Key Threats to Wildlife
1. Habitat Loss ---As population grows, in the name of development, man encroaches on the wildlife habitat by removing forests to grow crops or build new towns.Becoming isolated in the middle of large agricultural or urban developments, prevent normal interactions, healthy breeding or safe travel for many species. Some wildlife species, such as deer, are adaptable to many conditions, but other creatures have very specific plant, moisture and temperature requirements. These are the endangered species which we risk losing if we don't preserve adequate amounts of habitat for their survival.
2. Climate Change --- Because many types of plants and animals have specific habitat requirements, climate change could cause disastrous losses of wildlife species.A one or two degree change in average annual temperature will translate into large changes for many plant species (even trees) and they may decline or disappear entirely. Plants and wildlife are sensitive to moisture changes, so they will be harmed by reduced rainfall and increased dryness. Drought tolerant plants and trees will gradually spread to replace them by seed, but this process takes time.
3. Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals --- Pesticides are deliberately spread to make the environment toxic to certain plants, insects or rodents, so it shouldn't be surprising that other plants and wildlife are often harmed at the same time. While many of the worst pesticides have been outlawed in the past 30 years, scientists have found numerous worries with several pesticides which are still legal and commonly used. In addition, many chemical pollutants are toxic to wildlife, such as PCBs, mercury, petroleum byproducts, solvents, anti-freeze, etc.
4. Non-native Species --- Over the years, many non-native plants, molluscs, insects, fish, birds, mammals, and diseases have found their way to the country. These "aliens" are often aggressive competitors with native wildlife, or predatory, especially after they've left their own natural environments and controls.
5. Mismanagement --- Some native wildlife can become a problem when released from their natural population controls. In some countries,when wolves are scarce and hunters too few, white-tailed deer become overpopulated and will often strip the woods of native wildflowers and even certain tree species. Crows can become similar problems, when they scavange for scraps from our garbage heaps and landfills.
Wildlfe ProtectionA love for the environment has to be nurtured to develop a healthy, sustainable society. Many of our current environmental problems are due to widespread ignorance of basic ecological facts of life, especially among our government officials and elected representatives. In addition groups and lobbyists with self interests are deliberately spreading false information which further confuses our political leaders.
To counteract this problem, we need well funded, scientifically accurate and carefully designed educational courses in our schools and universities, to raise the overall awareness of the public and government as well as elected officials.
The young generation has to learn basic natural resources and survival information from a young age, to ensure that future generations will understand the value and importance of pollution controls, resource conservation and wildlife habitat protection.
I quote a report from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), Malaysia.In July, 2008, villagers of Kampung Lubok Bongor, Jeli, has formed Malaysia’s first community-based Wildlife Protection Unit (WPU) to reduce conflict incidences between local villagers and wildlife within their area.
The expansion of human settlements and agriculture plantations into wildlife areas has caused a surge in conflict incidences between local communities and wildlife over the last few years.
“With the help from WWF-Malaysia, the WPU will organise regular night patrols along roads and rivers, armed only with basic tools such as spotlights, air-horns and loud-halers to create plenty of noise to ward off elephants,” informed Dato’ Dr. Dionysius Sharma, CEO of WWF-Malaysia.
Twenty one villagers, ranging from farmers to businessmen, were trained in elephant conflict-mitigation methods by experts from HUTAN, a French NGO based in Sabah, and taught how to react as a team when confronted with elephants.
After just one training session, the WPU was called into action for the first time to chase away a couple of adult elephants that crossed a river to enter a nearby banana plantation. Remarkably, the WPU successfully worked together and made enough noise to send the reluctant elephants back across the river.
In the Jeli district alone, conflict incidences with elephants appear to be on the rise; 92 cases were reported in 2007 compared to 47 cases reported in 2006, according to the Jeli Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN).
“Utilising villagers as volunteers in this WPU programme is a good initiative as they would have a better understanding of the current human-wildlife conflict situation,” said Zaharil Dzulkafly, Assistant Director for PERHILITAN Kota Bahru.
He added that villagers should not hesitate to inform PERHILITAN of conflict incidences in their area.
Hamdan Musa, elected head of the WPU unit, reiterated that everyone should share the responsibility of reducing human-wildlife conflict. “I also believe that by helping my village ease their problems with crop-raiding elephants, I am indirectly helping myself too.”
WWF-Malaysia’s Species Conservation Programme and YTL Corporation Berhad are working together to develop Better Management Practices (BMPs) for local communities to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Apart from forming a community-based WPU to reduce crop raids via wildlife-friendly patrols, other BMPs include the construction of barriers such as chili-greased fences around plantations, collar guards to keep out wild boars from uprooting the roots of oil palm samplings.
According to Dato’ Sharma, isolated elephants, however, needs to be trans-located urgently for their safety and the safety of the villagers.
“Inter-agency coordination in land-use planning is vital to prevent further isolation of wildlife populations. This will reduce human-wildlife conflict incidences in the long run.”
This is a good start. I wish other states will follow the example of the Jeli Perhilitan.I know of places in other states where monkeys and wild boars often raid th villagers' crops and nothing has been done to solve the problem.I notice that wild boars and monkeys are included in the schedule of protected animals in the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.As such the villagers cannot set on a rampage to kill these animals and it would be against the law.
Before the government goes about promoting agriculture as the third engine of growth, they should solve the problem of crop damage by wildlife. At the same time find solutions to prevent the extinction of the affected wildlife when they start to clear wildlife habitats for crop plantations.
