60 take part in M’sia Day Hornbill Walk
MIRI: This year’s Malaysia Day which was celebrated yesterday was a special day not only for Malaysians in the whole country, but also to the people of Miri who used to take part in the Hornbill Walk at Piasau Nature Reserve.
The Hornbill Walk is held on every third Saturday of the month and yesterday the 47th Hornbill Walk coincided with Malaysia Day.
Thus it was organised in a special way by about 60 people who took part in the walk led by Councillor Karambir Singh – the treasurer of the Piasau Camp Miri Nature Park Society (PCMNPS).
Most participants carried with them either the Jalur Gemilang or the state flag, as a sign of patriotism for the country.
They also had group photographs taken with the flags
This year, as our family day coincides with the Hornbill Walk, the members decided to take part in the Hornbill Walk. Thus we made available the refreshment here to share and celebrate Malaysia Day. — Karambir Singh, MIA president
before the walk which was held amidst drizzle.
At the conclusion of the walk they had fellowship gathering, with refreshment, courtesy of the Miri Indian Association (MIA).
Karambir who is MIA president said the association’s members decided not to have the usual MIA’s family day which they normally held to celebrate Malaysia Day.
“This year, as our family day coincides with the Hornbill Walk, the members decided to take part in the Hornbill Walk. Thus we made available the refreshment here to share and celebrate Malaysia Day,” Karambir told reporters.
Also taking part in the walk were expatriates, students and visitors to Miri. During the walk they also had opportunity to watch the mama hornbill – Juliet who is nestling in a hollow of the tree near House 58 at the nature reserve.
Hornbill Walk is one of the efforts initiated by PCMNPS and the Malaysian Nature Society, Miri Chapter to drum up public support, starting in 2012 to pressure the state government to gazette Piasau Camp, the former residential area for Sarawak Shell employees, as a nature reserve.
It was subsequently gazetted on Dec 2013 for its ecological, aesthetic and historical importance associated with the oil and gas industry since 1910.
Among the rich biological attributes of the 92.6ha (229 acres) PNR are 107 flora species and 75 fauna species including the totally protected hornbill and 44 other bird species, three mammal species, five amphibian species, 12 reptile species and 10 butterfly species.