Activities Report Jan 2000 Newsletter

Survival Game in Pulau Tiga National Park 
      In response to the Sunday Mail (26, December 1999) article on the survival game which will be held in the Pulau Tiga National Park during the New Year, the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) is concerned about some of the 'activities' related to this event.
      Pulau Tiga is made up of Pulau Tiga, Pulau Kalampunian Besar, and Pulau Kalampunian Damit with a total land area of 607 ha. The National Park was established in 1978 and regazetted in 1984. It is uninhabited, primarily because there is no permanent water supply. These islands were formed by the action of active mud volcanoes; the most recent eruption occurring on Pulau Tiga in 1941. The forests are undisturbed by human and the surrounding waters are rich in magnificent corals.
      The bird species here are of exceptional interest. The most famous residents are the mound-building incubator birds or megapodes (Megapodius freycinet), relatives of jungle fowls. They lay their eggs half a meter deep in piles of sand and leafy debris. The chicks hatch unattended and dig their way out to start life independent of their parents. Other birds include the nightjars, bulbuls, pied horn-bills, sunbirds, broad-billed rollers and blue winged pitta. Other animal life include the flying fox, long tailed macaques and the occasional wildboar and deer that swim to the island. Pulau Kalampunian Damit (Snake Island) is the breeding ground for the yellow-lipped sea krait, Laticau-da colubrina. Putat laut, penanga laut and ketapang trees dominate the main island, Pulau Tiga.
      MNS is concerned whether the participants will be adequately monitored by the game wardens or event organiser to avoid damaging the ecosystem. The State Park is created to protect the natural environment which includes the plants and animals and the non-living elements. It is clearly stated in the rules and regulations, (under the Parks Enactment 1984) that it is FORBIDDEN (a) to hunt or carry firearms, poison, speargun, dangerous weapons within the Park;(b) to harm or disturb any plants, animal or other living things; (c) to pick, cut or collect plants, insects, coral, shells and any other materials, dead or alive; (d) and to bring pets into the Park. Collecting of any plants, animal or other non-living things is strictly forbidden without prior written permission from the Director and fishing is permitted with hook and line only. MNS urges that these rules be followed and not compromised in any way.
      We have earlier seen a case where, because of publicity, one of the island in the Marine Parks of Thailand was partly transformed to suit the taste of the film makers in, ‘The Beach’. Do we need to disturb something that we have committed to protect? The producers of the adventure game did not give assurance on how it will not damage the environment. MNS hopes that the National Park officers can assure the public that the area will be protected during the games.
      MNS also feels that such games that may potentially impact the environment should in the future not be held in Protected Areas such as the National Parks or Marine Parks. There are many other areas which can be used.
Dato’ Dr Salleh Mohd Nor                 Kuala Lumpur, 27 December 1999


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Created on 15th Jan 2000