"Kuching: A group of American scientists was fined RM 20,000 for unlawfully collecting some 500 biological specimens from Gunung Buda in Ulu Limbang, northern Sarawak on Wednesday. The scientists, who were with several American caving enthusiasts on an expedition in Gunung Buda, were believed to be the first to be punished under the Sarawak Biodiversity Ordinance 1997. The expedition was led by United States National Park speleologist Joel Despain.

Under the ordinance, collection of any biological specimens without a research permit from the Sarawak Biodiversity Council is an offence carrying a penalty of RM 20,000 fine or a three-year jail sentence or both. The Sarawak Biodiversity Centre's chief executive officer Chua Teck Kheng said the scientists were fined after admitting their mistake.

Apparently they had applied for a permit (to collect?) but was turned down. This is shocking in view that illegal collection still happens in this time and age. It is bad enough that foreign spelun-kers are allowed to discover many of our amazing new caves, but to try to take out bio-specimens from Sarawak/Malaysia is even more amazing. I wonder if there were any birds among the 500 specimens! that they tried to take back? With 500 specimens, they must have brought out quite a few gunny sacks! Perhaps someone in the list may know more of this? I'd appreciate any input to this.

I wonder what happened to the specimens after they were confiscated. How I miss 'The Borneo Post' now. I think the American caving exploits in Ulu Limbang were highlighted by an MNS caver-member in a publication sometime ago. It is sad to note that no Malaysian caver was involved in this expedition?. The same may be said of some past 'expeditions'.

In the oriental birding list recently, there was a very active 'charged' discussion on the ethics of bird collections in the Neo-tropics by American scientists and collection, per se. Arguments was that collection was necessary for science/museums but on the other hand does it benefit the habitats and the countries from which the specimens were taken from?? Many countries in the tropics are still open to illegal collections of bio-specimens, and Malaysia is no exception, it seems.

It is also noted that there is no e-mail discussion list on the Natural History of Malaysia/S.E. Asia, as yet? Does anyone know of any? Thanks.

Mike (via E-mail)