PENCINTA ALAM MAY 2017
ECO KIDS COLUMN
20 WAYS TO HELP WILDLIFE
By Wong Ee Lynn
Much as we would like to be, not
every one of us are, or will someday be, wildlife biologists or working in the
conservation and animal protection sector. However, there are many things we
can do in our daily lives to assist and protect wildlife. These actions go
beyond merely recycling empty containers and ‘liking’ posts on Facebook. Some
may take you some time to implement or get used to. Hopefully, you are already doing
many of the things on this list, but if you aren’t yet, choose at least one or
two to try today!
1.
Bring
rubbish sacks, gardening gloves and/or rubbish tongs/claws with you whenever
you go out. Pick up litter whenever you are able, especially in natural spaces
such as jungle trails and beaches. Each piece of litter removed from a natural
ecosystem helps wildlife and creates better places for humans.
2.
Buy
or make your own biodegradable and non-toxic cleaning products, such as laundry
detergent, shampoo and dishwashing liquid. Chemicals in conventional detergents
and cleaning products flow into drains, streams and rivers and often harm or
kill wildlife. Do not use bleach as it is very toxic and even small quantities
can kill pets, birds, frogs, earthworms, insects and other animals.
3.
Avoid
using glue traps, sticky fly paper, rat traps and similar ‘pest control’
methods and devices. Birds, bats, squirrels and other small animals often get
trapped in these cruel traps and suffocate and die. The best pest control
method is prevention: store food in covered containers or screened and
ventilated food cabinets, put waste in covered waste bins, keep your
surroundings clean, keep drains and ditches clear and unblocked, and install
window and door screens to keep insects out. If you find small animals or birds
trapped in glue, clean them gently with vegetable or mineral oil and gently rub
the glue off. Wash them clean with shampoo and water until there are no traces
of glue or oil left. Let them recover and dry off before you see if they can be
safely released. If you are unsure of your abilities, or if the animal or bird
looks injured, consult a vet. If you live in Kuala Lumpur or Selangor, you can
also contact Dr. Jalila Abu of the Avian Vet Unit of UPM at 03 8946 8340.
4.
Buy
local, organic and seasonal produce as often as you can, and eat vegetarian or
vegan whenever possible, if you aren’t already vegetarian / vegan. Local and
seasonal produce uses less fuel to produce and transport and therefore
generates less carbon dioxide. Organic produce does not use chemical pesticides
and herbicides that kill insects, birds and wildlife. Livestock and poultry
farming uses a lot of land and resources, thus depriving wildlife of their
habitat and food and water sources.
5.
Create
small-scale wildlife habitats. Even in an apartment balcony, you can grow
fruiting or flowering native plants that can provide food for native birds and
insects. Grow pollinator-friendly plants that attract bees and butterflies, and
have a compost pit or bin where bugs and earthworms are welcome to stay.
6.
If
you live in landed property, ensure your gates and fences do not have barbed
wire or broken glass tops that will cut and hurt wildlife such as squirrels,
tree shrews and common palm civets. Create sufficient space to allow small
animals to climb over or pass through your fence and gate safely.
7.
If
you have pet cats or dogs, neuter and vaccinate them and keep them indoors or
at least within your compound. If they do go out to play, put a safety collar
with a bell on them, so that birds and small animals will be warned of your
pets’ approach. Do not allow your pets to chase or catch birds, reptiles and
other small animals.
8.
Put
up a microhabitat. Bird nesting boxes, bat boxes and bird baths all can provide
safe spaces for wildlife, especially during harsh weather.
9.
Inspire
someone else to go outdoors. What is your favourite nature spot? Whether it is
a hiking trail like the one in Bukit Gasing Educational Forest, or the
mangroves of Kuala Selangor, offer to show someone else this spot and teach
them about its importance as a wildlife habitat. People care more about things
and places they have first-hand experience with.
10. Join an environmental
organisation such as MNS, Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT), or
the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCSM) and volunteer with them.
Even without a background in conservation and wildlife protection, you can help
man their awareness and education booths, raise funds, share posts on social
media, collect signatures for petitions, attend and assist at their events and
talks, and participate in short volunteer stints.
11. Donate your old wildlife
and conservation magazines, such as the Malaysian Naturalist, to community
libraries, clinic waiting rooms and barbers and hairdressers to get other
people interested in nature and wildlife.
12. Contact your local MP, State
Assemblyman and local councillor about wildlife issues in your area. For
example, if people are feeding and poisoning macaques or trapping birds, or if
palm civets and snakes are being killed by speeding vehicles, write in to your
elected representative to propose solutions. These individuals are elected to serve
the people, and you have the right to voice your concerns.
13. Investigate your local
wild patch. If there is a patch of wild land in your neighbourhood, find out
more about it. Explore it safely in a group and record any bird and wildlife
sightings you see. Inform the local chapters of any environmental groups and
the residents’ association to try to protect the area. Report any wildlife
crimes you see (e.g. mist nets to catch birds, or traps and snares to catch
monkeys and wild boars) to the MYCAT Wildlife Crime Hotline at 0193564194 or to
the state office of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan).
14. Never purchase products
made from threatened or endangered species. Avoid supporting the market in
illegal wildlife trade. Boycott all traditional medicine made of wildlife
parts, tortoise or turtle shell products, ivory, fur products, butterflies and
beetles preserved in plastic or resin, and products made from the skin of
snakes and other reptiles.
15. Buy sustainable forest
products. Choose bamboo or rattan furniture, and products certified by the
Forest Stewardship Council. Avoid furniture made from wood from rainforests.
Minimise your use of palm oil (found in most processed food products, snacks,
soap and shampoo) as rainforests including those in Malaysia are destroyed to
make way for oil palm plantations.
16. Use your mobile phones
for as long as possible, and recycle them once they can no longer be repaired
and reused. Mobile phones contain coltan, a mineral extracted from mines in the
deep forests of Congo, in central Africa, which is home to the world’s
endangered lowland gorillas. The boom in the worldwide demand for mobile phones
has led to the destruction of gorilla habitats and the rampant slaughter of
gorillas for the illegal bushmeat trade.
17. Slow down when driving.
If someone else is doing the driving, advise them politely to slow down and
keep an eye out for wildlife. If you are the passenger, stay alert for wildlife
that may be crossing the road or birds that may be flying low. Many animals
live in developed areas and this means they must navigate a landscape full of
human hazards.
18. Do not purchase exotic
pets. Sugar gliders, slow lorises, marmosets, monkeys, parrots and other
wildlife belong in the wild with their families and in their habitats. If you
love them, protect their habitats. Keeping them in captivity will not keep
their species safe and will only cause them stress and anguish. There are
thousands of domestic animals -- chiefly dogs, cats and rabbits that have been
selectively bred for centuries to live with humans and to depend on humans -- looking
for good homes in animal shelters and pounds. Please consider giving them a
chance of living a good life with you instead.
19. Do not visit circuses,
travelling zoos, petting zoos and uncertified private zoos. Keeping wildlife in
captivity is neither kind nor educational. Many of these animals are caught by
poachers and hunters, usually by killing the mother animal and taking the baby
away. The money you pay to visit these facilities will not be used to keep the
animals fed and healthy. Instead, it will usually be used to buy more animals to
be used as ‘attractions’ to keep visitors coming.
20. Make your home
wildlife-friendly and wildlife-safe. Avoid using pesticides, herbicides, glue
traps, rat poison or bleach. Put stickers or decals on windows if you find that
birds keep flying into them. Keep a lid on your waste bin to stop animals from
raiding your rubbish. Wash jars and containers and put the lids back on before
you put them in the recycling bin or bag. Clean out the insides of cans and use
a hammer to flatten the openings of cans to stop small animals from getting
trapped inside or getting cut by the sharp edges of cans. Dispose of needles,
pins and razor blades by wrapping them in masking tape and labelling them
clearly as sharp objects. Recycle electronic waste and batteries. Avoid
accepting and using plastic bags, plastic drinking straws, and polystyrene packaging.
These are small actions that take getting used to, but will go a long way in
preventing the unnecessary deaths of wildlife and even stray animals.
