Bid to save Borneo’s rhinos

The Sabah Forestry Department is working with the Rhino and Forest Fund (RFF), a German-based NGO. Sabah officials say they will now ensure that the reserve and the restored areas will remain protected, excluding any conversion or logging in the future.

via Wildlife Extra News

Sabah government refutes Zoo Negara claim

Good to know that some governments have common sense. Well done Sabah.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said that it would be irresponsible to relocate the state’s iconic wildlife such as the proboscis monkeys, Borneo pygmy elephants and orang utan.

“Moving them elsewhere will compromise the animals’ survival chances outside their home (natural habitat),” he said in response to plans by the Malaysian Zoological Association for the animals to be relocated to Zoo Negara in Kuala Lumpur.

Read more at  The Star.

Crocs snap back from the brink

The population of saltwater crocodiles in Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei has increased dramatically in the past decade that they could be removed from the endangered list.

The positive development was due to the respective governments implementing management plans to save the once severely depleted wild population of crocodiles.

Read more at The Star.

Plastic-free resort planned

We’d like to see one in Singapore.

The state government is considering turning the hill resort here into a plastic-free area to protect its fragile environment.

Polystyrene boxes are another item on the possible ban list, said Pahang exco member Datuk Shafik Fauzan Sharif.

The move, he said, was in line with the recent decision of the state government to ban any form of new development in the highland, which is also known as “Little England”.

“We are studying a proposal by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and WWF to make Fraser’s Hill free of these items.

“If the proposal is adopted, we will only allow degradable plastic to be used throughout the hilltop,” he added when met after opening the 23rd International Bird Race event here.

Read more at The Star.

Rare Borneo pygmy elephant dies after 2-week struggle

An endangered Borneo pygmy elephant lost its struggle for survival after it was rescued two weeks ago.

“She had perforated ulcers in the intestines. It was a tough fight for survival,” Wildlife Department chief senior field veterinarian Dr Sen Nathan said Friday.

The orphaned two-year-old female calf died of severe internal bleeding at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park here on Wednesday.

via Rare Borneo pygmy elephant dies after 2-week struggle.

Dredging destroying pygmy elephant, monkey habitat

Sand dredging in a Borneo wildlife sanctuary is threatening the habitats of endangered pygmy elephants and a rare species of monkey, Malaysian activists said Thursday.

Sand-laden barges were once again moving up and down rivers in the Kinabatangan wildlife sanctuary in Sabah state on Borneo island, despite having previously been stopped, they said.

via Dredging destroying pygmy elephant, monkey habitat.