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Rescue and Capture Techniques for Wildlife Needed

  • Publication Date | June 19, 2017
  • Document Type | Letter to the Editor
  • Programmes | Forests & Biodiversity
  • Issues | Animal Welfare, Biodiversity, Wildlife
  • Tags | crocodiles, Perhilitan, reptiles
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Some weeks ago we learnt  of a tragic death of a 6m crocodile after being rescued from a dam in Klang.   To be able to leave up to that size is no mean feat having escaped from its predator  – man –  all this while in a country that has traditionally had a great mistrust of them.  

While it was the good intention of the Fire and Rescue Department officers to free  the reptile from its fate, its death brings to mind a very important unanswered question.   

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) calls for serious attention to the number of massive reptiles being caught by the Fire and Rescue personnel  and the  Civil Defence Corp in the past, which also resulted in the death of a gargantuan python three days after capture. 

A pertinent question is are our rescue team  well equipped to deal with capture of massive wildlife?  SAM  believes otherwise.   From the picture seen SAM is horrified at the  manner in which the crocodile was hauled up,  reminiscent to hauling up a piece of huge log rather than a breathing living creature.  Experts who are professional in the field of wildlife claimed that pulling up the crocodile in this manner may have caused suffocation to the reptile if the pressure is too strong, and limbs maybe broken with too much force.  Also too soft restraint makes the animal think it has a chance of escaping therefore it struggles more.

Crocodiles particularly large crocs are often severely stressed during and after capture and are easily killed or injured by inappropriate handling.  Stress can lead to “capture  myopathy”  – the shock of being caught, poked and prodded

Taking, handling and transporting of crocodiles need special expertise where training is needed on large animal rescue.  There is no understanding of proper wildlife capture techniques.  Picture taking with captive wild animals seems to be the priority  rather than the welfare of wild caught animals, which often requires  considerations different from those applicable to captive-bred or domesticated species.     

SAM’s understanding is that  there is a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)  for the Fire and Rescue department and the Civil Defence Corp for the handling of reptiles,  but is there a similar approach for amphibians – such as a one-ton croc?  Are personnel from these two departments equipped with  the necessary knowledge and experience in crocodile capture and handling technique to minimise the potential impacts of capture, as well as having a thorough knowledge of the species being caught  (behaviour, reaction to stress, ability to defend itself)?   

It is time the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Wildlife department take into account that  capture of  wild crocodiles,  reptiles and other wildlife species  should only be conducted by those with skills and training in capture and  handling techniques  and not those  without the expertise and skills.   

SAM hopes that the  necropsy report will be made public so as  to ascertain the actual cause of death and if anything could have been done to prevent it.     

S M Mohamed Idris
President

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Testimonials

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
Chee Yoke Ling
Chee Yoke Lingstudent of SAM, Executive Director of Third World Network, SAM’s sister organisation

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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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