Source : Brunei Direct, Brunei, 20 Jan 2011
By : Ubaidillah Masli
  

The faunal survey, which Beach Bunch will embark upon once it has secured funding, is expected to provide updates to a previous survey carried out by the government in 1994-1995.

The Ministry of Development's Environment Unit (now known as the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation or Jastre) conducted the Meragang Beach Park Feasibility Study in 1994 to 1995.

The study found that at that time, Meragang beach and its surroundings were home to at least nine species of birds and seven mammals that were considered endangered and protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The bird species include the black hornbill, the small stork-billed kingfisher and the long-legged lesser adjutant.

"It (lesser adjutant) was listed there in 1994, but we do not know the conditions now in 2011. But we will be sending our team there to see if they still exist," said Beach Bunch president Rizan Latif.

Meanwhile, seven CITES-listed mammal species were also found and among the animals were primates such as the silver langur and tarsier as well as the pangolin and oriental small-clawed otter.

The 1994 study also suggested the presence of a "leopard cat", but it was not clarified whether this referred to the elusive clouded leopard or a "regular leopard cat", Rizan said.

"What we are going to do, once we get more funding, is to bring our research team to go over there, to verify if they are still there," the Beach Bunch president said, adding they were likely to work with consultants from Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

He explained that if the team found out more about the status of endangered animals, it would bolster the argument for developing Meragang beach into an "environmental beach", where conservation of the natural wildlife and surroundings is a priority.

The Blue Flag programme calls for the promotion of environmental education, and in this respect, Rizan said this should facilitate the prospect of carrying out more scientific research in the area.

The local NGO plans to develop the virtually-undeveloped Meragang beach to become Blue Flag worthy by mid-2012, pending government approval on the project. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times