I found this news article while trawling the net to pass time, from China Daily, and it concerns the Siberian Tigers from Harbin Park, one of the most successful captive breeding centres for Siberian Tigers. Unfortunately, some comments made me wonder why the Chinese even started the breeding programme in the first place. I copied and pasted the article below:
Siberian tigers move south to make some money
By Wu Yong (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-09-28 07:51
Fifteen Siberian tigers are traveling a long way from Harbin in Northeast China to Xiamen in the south - to help their families and relatives live a better life back home.
The Harbin-based Siberian Tiger Park signed a five-year contract with Xiamen Huzhilin Company earlier this year for an undisclosed amount; and the tigers will be on view in the coastal city from October 1, the first day of the week-long National Day holidays.
To take care of the tigers, two zookeepers from Harbin will be with them throughout the five years, said Bian Shifeng, a park employee.
It is not the first time the Harbin park has leased out tigers to ease its financial strain - more than 100 tigers can be found in Dalian, Shenyang and Taiyuan zoos, and generate about 1 million yuan ($133,000) each year, a source close to the park said.
The park, founded in 1996, is one of the major Siberian tiger breeding bases in the country. In the past decade, their number has jumped from eight to more than 800.
While preservation of the precious species is ensured, the increasing number of big cats has led to another conundrum: How to feed them.
Wang Ligang, the park's general manger, said the financial deficit is rising despite local government support.
A tiger eats 5 kg of meat every day and its annual expense covering food and medical care is about 30,000 yuan ($3,993).
Which means the park has to fork out more than 20 million yuan ($2.67 million) each year, according to Liu Dan, chief engineer of the park.
Wang said the park has three sources of income: ticket sales, leasing out the tigers and government funding. "But it is far from enough."
The price of pork and other meat rose more than 80 percent in the first eight months of this year, driven mostly by increases in animal feed prices, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Sources familiar with the conditions in the park said tigers are now fed chicken instead of beef to cut costs.
Cao Liang, director of the China Wildlife Conservation Association, said tiger leasing is justified as long as approval is secured from the local governments. "The best protection for many tigers (in Harbin) is to provide enough food for them," Cao said.
"The only solution is to lift the ban on tiger trade. The trade of bones from tigers that are bred in captivity and die of natural causes will not affect the conservation of wild tigers. This can help raise funds for living tigers and also give relief to patients," Wang said.
In Chinese medicine, tiger parts are used as cures for illnesses ranging from colds to rheumatism.
In China, about 50 tigers live in the wilderness and around 5,000 in captivity. Some 1,000 are born each year in farms and about the same number have died of natural causes in recent years.
Why aren't they considering reintroduction or controlling the breeding? If you can't support so many then don't breed so many! What the park manager said sounds like he just pushed ahead with the breeding program at maximum speed to get recognition for a "successful breeding program", and then now he's trying to make a profit for the park (and get more credit for himself) with the "extra" or "surplus" tigers. This doesn't work. If anything, the breeding program , in such a case is a miserable flop. The Chinese government has been asking for the lifting of international bans of trade in tiger parts. For all we know, the captive breeding program could have been a pathetic (not to mention cowardly) excuse to prepare for tiger farming industries.
To everyone who's reading, let's all put in a little effort in stopping these atrocities. BigCatRescue has a petition site here: http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9952801&type=CU Please sign the petition, and help improve the situation there.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Prophecy Come True?
A modified (and most probably modernised Cree Indian proverb goes like this: "Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money."
Well for those who want to know, the original story (as re-told by Lelanie Fuller Stone) goes like this...
--- There was an old lady, from the "Cree" tribe, named "Eyes of Fire", who prophesied that one day, because of the white mans' or Yo-ne-gis' greed, there would come a time, when the fish would die in the streams, the birds would fall from the air, the waters would be blackened, and the trees would no longer be, mankind as we would know it would all but cease to exist.
There would come a time when the "keepers of the legend, stories, culture rituals, and myths, and all the Ancient Tribal Customs" would be needed to restore us to health. They would be mankinds’ key to survival, they were the "Warriors of the Rainbow". There would come a day of awakening when all the peoples of all the tribes would form a New World of Justice, Peace, Freedom and recognition of the Great Spirit.
The "Warriors of the Rainbow" would spread these messages and teach all peoples of the Earth or "Elohi". They would teach them how to live the "Way of the Great Spirit". They would tell them of how the world today has turned away from the Great Spirit and that is why our Earth is "Sick".
The "Warriors of the Rainbow" would show the peoples that this "Ancient Being" (the Great Spirit), is full of love and understanding, and teach them how to make the "Earth or Elohi" beautiful again. These Warriors would give the people principles or rules to follow to make their path right with the world. These principles would be those of the Ancient Tribes. The Warriors of the Rainbow would teach the people of the ancient practices of Unity, Love and Understanding. They would teach of Harmony among people in all four comers of the Earth.
Like the Ancient Tribes, they would teach the peoples how to pray to the Great Spirit with love that flows like the beautiful mountain stream, and flows along the path to the ocean of life. Once again, they would be able to feel joy in solitude and in councils. They would be free of petty jealousies and love all mankind as their brothers, regardless of color, race or religion. They would feel happiness enter their hearts, and become as one with the entire human race. Their hearts would be pure and radiate warmth, understanding and respect for all mankind, Nature, and the Great Spirit. They would once again fill their minds, hearts, souls, and deeds with the purest of thoughts. They would seek the beauty of the Master of Life - the Great Spirit! They would find strength and beauty in prayer and the solitudes of life.
Their children would once again be able to run free and enjoy the treasures of Nature and Mother Earth. Free from the fears of toxins and destruction, wrought by the Yo-ne-gi and his practices of greed. The rivers would again run clear, the forests be abundant and beautiful, the animals and birds would be replenished. The powers of the plants and animals would again be respected and conservation of all that is beautiful would become a way of life.
The poor, sick and needy would be cared for by their brothers and sisters of the Earth. These practices would again become a part of their daily lives.
The leaders of the people would be chosen in the old way - not by their political party, or who could speak the loudest, boast the most, or by name calling or mud slinging, but by those whose actions spoke the loudest. Those who demonstrated their love, wisdom, and courage and those who showed that they could and did work for the good of all, would be chosen as the leaders or Chiefs. They would be chosen by their "quality" and not the amount of money they had obtained. Like the thoughtful and devoted "Ancient Chiefs", they would understand the people with love, and see that their young were educated with the love and wisdom of their surroundings. They would show them that miracles can be accomplished to heal this world of its ills, and restore it to health and beauty.
The tasks of these "Warriors of the Rainbow" are many and great. There will be terrifying mountains of ignorance to conquer and they shall find prejudice and hatred. They must be dedicated, unwavering in their strength, and strong of heart. They will find willing hearts and minds that will follow them on this road of returning "Mother Earth" to beauty and plenty - once more.
The day will come, it is not far away. The day that we shall see how we owe our very existence to the people of all tribes that have maintained their culture and heritage. Those that have kept the rituals, stories, legends, and myths alive. It will be with this knowledge, the knowledge that they have preserved, that we shall once again return to "harmony" with Nature, Mother Earth, and mankind. It will be with this knowledge that we shall find our "Key to our Survival". ---
I'm sure many of us would agree that much of the prophecy is coming true, that Man's (not just the white, but all the different races) greed is sucking the earth dry, and that wildlife is going extinct, the waters are becoming polluted and the forests are being cut down(And that reminds me of the rather sad state of 270 track of Panti Forest Reserve), and the politicians leading most countries are there because it makes them seen rich and powerful and pulsing with testosterone. But will we ever see the other half come true?
I think reading the prophecy gives me hope (although I've never been a religious or mystic-believing person and probably will never be one - too scientific, my other half snorts). The past year, I've met some really nice people, fighting tooth and nail for the betterment of the earth. These conservationists, they are the Warriors of the Rainbow. People like Louis from ACRES, Dr. Anna, Ria Tan (whom I've yet to meet) and some of the people at NUS and RMBR. But they are too few, and are like an advanced party. More will come and they have to come quick. This prophecy must come true.
I find that cultures are funny things. Often, the cultures are considered "Superior" in some way often have absolutely no, or close to no, respect for Nature. Lots of examples spring to mind. Chinese culture for example (I am ethnic Chinese by the way). The Chinese take pride in being able to cook and eat anything that moves. They harvest sharks, chop off their fins and dump them (finless) back in the sea. They keep bear farms to collect their bile, and have tried to legalise tiger farming. The Indo-Chinese believe in mystical powers of lorises (which unfortunately will manifest only if the lorises are killed and the corresponding body parts are eaten). The white man and royalty practically every "Superior" culture hunt animals just for fun. On the other hand, the cultures seen as "savages" or "barbaric" seem to have enormous respect for Nature. The North American Indians, the numerous African Tribes, the Nepalese, and Tibetans to name a few examples practically worship Nature. Unfortunately, many of them have now been corrupted by their conquerors. So we see African native guides who lead hunting trips, Indonesian indigenous people slashing and burning their forests with hopes of striking it rich. And for what? For nothing more than a few pieces of metal and paper that they call money.
Well for those who want to know, the original story (as re-told by Lelanie Fuller Stone) goes like this...
--- There was an old lady, from the "Cree" tribe, named "Eyes of Fire", who prophesied that one day, because of the white mans' or Yo-ne-gis' greed, there would come a time, when the fish would die in the streams, the birds would fall from the air, the waters would be blackened, and the trees would no longer be, mankind as we would know it would all but cease to exist.
There would come a time when the "keepers of the legend, stories, culture rituals, and myths, and all the Ancient Tribal Customs" would be needed to restore us to health. They would be mankinds’ key to survival, they were the "Warriors of the Rainbow". There would come a day of awakening when all the peoples of all the tribes would form a New World of Justice, Peace, Freedom and recognition of the Great Spirit.
The "Warriors of the Rainbow" would spread these messages and teach all peoples of the Earth or "Elohi". They would teach them how to live the "Way of the Great Spirit". They would tell them of how the world today has turned away from the Great Spirit and that is why our Earth is "Sick".
The "Warriors of the Rainbow" would show the peoples that this "Ancient Being" (the Great Spirit), is full of love and understanding, and teach them how to make the "Earth or Elohi" beautiful again. These Warriors would give the people principles or rules to follow to make their path right with the world. These principles would be those of the Ancient Tribes. The Warriors of the Rainbow would teach the people of the ancient practices of Unity, Love and Understanding. They would teach of Harmony among people in all four comers of the Earth.
Like the Ancient Tribes, they would teach the peoples how to pray to the Great Spirit with love that flows like the beautiful mountain stream, and flows along the path to the ocean of life. Once again, they would be able to feel joy in solitude and in councils. They would be free of petty jealousies and love all mankind as their brothers, regardless of color, race or religion. They would feel happiness enter their hearts, and become as one with the entire human race. Their hearts would be pure and radiate warmth, understanding and respect for all mankind, Nature, and the Great Spirit. They would once again fill their minds, hearts, souls, and deeds with the purest of thoughts. They would seek the beauty of the Master of Life - the Great Spirit! They would find strength and beauty in prayer and the solitudes of life.
Their children would once again be able to run free and enjoy the treasures of Nature and Mother Earth. Free from the fears of toxins and destruction, wrought by the Yo-ne-gi and his practices of greed. The rivers would again run clear, the forests be abundant and beautiful, the animals and birds would be replenished. The powers of the plants and animals would again be respected and conservation of all that is beautiful would become a way of life.
The poor, sick and needy would be cared for by their brothers and sisters of the Earth. These practices would again become a part of their daily lives.
The leaders of the people would be chosen in the old way - not by their political party, or who could speak the loudest, boast the most, or by name calling or mud slinging, but by those whose actions spoke the loudest. Those who demonstrated their love, wisdom, and courage and those who showed that they could and did work for the good of all, would be chosen as the leaders or Chiefs. They would be chosen by their "quality" and not the amount of money they had obtained. Like the thoughtful and devoted "Ancient Chiefs", they would understand the people with love, and see that their young were educated with the love and wisdom of their surroundings. They would show them that miracles can be accomplished to heal this world of its ills, and restore it to health and beauty.
The tasks of these "Warriors of the Rainbow" are many and great. There will be terrifying mountains of ignorance to conquer and they shall find prejudice and hatred. They must be dedicated, unwavering in their strength, and strong of heart. They will find willing hearts and minds that will follow them on this road of returning "Mother Earth" to beauty and plenty - once more.
The day will come, it is not far away. The day that we shall see how we owe our very existence to the people of all tribes that have maintained their culture and heritage. Those that have kept the rituals, stories, legends, and myths alive. It will be with this knowledge, the knowledge that they have preserved, that we shall once again return to "harmony" with Nature, Mother Earth, and mankind. It will be with this knowledge that we shall find our "Key to our Survival". ---
I'm sure many of us would agree that much of the prophecy is coming true, that Man's (not just the white, but all the different races) greed is sucking the earth dry, and that wildlife is going extinct, the waters are becoming polluted and the forests are being cut down(And that reminds me of the rather sad state of 270 track of Panti Forest Reserve), and the politicians leading most countries are there because it makes them seen rich and powerful and pulsing with testosterone. But will we ever see the other half come true?
I think reading the prophecy gives me hope (although I've never been a religious or mystic-believing person and probably will never be one - too scientific, my other half snorts). The past year, I've met some really nice people, fighting tooth and nail for the betterment of the earth. These conservationists, they are the Warriors of the Rainbow. People like Louis from ACRES, Dr. Anna, Ria Tan (whom I've yet to meet) and some of the people at NUS and RMBR. But they are too few, and are like an advanced party. More will come and they have to come quick. This prophecy must come true.
I find that cultures are funny things. Often, the cultures are considered "Superior" in some way often have absolutely no, or close to no, respect for Nature. Lots of examples spring to mind. Chinese culture for example (I am ethnic Chinese by the way). The Chinese take pride in being able to cook and eat anything that moves. They harvest sharks, chop off their fins and dump them (finless) back in the sea. They keep bear farms to collect their bile, and have tried to legalise tiger farming. The Indo-Chinese believe in mystical powers of lorises (which unfortunately will manifest only if the lorises are killed and the corresponding body parts are eaten). The white man and royalty practically every "Superior" culture hunt animals just for fun. On the other hand, the cultures seen as "savages" or "barbaric" seem to have enormous respect for Nature. The North American Indians, the numerous African Tribes, the Nepalese, and Tibetans to name a few examples practically worship Nature. Unfortunately, many of them have now been corrupted by their conquerors. So we see African native guides who lead hunting trips, Indonesian indigenous people slashing and burning their forests with hopes of striking it rich. And for what? For nothing more than a few pieces of metal and paper that they call money.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Channelnewsasia situation update
Channelnewsasia gave a pretty positive reply. They said they'd look into setting up a Science/Nature Section on their site, or increase Nature reporting!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Channelnewsasia
I just made a request to Channelnewsasia via email for them to set up a Science/Nature section on their website. I hope it gets somewhere.
They do have a technology section, but while technology is Science, Science is not only technology. Is this something about Singaporean mindsets? When people mention Science, its the engineering and physics and chemistry. I don't think Nature comes to mind very often.
Fingers-crossed, hopefully we see some progress here.
They do have a technology section, but while technology is Science, Science is not only technology. Is this something about Singaporean mindsets? When people mention Science, its the engineering and physics and chemistry. I don't think Nature comes to mind very often.
Fingers-crossed, hopefully we see some progress here.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Glow-in-the-dark Fungi
Found this at Meralodge forest. Really cool fungi. Well its not all that uncommon, probably one of the 33 Mycena sp. Its funny though, that people go the sea and look for weird creatures for GFP when maybe its in the forest right behind them.
Well now I hope that people don't read this and go wreck the forest.
On a lighter note, when you see someone board the bus, and he's muddy and sweaty, don't be so quick to label him a "construction worker". He might be your friendly field biologist who's working desperately to keep Singapore's natural heritage!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Help Needed
Well, this appeal is only open to students doing Biology in NUS and ok with doing nocturnal field work.
NParks doesn't let me do field work on my own! Slow Loris work are best done with one or two people, and since they effectively ruled out "one", then I need someone to go in with me! It doesn't have to be regular, just have to let me know if you are interested and then I'll contact you I have to do a night survey. Anyone?
NParks doesn't let me do field work on my own! Slow Loris work are best done with one or two people, and since they effectively ruled out "one", then I need someone to go in with me! It doesn't have to be regular, just have to let me know if you are interested and then I'll contact you I have to do a night survey. Anyone?
Friday, September 14, 2007
Latest Update on Slow Lorises on 2007 IUCN Red-List
Here's what IUCN thinks with regards to distribution.
Native:
Bangladesh; Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; China; India; Indonesia; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Philippines; Thailand; Viet Nam
Possibly extinct regionally:
Bangladesh; Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; China; India; Indonesia; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Philippines; Thailand; Viet Nam; Singapore.
Notice that under "Native", there is no mention of Singapore, but under "Possible Extinct Regionally", Singapore is there. Obviously I hope that my project can help "Singapore" hop from the lower category to the upper one.
Native:
Bangladesh; Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; China; India; Indonesia; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Philippines; Thailand; Viet Nam
Possibly extinct regionally:
Bangladesh; Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; China; India; Indonesia; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Philippines; Thailand; Viet Nam; Singapore.
Notice that under "Native", there is no mention of Singapore, but under "Possible Extinct Regionally", Singapore is there. Obviously I hope that my project can help "Singapore" hop from the lower category to the upper one.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
My Slow Loris Research
Here's a page that I managed to get posted on thw WildSingapore site, thanks to Kwok Wai and Norman.
HAVE YOU SEEN A SLOW LORIS?
Seen a slow loris? Please contact Fam Shun Deng asap at 92215549 (Singapore number) or +447794832899 (UK number) or famshundeng@tarsier.org
What is a Slow Loris?
The Greater Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang) is among Asia's least studied primates. They are small, arboreal, nocturnal and inconspicuous. They are known to inhabit primary rainforests, which is present is small patches around Singapore, or logged over secondary forests with canopy corridors, which is not present in Singapore. As such, its habitat areas are severely restricted.
At the 2007 Conference of the Parties of CITES in The Hague, CITES member nations unanimously decided to push Nycticebus to Appendix I, an action that the member nations were compelled to carry out, to protect the species from extinction. As they look very cute to most people, they are hugely popular as pets in many countries in Asia and Europe and are sold in markets in many Southeast Asian countries. Traders circumvent their toxic bite by pulling out their teeth with pliers, which result in many lorises dying from infection. Singapore is a known transit destination for slow loris trafficking, and is the most common seized mammal to enter Singapore illegally. There are also some who believe that slow loris seen in Singapore are escapees from the pet trade as well.
Besides their huge popularity as pets, slow lorises also face pressures from logging and slash-and-burn practices in our neighbouring countries, as they are normally asleep during the day, and have a tendency to stay still and cling on to the tree when they are frightened. Also, they are caught and killed for many other reasons, from the absurd (eating them gives one strength) to the even more absurd (eyeballs for love potions).
Not enough is known about their ecology. Slow lorises often die in captivity from intestinal problems, and diabetic problems. Not enough is known about them for zoos even to optimally take care of them.
About Fam Shun Deng
Fam Shun Deng, currently a Masters Student in Primate Conservation at Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom. He previously did field research on Nycticebus coucang (the Greater Slow Loris) in Singapore while an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore. He is focussing on the taxonomy and ecology of the slow lorises here, and is also branching into problems with the illegal trade and evolution and biogeography of slow lorises in Southeast Asia. If anyone has sightings no matter they be roadkills or wild or under any other circumstances, they should contact him at 92215549 (Singapore number) or +447794832899 (UK number) or famshundeng@tarsier.org immediately. Any help would be much appreciated as they are probably present at very low densities.
Here's the link, please spread it around! http://www.wildsingapore.per.sg/discovery/news.htm
HAVE YOU SEEN A SLOW LORIS?
Seen a slow loris? Please contact Fam Shun Deng asap at 92215549 (Singapore number) or +447794832899 (UK number) or famshundeng@tarsier.org
What is a Slow Loris?
The Greater Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang) is among Asia's least studied primates. They are small, arboreal, nocturnal and inconspicuous. They are known to inhabit primary rainforests, which is present is small patches around Singapore, or logged over secondary forests with canopy corridors, which is not present in Singapore. As such, its habitat areas are severely restricted.
At the 2007 Conference of the Parties of CITES in The Hague, CITES member nations unanimously decided to push Nycticebus to Appendix I, an action that the member nations were compelled to carry out, to protect the species from extinction. As they look very cute to most people, they are hugely popular as pets in many countries in Asia and Europe and are sold in markets in many Southeast Asian countries. Traders circumvent their toxic bite by pulling out their teeth with pliers, which result in many lorises dying from infection. Singapore is a known transit destination for slow loris trafficking, and is the most common seized mammal to enter Singapore illegally. There are also some who believe that slow loris seen in Singapore are escapees from the pet trade as well.
Besides their huge popularity as pets, slow lorises also face pressures from logging and slash-and-burn practices in our neighbouring countries, as they are normally asleep during the day, and have a tendency to stay still and cling on to the tree when they are frightened. Also, they are caught and killed for many other reasons, from the absurd (eating them gives one strength) to the even more absurd (eyeballs for love potions).
Not enough is known about their ecology. Slow lorises often die in captivity from intestinal problems, and diabetic problems. Not enough is known about them for zoos even to optimally take care of them.
About Fam Shun Deng
Fam Shun Deng, currently a Masters Student in Primate Conservation at Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom. He previously did field research on Nycticebus coucang (the Greater Slow Loris) in Singapore while an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore. He is focussing on the taxonomy and ecology of the slow lorises here, and is also branching into problems with the illegal trade and evolution and biogeography of slow lorises in Southeast Asia. If anyone has sightings no matter they be roadkills or wild or under any other circumstances, they should contact him at 92215549 (Singapore number) or +447794832899 (UK number) or famshundeng@tarsier.org immediately. Any help would be much appreciated as they are probably present at very low densities.
Here's the link, please spread it around! http://www.wildsingapore.per.sg/discovery/news.htm
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Tropical Disease Spreading to Europe
"The Ministry of Health in Italy has confirmed about 160 cases of chikungunya in the Ravenna region in northern Italy.
Travellers have been advised to protect themselves against mosquito bites.
The European Centre for Disease Control urged pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses to seek medical advice before visiting the area.
The villages of Castiglione di Ravenna and Castiglione di Cervia have reported most of the cases.
The main symptoms of the patients were high fever and joint pain, as well as headache, muscle pain, rash and less frequently gastrointestinal symptoms."
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6981476.stm
This is quite disturbing. Does it mean that climate change has progressed to such a stage that tropical diseases are taking foot in Europe?
Travellers have been advised to protect themselves against mosquito bites.
The European Centre for Disease Control urged pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses to seek medical advice before visiting the area.
The villages of Castiglione di Ravenna and Castiglione di Cervia have reported most of the cases.
The main symptoms of the patients were high fever and joint pain, as well as headache, muscle pain, rash and less frequently gastrointestinal symptoms."
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6981476.stm
This is quite disturbing. Does it mean that climate change has progressed to such a stage that tropical diseases are taking foot in Europe?
Sunday, September 2, 2007
My Recent Trip to Thailand
Well as a number of Year 4 Bio students will know, I'd been missing in action at Thailand to do some loris work and attend a workshop.
We(as in a Thai MSc, Dr. Anna Nekaris and I) went to Khao Ang Runai Wildlife Sanctuary. Its got a field station with some electricity, but guano falls from the ceiling everyday. On our 1st night walk, we recorded 6 lorises. Super cool. My first wild loris sightings. Dr Nekaris kept gushing about the high incidence rate and flat ground and how lucky Manoon (the Thai MSc student) was. And I was thinking how BTNR is the exact opposite. It must seem like a quite shithole if Manoon ever visits.
Khao Ang Runai is a really good place to do wildlife research mainly because of the good terrain and "low leech detection rates", as Dr. Nekaris put it. I still got 2 leech bites though. Besides this research, the other project going on there is one with pileated gibbons (Hylobates pileatus). The sanctuary is known for wild elephants and leopards as well.
Well I would love to post pictures.. BUT I haven't scanned my films and a lot of them are in Dr. Nekaris and Manoon's digital and video cameras. It'll be abt 2 months before I post them I guess. And the dumb airport customs at Survanabhumi Airport insisted I put my camera through an x-ray scanner. I hope it doesnt kill the film inside.
After the field trip, I attended the workshop. Actually, the workshop is only one half of the day. The second half was in fact a meeting between Thai and Cambodian government officials with regards to smuggling of lorises across their borders, and the constant misidentification of loris species. Dr. Nekaris was the technical advisor and I joined her. =p
Basically, for me the whole thing was a wonderful learning experience, but with regards to solving the problems, it was a complete waste of time. The Cambodians refuse to accept that they had a problem (they kept asking for evidence, when it was right there in their markets). While the Thais conceded that there was a problem, they were just sitting on their hands on not committing anything. The Cambodians asked for a bilateral agreement (which is rubbish because it will take years to hammer something out) and the Thais said they had no $$ to train sniffer dogs to sniff out smuggled lorises. No $?! Hah. What nonsense. Sitting right outside the meeting room was about 100 spanking new 4WD trucks sitting in the rain, bought with budget SURPLUS, which they had to spend before the end of the fiscal year. The TRAFFIC representative was talking about training border police and giving training and evaluation support. That was the only thing that they did not have any excuse to not do. Then it kind of hit me that it would take a long time to develop the training packages and they might probably never get done. I thought we were getting nowhere, so I grabbed the microphone and just let rip. Well I didn't exactly tell them to their faces what I thought of them, but I hinted that I think they were trying to not do anything, and I suggested that they use the loris experts currently doing research in the country. I think I shocked Dr. Nekaris a bit. But I think they needed a good kick up their backsides.
Oh and another thing, I think the "Singapore" and "NUS" tag gives you a level of prestige in Thailand somehow.
I think I would like to go back again. Loris taxonomy is in a mess, and maybe once
Nycticebus coucang has its mess sorted out, I'll head to Thailand to help Manoon out with the N.bengalensis mess.
We(as in a Thai MSc, Dr. Anna Nekaris and I) went to Khao Ang Runai Wildlife Sanctuary. Its got a field station with some electricity, but guano falls from the ceiling everyday. On our 1st night walk, we recorded 6 lorises. Super cool. My first wild loris sightings. Dr Nekaris kept gushing about the high incidence rate and flat ground and how lucky Manoon (the Thai MSc student) was. And I was thinking how BTNR is the exact opposite. It must seem like a quite shithole if Manoon ever visits.
Khao Ang Runai is a really good place to do wildlife research mainly because of the good terrain and "low leech detection rates", as Dr. Nekaris put it. I still got 2 leech bites though. Besides this research, the other project going on there is one with pileated gibbons (Hylobates pileatus). The sanctuary is known for wild elephants and leopards as well.
Well I would love to post pictures.. BUT I haven't scanned my films and a lot of them are in Dr. Nekaris and Manoon's digital and video cameras. It'll be abt 2 months before I post them I guess. And the dumb airport customs at Survanabhumi Airport insisted I put my camera through an x-ray scanner. I hope it doesnt kill the film inside.
After the field trip, I attended the workshop. Actually, the workshop is only one half of the day. The second half was in fact a meeting between Thai and Cambodian government officials with regards to smuggling of lorises across their borders, and the constant misidentification of loris species. Dr. Nekaris was the technical advisor and I joined her. =p
Basically, for me the whole thing was a wonderful learning experience, but with regards to solving the problems, it was a complete waste of time. The Cambodians refuse to accept that they had a problem (they kept asking for evidence, when it was right there in their markets). While the Thais conceded that there was a problem, they were just sitting on their hands on not committing anything. The Cambodians asked for a bilateral agreement (which is rubbish because it will take years to hammer something out) and the Thais said they had no $$ to train sniffer dogs to sniff out smuggled lorises. No $?! Hah. What nonsense. Sitting right outside the meeting room was about 100 spanking new 4WD trucks sitting in the rain, bought with budget SURPLUS, which they had to spend before the end of the fiscal year. The TRAFFIC representative was talking about training border police and giving training and evaluation support. That was the only thing that they did not have any excuse to not do. Then it kind of hit me that it would take a long time to develop the training packages and they might probably never get done. I thought we were getting nowhere, so I grabbed the microphone and just let rip. Well I didn't exactly tell them to their faces what I thought of them, but I hinted that I think they were trying to not do anything, and I suggested that they use the loris experts currently doing research in the country. I think I shocked Dr. Nekaris a bit. But I think they needed a good kick up their backsides.
Oh and another thing, I think the "Singapore" and "NUS" tag gives you a level of prestige in Thailand somehow.
I think I would like to go back again. Loris taxonomy is in a mess, and maybe once
Nycticebus coucang has its mess sorted out, I'll head to Thailand to help Manoon out with the N.bengalensis mess.
ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre Fundraising
AWRC Fundraising, 8th and 9th September
Venue: The Atrium @ Orchard, 60B Orchard Road map
Day/Time: Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 10pm daily
Acres will be organising a public roadshow at The Atrium @ Orchard to raise funds for Singapore's first wildlife rescue, the Acres Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC) and to create awareness on many different animal welfare issues through informative educational panels and physical displays depicting the issues, for example toy animals crammed into crates showing how animals are smuggled for the illegal pet trade. Informative brochures are available so you can take home the message with you and share it with your friends and family.
Forms for donation and membership will be available at our booth.
All proceeds go towards our the establishment of the AWRC.
If you would like to volunteer, please email charlene@acres.org.sg
Venue: The Atrium @ Orchard, 60B Orchard Road map
Day/Time: Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 10pm daily
Acres will be organising a public roadshow at The Atrium @ Orchard to raise funds for Singapore's first wildlife rescue, the Acres Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC) and to create awareness on many different animal welfare issues through informative educational panels and physical displays depicting the issues, for example toy animals crammed into crates showing how animals are smuggled for the illegal pet trade. Informative brochures are available so you can take home the message with you and share it with your friends and family.
Forms for donation and membership will be available at our booth.
All proceeds go towards our the establishment of the AWRC.
If you would like to volunteer, please email charlene@acres.org.sg
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