PENCINTA ALAM

NEWSLETTER OF THE MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY

www.mns.my

March 2016

1 Million Pledges Against Shark's Fin

hile you may be able to afford a bowl of shark's fin soup, our marine
ecosystem cannot afford to have more sharks die.
This is why the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Selangor Branch Marine
Special Interest Group, World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia and
various other organisations (see box on the right) have come together to spread
awareness on issues related to shark finning.
Through the My Fin My Life Campaign led by WWF, which runs from January
to June 2016, the group of NGOs aims to achieve three main targets:
1. To get Local Councils to collaborate with WWF to sensitise 20,000 businesses to remove shark's fin soup from menu;
2. To engage one million Malaysians to support the call for no shark's fin
soup and
3. To get commitment from 500 businesses to remove shark's fin soup from
menus or dining.

The campaign is mainly driven by the fact that Malaysia is a major
shark producer and largest importer in term of volume of shark's fin, ranked
ninth and third in the world respectively according to Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Why Sharks?
Sharks sit at the top of the food chain in the sea. This means they keep the
populations of other fish in check and healthy. This trickles all the way down
to other marine creatures and plants, keeping the whole ecosystem in balance.
And Malaysia's marine ecosystem is among the world's richest.
But when sharks start disappearing, the ecosystem becomes unstable. This
Continue on next page...

... Continued from page 1

affects not just precious marine habitats but us

humans.

The loss of sharks impacts commercial
fisheries. Malaysians are the biggest consumers of
seafood in Southeast Asia. Already, catches of large
fish have declined by 90%. This affects not just
consumers, but fishermen's livelihoods and coastal
communities for whom fish is a key and traditional
food source.
Are sharks in danger?
At least 100 million sharks are estimated killed
every year for their fins. That is about 96 sharks
every 30 seconds.

According to FAO, Malaysia, along with
Thailand and Japan, may be among the worlds
largest shark's fin consumers. Also, unlike China
and Hong Kong, which is seeing a decline in
sharks fin consumption, Malaysia shows no indications of a sharks fin market contraction.

Between 2000 and 2011, Malaysia recorded
an average capture production of 23,412 tonnes
per year of sharks and rays (though not necessarily
specifically for their fins).

In addition, Malaysia imported on average,
1,172 tonnes of shark's fin, largely small, low-value
fins, mainly from Thailand. According to WWF,
about 84% of imports were consumed locally, a
figure that increased 54% per year.

Changes in fishing technology, increased
economic development and sharks' slow reproductive rate have combined to devastate shark numbers.

Sharks are also indirectly captured as bycatch, which is wasteful. Illegal, unregulated and
unreported fisheries target sharks to retain the fins
and discard the meat, which is inhumane. Other
2

threats are habitat destruction, pollution and climate change.

What is 'My Fin My Life'?
MNS Marine ran one of Malaysia's first anti-shark's
fin soup campaigns in 2007-2008, titled 'Fins
Best on Sharks'. It was tough to get people and
organisations to sign on then, but they saw some
success, including a pledge not to consume shark's
fin soup by the Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environment.

Awareness about sharks and shark's fin consumption has also been on the marine awareness
training programme since 2003. This year, MNS
are supporting 'My Fin My Life' campaign as part
of a multi-NGO push to reverse the shark decline.
This campaign focuses on three urban centres:
Kota Kinabalu, Penang and the Klang Valley,
where there will be activities galore throughout the
campaign period.
What YOU can do
For our forefathers, serving shark's fin soup was to
show off one's wealth and generosity. Times have
changed. Shouldn't we evolve with the times and
more importantly, with the knowledge? So:
Refuse the next bowl of sharks fin soup offered
to you and explain to your friends and family
why you decided to do so. Make a pledge.
Commit your organisation to NOT serving
sharks fin soup at functions and get them to
make a pledge.
Commit your organisation to NOT serving
sharks fin soup at functions and get them to
make a pledge.
Getting married or celebrating a big birthday?
Serve an alternative to shark's fin soup and

place table-cards to discretely explain why you

are not serving shark's fin.
Spread the word online. #myfinmylife on
Twitter and Facebook and download campaign
materials like campaign logos, information kits,
articles, table-cards, etc. from https://www.
facebook.com/groups/mnsmarinegroup.selangorbranch/ (Go to Files)
Arm yourself with analysis and information
from the monthly MNS newsletter 'Pencinta
Alam' (March July) and the MNS magazine
'Malaysian Naturalist' (March and June issues).
Join our activities which include film screenings, multi-NGO campaign events, our Shark
Booth at Raptor Watch, a special Shark Awareness Programme in Tenggol supported by SSI
in conjunction with World Oceans Day, and
many more.
Updates are available in Pencinta Alam or check
out the following links for more information.
MNS Marine
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mnsmarinegroup.selangorbranch/
MNS Marine Shark Handout
Fins - Best on Sharks: MNS Marine in the My Fin My Life
Campaign #myfinmylife' <https://www.facebook.com/groups/
mnsmarinegroup.selangorbranch/files/>
Pencinta Alam Newsletter
http://www.mns.my/newsletter.php
My Fin My Life Campaign
Search for us via #myfinmylife on Twitter and Facebook

Dont miss the next article covering mind-blowing

facts about shark fins!
By Tan She Mei

Raptor Watch 2016

12th March (Saturday)

Tanjung Tuan

Raptor Watch is now Malaysias biggest and best

eco tourism event and a signature for the Malaysian
Nature Society (MNS). Organised by the Malaysian Nature Society, is a festival to celebrate the return of the migratory birds of prey or better known
as raptors on their journey back to their breeding
grounds in the northern hemisphere. RW is a public
event meant to raise awareness on the conservation
of raptors and their habitats
When is Raptor Watch held?
(a) Migration Period
Raptor Watch is held annually on the first weekend
of March. For the year 2016 the event will be held
on 12th March (Saturday).

However, the spring raptor migration actually begins in mid February and lasts till mid April.
For those who are not able to come to the RW,
you can still go anytime within this period to see
the birds. Over the years of monitoring, MNS has
discovered that the peak period to watch the most

number of birds is the first weekend of March.

Despite the scientific data behind it, raptor
migration cannot be guaranteed. Nature is unpredictable. A change in wind direction, haze, and rain
may deter the birds from flying across leading to a
`no bird day.
(b) Best time to watch raptors
Best time to watch the raptors will be between 11
a.m. and 3 p.m. In the past there have been records
of birds flying as late as 6 p.m. The reason why
raptors choose to fly during the hottest period of
the day is because they need thermals. Thermals
are hot air columns produced by the land due to
the heat from the sun. As raptors are very large
creatures they require these thermals to help them
glide on the sky without using energy to flap their
wings. Thermals will assist the raptors in getting
them back to their breeding grounds in far northern
temperate Asia with minimal usage of energy.
Why do we have Raptor Watch?
(a) An opportunity for all
RW is an opportunity for the general public to
witness one of natures most exquisite offerings.
Raptors migrate southward to escape the bitter cold
of the northern winters and make the same venturous journey back during spring to their breeding
grounds in temperate Asia.
(b) For Tanjung Tuan
One of the main objectives of RW is to ensure the
continued conservation of Tanjung Tuan Forest
Reserve by promoting this iconic celebration as a
national eco-tourism event.

During the spring migration, thousands
of raptors can be seen flying across the Straits of
Malacca. Having to use massive amount of energy

flying across the Straits of Malacca, the raptors will

be flying low at the event site making it possible to
have a good view of these magnificent birds.

Tanjung Tuan has been listed as an important raptor site by BirdLife International, National
Geographic Society and Hawkmountain.

But for many years Tanjung Tuan has
been facing a development threat. The sea front of
Tanjung Tuan is expensive real estate. As Tanjung
Tuan is an extension of the Port Dickson holidaying coasts, its value as a vacation spot is high. For
many years plans after plans were drawn by local
authorities to develop Tanjung Tuan. And throughout these years, Malaysian Nature Society has been
striving to keep Tanjung Tuan intact.

The need to conserve Tanjung Tuan was
mainly for the migratory raptors. Tanjung Tuan is
an important stop over site for migratory raptors after crossing the Straits of Malacca. It provides food
for the raptors as well as a resting spot. For raptors
arriving late in the evening, it provides shelter for
the night before they take off for flight the next day.
Without Tanjung Tuan, many raptors may never
make it back, due to exhaustion and lack of food.
The conservation of Tanjung Tuan is also important for its surrounding marine life and its forest
growth. The trees in Tanjung Tuan acts a gene bank
for tropical timber trees and the waters of Tanjung
Tuan is rich with coral and sea-grass, both important for green turtles that lay eggs in secluded
beaches of Tanjung Tuan.
Where will Raptor Watch be held?
(a) Event Location
Raptor Watch will be held at the beautiful coastal
rainforest reserve, namely the Tanjung Tuan Forest
Reserve.
3

ECO KIDS COLUMN

NATURE GAMES:
FUN WITH ROCKS
AND MUD
GUESS MY ROCK NATURE
GAME
(For 2-4 players)

This game is a great exercise in descriptive writing and observation skills. Rocks may not seem
very exciting, but there are hundreds of properties you can describe, and this will help you think
like a geologist.
What You Need:
1. Container for storing rocks
2. 10 different varieties of rocks
3. Pens and paper
What You Do:
1. Go outdoors and look for 10 interesting-looking
rocks. Find rocks that do not look similar. Your
rocks should be of different colours and shapes.
2. Look at each rock closely and describe their
properties. Be specific. What colour is it? What
is its shape? What is its texture? Is it smooth
or rough? Does it resemble something else, e.g. a
bottle or a turtle? Be as detailed in your descriptions as possible.
3. Once you have had sufficient practice describing the rocks, put the rocks on a table and line
them up side-by-side. Each player should observe
each rock carefully, and secretly select one that
he or she would like to describe as a scientist. Do
not let any other player know which rock you have

chosen. After choosing a favourite rock, each

player should write down a description of his or
her rock on a sheet of paper, using as many details
as possible.
4. Once this is completed, players swap their
sheets of paper and try to guess which rock the
other player chose. The object of the game is to
have the other player successfully guess which
rock you chose, relying on the descriptions provided. The more detailed you are as a scientist,
the easier it will be for the other players to know
which one you picked.
5. You can also play this game with leaves, twigs
or seashells. Please return the rocks, leaves and
other items to the spot where you found them, as
all these objects have a role to play in nature and
may serve as food or shelter for other organisms.

MAKE YOUR OWN MUD

BRICKS

5. Overturn the ice cube tray and tap on the back

to carefully remove the mud bricks. You may wish
to let the bricks dry out a little first.
6. Many societies used to construct houses and
buildings out of mud bricks just like the ones
you made (only bigger!). Sometimes, builders add
straw (not drinking straws, but the straw from
wheat and other grains) or rice husks as a binding material for the bricks. The Great Mosque of
Djenne in Central Mali is constructed entirely out
of mud bricks. Mud bricks were used in construction by ancient civilisations, including in the Indus
Valley and Mesopotamia. What kind of home would
you build out of mud bricks if you were living in
that era? How tall a tower can you build? Besides buildings, what else can you make using mud
bricks? Do you know that mud brick ovens are very
popular? Can you try to build a small oven using
your mud bricks?

What You Need:

1. 1 old/unwanted ice cube tray
2. 1 cup soil
3. 2/3 cup water
4. Measuring cups
5. A bowl
6. Food coloring (optional)
What You Do:
1. Measure the correct amount of soil into a measuring cup. Carefully pour it into the bowl.
2. Measure the correct amount of water into a
measuring cup. Add it a little at a time into the
bowl as well. Add food colouring if you wish to.
3. Mix the water and soil using your fingers.
4. Evenly divide the mud between each compartment in the ice cube tray. Pack each mini mud
brick down with your thumb.

Compiled and edited by Wong Ee Lynn

Credits for contents and images: www.education.
com

GREEN LIVING COLUMN

GREENING YOUR EXERCISE ROUTINE

Most of us would not give much thought to the question of whether we are exercising in an environmentally-responsible and non-wasteful manner. After all,
there are not many pastimes simpler or greener than
exercising. However, the fitness industry can often
persuade us to spend, consume and drive more than
we need. Here are ways in which we can reduce the
environmental footprint of our exercise routines:
1. Until the last two decades, most people got their
exercise by carrying out outdoor activities -- cycling, running, walking and playing outdoors.
Instead of signing up with a gym or fitness centre,
find ways to exercise outdoors, for example, by
jogging around your neighbourhood, going hiking at the nearest forest reserve, walking up and
down the stairs at work, cycling to the shops and
using the outdoor exercise equipment at the nearest playground. Fresh air is always better than the
canned air in air-conditioned gyms.
2. Find ways to avoid driving for the purpose of exercise. Visit the gym in your apartment or nearest
to your office. Take public transport to attend road
races and marathons. Work out at home, or in
the nearest park or playground. Jog around your
neighbourhood instead of a popular park that you
have to drive to. If you need to drive to a park or
other destination because you are part of an exercise or sports group, combine trips and errands so
that you are driving there on the way back from
work or the shops, instead of making a special
trip out just for the purpose of exercise.
3. Don't buy more than is necessary. Some people
believe that buying new workout clothes or gym
equipment will motivate them to work out more.

This is rarely true, and the motivation to work out

usually wanes after the novelty of having something new wears off. Buy new workout clothes
only if you need to, otherwise comfortable running / cross-training shoes, t-shirts and shorts/
track pants are all you need. Instead of buying
exercise equipment, use your own body for resistance training and perform exercises such as situps, push-ups and planks, which require little or
no equipment. Use the playground monkey bars
or climbing frames for chin-ups and pull-ups.
Check the internet and social media for pre-loved
exercise equipment and bicycles for sale. Thinking up alternatives to buying equipment and new
gear will help you save money, reduce clutter and
reduce your environmental footprint.
4. If exercising outside your home, bring your own
reusable water bottle and refill it with water.
Avoid drinking sports drinks and other beverages
that come in packaging. Most of these are less
healthy than drinking water, and are filled with
sugar and empty calories. Add a slice of lemon
or a sprig of mint leaves to your drinking water
if you prefer, or make your own isotonic drink
using fruit juice or glucose water and a pinch of
salt to prevent muscle cramps. Fuel your workout
with natural, healthy snacks such as bananas, or
portions of fruits or vegetables stored in a reusable container, instead of expensive and heavilypackaged sports snack bars.
5. Use clothes, shoes and sports equipment for
as long as you can before disposing of them or
donating them. Running shoes that are no longer
suitable for long-distance running can still be
worn while loafing around the house or neighbourhood, or washed and given to the homeless
who need footwear and are not planning to run a
road race in your pre-loved shoes. Wear clothes

and use towels that are easy to clean and try to

use them more than once, if possible, before
washing them, in order to conserve water and
soap. For example, for your workout, wear the
same t-shirt that you had been wearing the day
before for gardening, housework or going out to
the shops, and wash it only after you wear it for
your workout. Try a mix of activities, e.g. running
on Monday and swimming on Tues, to give your
workout shoes time to air out in between workouts.
6. At sporting events, take only what you need.
Don't take the goody bag if you don't need the
things that come with it. Alternatively, wash
the race shirt after wearing it and donate it to
the homeless or needy. The caps, water bottles
and other items that come in event goody bags
can be given to the homeless and needy, or to
school sports programmes. Donating items while
they are still new and usable is the considerate,
thoughtful and generous thing to do.
7. Find ways to double your impact. Plan weekend
hikes through urban green lungs and parks, and
carry a garbage bag with you to pick up litter. Sign up to volunteer for sports programmes
benefitting needy children and differently-abled
individuals. Volunteer at an animal shelter and
get a full-body workout walking dogs and cleaning kennels. Volunteer for a community garden
and get the exercise you need weeding, digging
and planting. You are limited only by your own
imagination.
By Wong Ee Lynn
<wongeelynn@yahoo.com / gl.mnselangor@yahoo.
com>

Calendar of Activities
MARCH 2016

Marine Group Shark

Booth at Raptor Watch
Date: 12 March 2016 (Saturday)
Venue: Port Dicskson
Come visit the Shark Booth at Raptor Watch 2016! Even as
you experience the top birds in the sky, learn also about the
top fish in the sea.

The Marine Group is at hand to help you understand
why sharks have such a bad rep and clear up misconceptions
about sharks fin soup. Take part in activities and sign up for
activities, such as film screenings and our World Oceans Day
special Shark Awareness Programme at Pulau Tenggol.

This shark booth is in conjunction with the My Fin
My Life Campaign (#myfinmylife), which aims to reduce
Malaysians consumption of sharks fin (see article).

For more information, email <wanyeng@rocketmail.
com> and also check out: #myfinmylife, https://www.facebook.com/groups/mnsmarinegroup.selangorbranch/

Photo Workshop
12th March 2016 (Saturday)
Time: 9.00am to 1.00pm
Venue: MNS HQ Auditorium
Steward Forbes, Steven Wong and Alex Foong will be
conduction a practical hands-on workshop on insect, herp
and bird photography. This is for beginners who would like
to advance into the respective subjects. Participants need to

register beforehand to get a place as we will be limiting the

number of participants in this half-day workshop. Participants
need to bring along their camera equipment, a macro (closeup lens) and a telephoto/telephoto zoom lens for birds. Kindly
note that this is not a workshop on how to operate your
respective brand of camera, but it is a workshop on the to use
your camera equipment to capture the images of the respective subjects in the workshop.

Please sms Alex Foong 012-2893133 to secure a
place.

Mammal Talk: Fruit Gardens

Enhance Mammal Diversity and
Biomass in a Southeast Asian
Rainforest
Date: 17 March 2016 (Thursday)
Talk synopsis:
As many protected areas are frequently inhabited by people,
this can cause conflict between conservation practitioners and
the local indigenous community.

This talk is about a study, located in Krau Wildlife
Reserve, Pahang, Malaysia, which aimed to assess how traditional cultivation techniques of fruit gardens within a protected area by an indigenous community might affect terrestrial
mammal abundance, diversity and assemblage composition.

They found that fruit gardens contained similar
species richness and abundance levels but higher diversity
and almost threefold higher mammal biomass. Fruit gardens
contained five times as many fruit-producing trees and a positive correlation was found between the number of fruit trees
and total mammal biomass.

Mammal community composition differed between
the two habitats, with fruit gardens attracting eight species of
conservation concern.

Their results suggest that traditional agroforestry
systems may provide additional resources for mammals and
therefore their net effects should be considered in conservation policy.

Speaker:
Jonathan Moore is a recently graduated masters student with
an Mres in Conservation Biology from the University of
Nottingham, UK Campus. He has just published his first lead
author paper in Biological Conservation based on the data
collected from his masters degree. He is currently working as a field assistant in Malaysia for a clouded leopard
project, studying clouded leopard distribution, density and
prey species, run by WILDCRU at Oxford University. He is
also the project leader for the Tropical Ecology Assessment
and Monitoring (TEAM) Network project located at Pasoh,
Malaysia, collecting long-term camera trap data on terrestrial
mammal populations. His scientific interests are focused on
understanding animal-plant interactions, animal seed dispersal and predator-prey interactions particularly in increasing
degraded ecosystems.
All, including children, are welcome to attend this talk. Please
register by sending your name and email address to wongpuimay@hotmail.com.

Basic Caving Course

Date: 19 20 March 2016 (Sat - Sun)
The Selangor Branch Cave Group will be conducting its
annual Basic Caving Course in Kota Gelanggi, Pahang. Our
course encompasses the following:
1. Workshop on cave geology, flora/fauna, archaeology,
conservation and techniques
2. Abseiling down a 30-m cliff with Single Rope Techniques (SRT) by cavers
3. Cave exploration activities. This is where the adventure
begins as we take you into the impressive caves in Kota
Gelanggi.
Cost: RM350 for members & RM420 for non-members.

For registration & further details, please call KK
(012-210 2295 or kklee2295@gmail.com) or Tony (018-200
9118 or 9w2yap@gmail.com ).


Closing date for registration: 11 March 2016. Payment is to be made to Maybank Account No. 114496038911
to Loh Tee Cheu. Please e-mail teecheu@gmail.com once
payment has been made.
Important Notes:
1. Transportation is NOT provided
2. All participants are required to have a helmet (construction/
bicycle) & torchlight
3. Due to safety concerns, abseiling is subject to participants
meeting our guidelines on waist size
4.Terms & conditions apply for any cancellation
5. MNSCG reserves the right to cancel the event due to
weather or other factors that compromise the safety of participants

Indoor Talk: Photography

Ethics
16th March 2016 (Wednesday) 8.00pm
Venue: MNS HQ Auditorium
Speaker: Mr Lee Hong Leng

todays camera sensors. Similarly, photographs taken indoors

may also be restricted by dark shadows and sunlight streaming in through open windows.

ment of the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE). Join us

as we circuit around the reservoir witnessing the biodiversity
that the Ampang Forest Reserve holds, before it it impacted
by development.

Various techniques have been adopted to extend the capture

range of camera sensors, one of the most effective being the
high dynamic range or HDR process which can give dramatic
effects in many situations.

This activity will be held at night between 8pm to
11pm, with the possibility of running late depending on how
much we find. As this is a night time activity, a headlamp or a
flashlight is vital. Hiking shoes are recommended as we will
be ascending up a steep hill at the start of the walk (the rest
of it is easy). Also, bring a camera, spare batteries, ponchos,
water and light snacks if you get peckish easily.

Join Stewart Forbes and the rest of the MNS PhotoSIG as

we explore the HDR process and learn how to extend the
dynamic range in todays photography to capture difficult
exposures or create amazing effects.

April 2016
Herp Trip at Ampang
Impounding
Reservoir

In a game of golf you need to follow the Golfing etiquette

likewise in Photography there are also etiquette. This is not
just a 101 rules but many a time even professional photographers need to be reminded that besides getting that image,
there are etiquette to follows. What are them, come listen to
Mr HL Lee who will be sharing with us.

Date: 26 March 2016

HDR in photography

The Ampang Impounding Reservoir is one of the earliest

waterworks in Malaysia. Built in 1892, it supplied water to
Ampang and the greater part of Kuala Lumpur. Now defunct, it has become a popular area for nature lovers, jungle
trekkers, dog walkers, bird watchers, senior citizens doing tai
chi and herpers! Covered with lush riparian greenery, it is a
great habitat for lizards, frogs, turtles and snakes.

Speaker: Mr Stewart Forbes

Even the very best of cameras cannot capture the full range of
light and dark detail in many photographs today. In a bright
outdoor landscape for example, detail from the lightest areas
(the sky perhaps) and the darkest shadows cover a dynamic
exposure range that is beyond the capture capabilities of

Meeting Point: Jalan 1, Taman Tun Abdul Razak, 68000

Ampang (N 3.16653, E 101.77448)
Meeting Time: 7.30pm sharp for registration
Duration: 8pm - 11pm (possibly running late)

The Ampang Impounding Reservoir is a part of the
Selangor State Park which is now threatened by the develop-

Note that there is a charge of RM10 for members
and RM20 for non-members.

Please register by sending the following details to
mnsherp@gmail.com
============================================
Name:
NRIC/Passport Number:
Handphone Number:
Name of Next of Kin (NOK):
Relationship with NOK:
NOK Handphone Number:
Membership Number:
Expiry Date:
============================================

Bird Watching in Sungai Tengi

(Day Trip)
Date: 3 April 2016 (Sunday)
Meeting point and Time: Layby after exit from Bukit
Tagar PLUS toll (exit 119) at 7.00 am
GPS coordinates: 3.494649, 101.522049
Come join the Selangor Branch Bird Group for a day trip
to Sungai Tengi. We will not be going into the trail but only
birding along the tarmac road. The road through the surround-

ing forest reserve offers numerous lowland birds. This event

is suitable for children.

Direction: Head north on the North-South PLUS
Expressway until you see the signboard to Bukit Tagar exit
(Exit 119). Take the exit and wait at the layby slightly after
the toll. It takes approximately 50 minutes drive from the KL
city centre. Please be punctual as from here, we will convoy
to the site, which is another 15 minutes drive.

Avoid bright coloured clothing. Wear a hat and
comfortable shoes. Bring along binoculars, drinking water,
light snacks, sun block, umbrella and mosquito repellent. The
event shall end at noon.

Pre-registration is not compulsory but advance
notice of your attendance is appreciated. If you need a ride or
can offer a ride, please let us know. For more details, please
call (after 8 pm) or sms Ms. Ong Su Ping at 016-4903284 or
Mr. Low Kok Hen at 012-3807775.

Long Birding Trip to

Endau-Rompin, Johor National Park
Date: 28 April - 1 May 2016
Selangor Branch Bird Group is organising a 3 nights 4 days
birding trip to Endau-Rompin, Johor National Park.

Endau-Rompin State Park encompasses the watersheds of the rivers, Endau in Rompin in Pahang and comprises some 488 sq. km. of verdant tropical rainforest. Lush and
virtually untouched, it is one of the few remaining lowland
forests in the country. It is of major conservation significance
due to the diversity of the habitats and species found within.
The tropical rainforest of Endau-Rompin State Park has been
in existence for more than one million years and is reputed
as one of the oldest rainforests in the world. There are about
250 species of birds which can be found there to keep you
fascinated daily.

The trip is open to MNS members only. Cost of trip
is RM600.00 per person. This covers the following expenses,
basic accommodation, 9 meals (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and
3 dinners), transportation, insurance and conservation fee.
There are 20 places for this trip and is given on a first-come
first-serve basis (Based on receipt of full payment). No refund
will be given for those who cancel their trip. For more details
and confirm your bookings, please contact Heikal Pinto at
019-3399914 or email at heikal.pinto@yahoo.com

May 2016

Beginners Course in
Bird Watching
Date: 20 - 22 May 2016

Are you interested in Bird Watching but do not know where

to start?
Selangor Bird Group is specially organising a course for you
on Beginners in Bird Watching, if you are asking these questions

What is that bird?

Which binoculars should I buy?

What are bins?

How to use my binoculars?

By the time I find the spot where I thought the bird was it
has flown away?

Which field-guides should I get

Conducted via classroom and outdoor practical sessions at

Frasers Hill, participants will be grounded on birding basics
in class followed by outdoor field experience, with the guidance of experienced birder-trainers

Course is open to MNS members only. Cost of
course is RM450.00 per person. This covers the expenses for
accommodation (twin sharing) at Pine Resort, Frasers Hill,
Car Pooling, Highway tolls, Group Insurance for Course,
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. There are 24 places for this

course and is given on a first come first serve basis. (Based on

receipt of full payment)
No refund will be given for who cancel their participation.
For more details and confirm your bookings, please contact
Shea Hong at 012-7113552, Holly Barclay at 017-8770741 or
Mark Ng at 012-319 5189
Closing date is May 1st 2016.

Love the outdoors?

24 Hour Wildlife Crime Hotline

Enjoy peace of mind for you and your family by writing your Will today!
Do you know that all our Assets including banks' accounts will be frozen
upon Death? With OR Without a WILL!! How do you unlock them? A
Grant of Probate or Letter of Administration from the High Court. This
process applies to Muslims and non-Muslims.

This hotline is a channel to report offences involving all

endangered wildlife Malaysia, for example:

If you pass on without having a VALID WILL this is what happens:

1. Your Family
Your spouse and children will face cash flow problem because all your
bank accounts including joint accounts maybe frozen.
Your childrens welfare may not be taken care of by the people of your
choice
2. The Legal Process
Delay in distribution due to the legal administrative process (26 years)
2 guarantors / sureties required (amount equal or more than deceased's
estate)
Much more costly resulting in financial burdens to your family
3. Your Asset Distribution (as per Distribution Act 1958 amended in 1997
or distribution under Faraid)
The law will decide on the distribution of your estate such as house(s),
businesses, bank accounts, shares, etc.
LOVE YOUR FAMILY, WRITE YOUR WILL TODAY AND ENJOY
PEACE OF MIND wherever you may be. Why leave to chance? For more
information, please call..
MARY OOI
Making Your Wishes Come True
Rockwills Estate Planner (Rockwills Corporation Sdn. Bhd.)
Islamic Estate Planner (as-Salihin Trustee Sdn. Bhd.)
H/P: 012-337 9906 or email: mary_3_ooi@hotmail.com
(Servicing area: Klang Valley only)

019-356 4194

the discovery of snares, traps and cages set in the forest to catch
wildlife,
a captured tiger in the forest,
a bear caged in a village,
an endangered species of bird or reptile being sold illegally in a pet
shop,
the sale of illegal products such as tiger parts sold in traditional
medicine,
wildlife parts - skins, claws, and elephant tusks sold as collectables
pets or wildlife advertised or served in a restaurant, or sold for the
cooking pot
The Wildlife Crime Hotline is managed by MYCAT, which stands for Malaysian
Conservation Alliance for Tigers. MYCAT comprises the Malaysian Nature
Society (MNS), TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Wildlife Conservation Society-Malaysia
Programme and WWF-Malaysia.

MOUNTAIN GOAL ADVENTURE CONSULTANT

(742912-V)

Website: http://www.mymountaingoal.com. E-mail: goalus@mymountaingoal.com

10

Annapurna Base Camp Trek (4130M) from

24/03/16 to 06/04/16

Mount Siguniang Shah (Four Maidens Mountain) Via Da Fan (5030M) and Chanzi pass
(4660M) from 16/05/16 to 25/05/16

Walk through villages, then climb through forests into

the Annapurna Sanctuary, a valley surrounded by high
Himalayan peaks. A great opportunity to get into the
mountains without the altitude problems of the Mt. Everest

This fantastic 10-day trek offers the most spectacular landscape views of the Himalayas, allowing you
to be completely immersed in the heart of the towering
Annapurna range. Altitudes of 4130m are reached, and
a reasonable level of physical fitness is required to comfortably complete this expedition.

Two free training trip will provided for the trip.
Contact : +60166375622 WhatsApp, WeChat and Line.
Further information please sign in:- http://www.mymountaingoal.com/AnnapurnaRegion.htm

The (Four Maidens Mountain Scenic Area is an unspoiled wilderness park located in western Sichuan
Province, 220 kilometers (about 136 miles) from
Chengdu. It is renowned for the unusual shapes of the
mountain peaks.

Mt. Siguniang shan consists of four adjacent
mountain peaks. It got its unusual name from a local
Tibetan legend that says the four peaks are the embodiments of four pretty girls.

Two free Training trips will be provided. Contact: Thong at goalus@mymountaingoal.com H/P :
016-6375622 (WhatsApp, Wechat and Viber) Off :
03-40248896. Further info please sign in: http://www.
mymountaingoal.com/backpackn-sichuan11.htm

MNS HQ

JKR 641, Jalan Kelantan,

Bukit Persekutuan, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
(just before the Seri Perdana turn off to
Jalan Mahameru)
Open: Monday Friday ; 9:00 a.m.5:30 p.m.
T: 03-22879422 F: 03-22878773
mns@mns.org.my www.mns.my
Membership: Leong Wee Chin

BRANCH EXCO MEMBERS 2015-2016

Johor Branch

c/o Vincent Chow

32, Jln Molek 3/11, Tmn Molek, 81100 JB, Johor
www.mnsj.org.my
Blog: www.mnsj.org.my
Chairman: Vincent Chow, vkkchow@yahoo.com
Vice-Chair: Wee Soon Chit, soonchit@hotmail.com
Secretary: Belinda Wong Mei Lang, belinda@
bellogistics.com

Kuching Branch (Sarawak)

Email: mnskuching@gmail.com
Chairman: Wong Yuk Yiong, Vincent, vyywong@gmail.com
Vice-Chair: Rose Au Nyat Jun, njau44@yahoo.com
Secretary: Audrey Dominic Neng, audreyneng@gmail.com

Selangor Branch

c/o MNS HQ address

www.mns.my/selangor
Email: mns.selangor@gmail.com
E-group: malaysiannaturesociety@yahoogroups.com
Chairman: Henry Goh, henrygks10@gmail.com

Vice-Chair: Pasupathy Jayaraj, pasupathy_jayaraj@yahoo.com

Secretary: Wong Pui May, wongpuimay@hotmail.com

Kedah Branch

Email: mnsmiri@yahoo.com; Blog:mnsmiri.blogspot.com

Chairman: Musa Musbah, sammua@yahoo.com
Vice-Chair: Mohamd Jefri Mudin, jefrimiri@gmail.com
Secretary: Mairead Boland, maireadgboland@gmail.com

Nature Information Centre (NIC),

673-B Jln Kebun Bunga,10350 Penang. Tel: 04-2273673
Open Mon-Sat, 7.30am 11.30am
(Please phone before visiting)
www.geocities.com/mnspenang/
Blog: mnspenang@yahoogroups.com; email: mnspenang@
yahoo.com
Chairman: Tan Choo Eng, chooengtan@yahoo.com
Vice-Chair: James Ooi Teik Kok,
jamesooiteikkok@yahoo.com
Secretary: Tan Pek Tao, Peggy, tpeggypeach@yahoo.com

Address: 3 Jalan Timur 1, Kawasan Perusahaan Mergong

Barrage, 05150 Alor Setar, Kedah
Chairman: Left Kol Husamuddin bin Yaacob, husaya@gmail.
comVice-Chair: Wan Muhaimin B Wan Jamil, wanatc@
Perak Branch
yahoo.com
Email: mnsperak@gmail.com
Secretary: Phang Fatt Khow, fkphang05@yahoo.com
70 Jln Chan Chee Keong, Ipoh Garden South,31400 Ipoh
Blog: mnsperak@yahoogroups.com
Kelantan Branch
Chairman: Ooi Beng Yean, bengyean@gmail.com
204, Jln Sultan Yahya Petra, 15150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
Vice-Chair: Leow Kon Fah, leow_kingfisher@yahoo.com
Email: meklawa@gmail.com
Secretary: Georgia Tham Yim Fong, georgi8tham@yahoo.
Chairman: Saiful Marsidi B Sidek, saiful.sidek@moe.gov.my
com
Vice-Chair: Amir Hamzah bin Abdul Shukor, amrieta@
yahoo.com
Sabah Branch
Secretary: Nazahatul Anis Amaludin,
No. 5, Taman Bukit Saujana, Lorong Saujana 2, Jalan Fung
anisamaludin@gmail.com
Yie Teng, 88460 Kolombong, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Chairman: Anna Wong, annawg888@gmail.com
Langkawi Branch
Vice-Chair: Jimmy Omar, jemyomar@gmail.com
mnslangkawi@yahoogroups.com
Secretary: Nur Syamimi Makbul, mimimakbul@yahoo.com
Chairman: Eric R. Sinnaya, morahols@gmail.com
Vice-Chair: Kamal Ibrahim, ezkamal@gmail.com
Sabah (Sandakan) Branch
Secretary: Daisy Jeyarani Samuel,
Lot 322, Lorong Pertama 17, Taman Pertama, 90000
Daisy_Samuel_2004@yahoo.com
Sandakan, Sabah
Negeri Sembilan/Melaka Branch
Chairman: Chong Ket Vui Dusun, dusun_chong@yahoo.com
Chairman: Dr Zorina Khalid, drzorina@moh.gov.my
Vice-Chair: Gengadharan G Pillai, genga_pillai@yahoo.com
Vice-Chair: Peter Loke, peterpkloke@yahoo.com
Secretary: Quah Joo Lee, jocquah104@gmail.com
Secretary: June Teng, MNS.N9Melaka@gmail.com

Pahang Branch
Miri Branch (Sarawak)

Penang Branch

No. 30 1st Floor Jalan Gambut, 25000 Kuantan, Pahang;

mnsphg@yahoo.com.sg
Chairman: Chin Wai Fatt, chinwaifatt@yahoo.com

Vice-Chair: Nurul Azne Ibrahim

Secretary: Noor Hassikin Binti Hamsah, noor_hassikin@
yahoo.com

Terengganu Branch

1926, Bkt Kubang Jambu, 20050 Kuala Terengganu.

Emai: mnsterengganu@gmail.com
Chairman: Wong Chee Ho, cheeho@umt.edu.my
Vice-Chair: Lim Yee Ming, limyeeming16@gmail.com
Secretary: Dr Chong Ju Lian, julianchong78@gmail.com

11

PENCINTA ALAM is a monthly newsletter

made possible by dedicated volunteers
and contributors from the Malaysian Nature Society. Accuracy is
the contributors responsibility. The Editor
reserves the right to edit for length and
content.
Submissions: Articles including the author and photographers names (max.
800 words), advertisements, digital images (100 dpi & no larger than 640 x 480
pixels & separately from the article), etc.
must reach the Editor by the 13th of each
month (unless noted otherwise) via the
following e-mail address: tapir2005@gmail.
com.
Advertising rates:
Classifieds: RM5 per column inch
Quarter page ad: RM30
Half page ad: RM60
All payments must be made to Malaysian Nature Society Selangor Branch.
Please bank in cash or cheque to Maybank
Account no 014150307352.
After banking in, please scan the slip and email it with your advertisement to: tapir2005@
gmail.com and berniechin118@yahoo.com.
Discount rate for ads paid in advance:
3 adverts paid in advance 5% off published rate;
6 adverts paid in advance 10% off published rate;
9 adverts paid in advance 15% off published rate;
12 adverts paid in advance 20% off published
rate.

12

ATTENTION!
r
you
g
n
i
d
e br hip car
s
a
Ple bers
l
mem to al proof
s
es a
i
t
i
v
of
.
acti
ship
r
e
b
mem

This issues edit

or:
Khor Hui Min
Next issues edit
or:
Lee Meng Lai

Have you b
een to an M
NS
activity late
ly? Why no
t
s
hare
your experi
ence with o
th
er
members b
y writing an
account of yo
ur activity a
nd
submitting
it (preferab
ly
with
photograph
s) for public
ation
in Pencinta
Alam? Ema
il your
article to: ta
pir2005@g
mail.
com

Renew Your
Membership via
Online Credit Card
Payment
Settling your MNS membership
fee is now made easier with on-line
credit card payment via the MNS
website. To renew, please visit https://www.mns.my/subscription/.
For inquiries, contact Wee Chin at
membership@mns.org.my
Dont Leave Home Without It
All members must show their membership cards to participate in any
Branchs activities. New members
who haven't received their cards
must show their membership payment receipts. Lost your card?
Contact Wee Chin at HQ.

Computer Recycling Collection Centre

The MNS Penang, Nature Information Centre (NIC) is a designated recycling

collection centre for old computers and computer parts by the Penang City
Council. Please send your unwanted computers and parts to the NIC to be send
for recycling by DOE approved recycling establishment. Contact Kanda at 0134537992 for more information or check out Penang Branch web pages