nor is there significant financial support for the NGOs that are concerned with these issues.

When the closure of Paya Indah happened in 2005, I submitted a letter to another newspaper (it was not published) with a proposal that must have generated a better result than the current situation:

"The recent closure of the Paya Indah Wetlands Sanctuary might offer a unique opportunity to improve the fate of illegally traded animals.

At present, I believe most animals that are recovered from the trade by Perhilitan are destroyed, as Perhilitan does not have a sanctuary that it can use as a transit point to stabilise these animals before they are returned to the wild or to the countries where they were captured. (Some of the more valuable species are placed in the Malacca Zoo, which is already overcrowded.)

"I would suggest that Paya Indah be turned into such a sanctuary. It could be a vital showcase for eco-tourism, where some animals could be on display and an educational programme would inform the public about our fauna, as well as demonstrating Malaysia's commitment to the preservation and protection of its biodiversity.

"I believe Paya Indah failed as it didn't have a clear mission statement and the concept of eco-tourism was poorly understood. By converting it into a working institution with a definite conservation role that would engage the public and tourists alike, it could be a unique destination for eco-tourism, conservation and volunteerism."

Instead millions have been wasted and, as far as I know, we are still incinerating the animals that we can't sell on. How much longer is this going to go on?

Angela Hijjas
Council Member, Malaysian Nature Society
Trustee, WWF Malaysia