I REFER to your report “Drastic drop in bird stopovers as wetlands are lost” (NST, Jan 2).

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks has been monitoring waterbirds in Peninsular Malaysia in the Asian Waterbird Census Survey since the 1980s. This was carried out with the Malaysian Nature Society and the Wetlands International.

In Perak, 12,161 migratory birds of various species were recorded in 1983, 8,639 in 1984, 5,019 in 1985 and 14,405 in 1986 while 1,269 birds were recorded in 2003 and 1,015 in 2004.

The decline in the number of migratory birds frequenting the west coast of the peninsula may have been due to the change in the status of their habitats.

Direct disturbances to the birds because of increased activities in the area may have also contributed to the decrease. Pollution through the usage of pesticides, fungicides and other chemicals in the plantations upstream (river) may also have caused the decline of food for the birds near the river mouths (mudflats). Examples can be seen in Pulau Ketam and Klang Islands, Selangor, and Kuala Gula, Perak.

The department enforces the Wildlife Protection Act 76/72, Taman Negara Act, Enakment Taman Negara Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. These Acts and Enactments focus only on the wildlife species, national parks and the protected areas in Peninsular Malaysia.

Other areas outside the jurisdiction of the department, especially wetlands, are not within our control, except for Tasek Bera, a Ramsar site which is partly under the control of the department.

A combined effort between all parties, including the public, is needed in order to protect the wetlands and prevent further decline in the number of birds.

NOR AZEAN HASAN, for Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Putrajaya

Source: NST – January 17, 2008