A TRIP to the Belum-Temenggor rainforest is always an experience to remember. This age-old forest reserve supports an extremely large biodiversity of fauna and flora — more than 100 species of mammals, including the dwindling Sumatran rhinoceros, Malayan tiger, the seladang and the Malayan tapir; 274 species of birds; 168 species of butterflies; 95 species of leaf-beetles; seven freshwater and land turtles; and, more than 3,000 species of flowering plants, some of which are found only in Peninsular Malaysia.

However, this beautiful experience has been marred by many unpleasant events such as logging, tilapia aquaculture, poaching and the hardship faced by the Orang Asli.

Tilapia aquaculture has been introduced in a number of places in the Belum-Temenggor lakes.

Tilapia is a non-indigenous or invasive fish species to the freshwater lakes of Belum-Temenggor. Every secondary student knows that the introduction of such “foreign” species would adversely affect habitats, either environmentally or ecologically.

This foreign fish will ultimately colonise and destroy all the 30-odd native fish that now inhabit the lakes of Belum-Temenggor.

Ten years from now, Belum-Temenggor will be devoid of all native fish.

In the Temenggor region, crystal-clear rivers which were once teeming with Arowana and other native fish, are now marked by muddy water flows — the devastating effect of logging.

The Orang Asli live off the land. Their very survival depends on the rivers — an important source for their drinking water, a means to wash their clothes and a source of protein in the form of fish.

Logging changed all this. Many of the rivers are a pathetic sight now — brown and muddy, devoid of any life.

Salt licks are areas in the jungle that animals visit for their regular supply of essential minerals.

During one of our visits to the salt licks, we chanced upon a poacher well-camouflaged in a tree. A complaint to the forest reserve authority did not elicit much response.

Even the batin, the Orang Asli head of the village we visited, lamented that people frequently cross over to carry out activities such as poaching and logging for sandalwood.

Numerous complaints to the authorities have apparently gone unheeded.

ATHIRU, Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – May 29, 2009