China's move forces strategy review
Published on: Wednesday, January 04, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Two charismatic Sabah bull elephants – one of which sported a unique sabre-like tusk – slaughtered by poachers may well be the victims of China's expected ban on the ivory trade by the end of 2017, Conservator of Forests Datuk Sam Mannan (pic) said."Despite that (China's ban) being a very good move, it may have ironically accelerated poaching in 'soft targets like Sabah' before the window closes in anticipation of an ivory price hike on account of perceived scarcity in and after the next 12 months," Mannan noted.The spectre of out-of-control poaching in the coming months and years requires Sabah to raise the bar in wildlife protection to unprecedented heights never before seen , Mannan warned.
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"The hardest of all is obtaining real intelligence on the movement of suspected poachers, for which, we will need the help of other authorities," he said, adding the Forestry Department is doing all it can to help the investigation by Sabah Wildlife Department and shot down the usual complaint that Sabah lacks the resources to get the job done. "The Chief Minister's department has already allocated the funding that we need to control this menace. So it is not about a lack of resources but the effective use and deployment of them for the set goals." However, Mannan admitted to a "strategic mistake" on the part of the Forestry Department which may have inadvertently opened a window of opportunity to focused professional hunters coming from abroad to make the strike.
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In view of these opportunistic strikes, Sabah needs rapid good riddance to the weaknesses that enabled these "focussed professional hunters' who are not necessarily Malaysians but able to make the kills and run, citing a case years ago when Indonesian authorities detained a person bringing tusks from Sabah. "We have contacted Traffic International for advice due to their experience in addressing such menace in countries such as Africa and India besides WWF-Malaysia to do a rapid assessment of our weaknesses in this regard and adopt the recommendations, " Mannan said.
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Since elephant poaching for their tusks in Ulu Segama had been unheard of over the last 10 years, why now, he asked."We have reasons to believe, the poachers entered by a boat or boats, and had earlier on identified their targets and their general roaming areas," Mannan said, citing cumbersome roads with gates and their locations manned with armed gates, passes needed by Plantation Companies to enter, raising suspicions – although it cannot be discounted – with the co-operation of landowners."The reason we believe entry by boat is that prior to the collapse of the Ulu Segama bridge (due to flooding) linking Northern and Southern Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, the department built a station near the bridge and manned 24 hours, to monitor the passing of private vehicles and trucks across the bridge. When the passage became inaccessible, the Forestry "Protection Units" moved to Southern Ulu Segama at Tingkayu Station (hot spot poaching area) to prevent entry of Poachers (mainly for deer), Foreign Gold Panners and Gaharu Hunters, amongst many miscreants," he explained. "With this movement to the South, local "collaborators" may have sensed the vulnerability of the River to quick access and getaway."This was a strategic mistake on our part, for the loss of deterrence. We never considered the possibility of entry by river although we allow Native Communities to enter, with permits, on a case to case basis, on cultural grounds, (but not for hunting)."He said among the measures to be taken are : Boats will be procured specifically to patrol the river from the Forest Reserve entry point. The Forest reserve river portion will need entry permits for "Bona Fide" users.Trained and armed staff will be deployed solely to protect the riverines just like in the Kinabatangan with K-COL (Kinabatangan Corridor Of Life).More rest huts will be built at the riverines at selected locations.Experienced and knowledgeable "Orang Segama" may be recruited as they know the river best.Estates will be engaged with as their lands could also be used for launching by the poachers. The possible role of their staff/workers cannot be discounted.Inputs from communities and NGOS etc. on how to do things better.The Segama River from the highway bridge, to its interior in the vast forests of Central Ulu Segama - Danum has the richest wildlife in Sabah, if not Borneo Island. They have not been managed for tourism like the lower Kinabatangan. There are less chances of poachers exploiting the isolation (but accessible) if eco-friendly tourism could be developed there like Sukau, Abai etc. A tourism industry near rivers could be a deterrent by itself. There may be entrepreneurs who may wish to look into this.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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