By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah
wildlife department and non-government organisations will work together to
safeguard the species at proposed Tun Mustapha Park (TMP) while waiting for the
gazettement of the park next year.
Rampant turtles poaching
activities had recently occurred at Pulau Tiga in Kudat, which is part of the
one million hectare marine park at northern Sabah.
State wildlife director
William Baya said its personnel would col
laborate with other government
agencies such as Sabah Parks, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Fisheries
department and marine police for the enforcement works.
“Putting in additional
enforcement personnel (from our department) will not address the (poaching and
encroachment) issues effectively.
“The area is huge and
very remote too, not to mention the risk our personnel will have to endure with
the fact that we are logistically ill-equipped,” he explained.
Meanwhile, World Wildlife
Fund Malaysia (WWF) marine deputy head Robecca Jumin said they would continue
existing ground work including engaging local community to be the honorary
wildlife wardens.
“There are 61 certified
wardens at the park who carry out patrolling and monitoring activities.
“But they can only detain
transgressors and (still have to) call officials to make arrests,” she
explained, adding some of those wardens had even established turtle hatcheries
and released thousands of baby turtles at Simpang Mengayau and Bavang Jamal in
Kudat.
Robecca added
WWF-Malaysia would give full support to the government in overcoming issues
raised during the TMP public hearing to expedite the gazettement process.
In March 2003, the
Government of Sabah had approved the intention to gazette the park as the park
is one of the priority areas identified nunder the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine
Ecoregion (SSME) as being globally significant for its high biodiversity and
rich natural resources.
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