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