Permitted to keep wildlife under rehabilitation
WE refer to the report “All heated up over gibbons” ( The Star, Nov 26). Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is shocked at the manner in which procedures to move the pair of gibbons from a private rehabilitation facility in Raub, Pahang, led to a three-day standoff between wildlife officials and environmental NGO Peka (Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia).
While there are local, regional and federal laws that prohibit the public from having a wild animal in their possession, even while temporarily caring for it with the intention of release, wildlife rehabilitators or care centres are permitted to keep wildlife for rehabilitation.
Perhilitan should understand that rehabilitators have the necessary equipment, caging and environment required by different species. They are trained to recognise and deal with injuries, illnesses, parasites and other conditions. They can administer appropriate medications, manage wounds and stabilise an animal that is in shock. Not all veterinarians have experience with wild animals but a rehabilitator would know an appropriate veterinarian for consultation.
At the same time, rehabilitators can care for an animal while preserving its wildness. An animal that has lost its normal or innate fear of humans will not survive in the wild. Releasing a tame wild animal is signing its death sentence. This is where rehabilitation centres are handy.
In this case, the rehabilitation centre is run by a professional who is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Species Survival Commission’s (SSC) Primate Specialist on Small Apes (SSA) and the Captive Working Party. She has rescued gibbons before and now has six under her care. The gibbons would be released into the wild in future.
Are the Perhilitan wildlife centres better off than private rehabilitation facilities? Is their facility in Sungkai better than this private rehabilitation centre? Pictures forwarded to SAM from wildlife lovers depict their rescue sites in deplorable states. Gibbons there do not have a free run in their rescue site but are instead locked in cages.
It goes without saying that good husband- ry and management are the key to successful treatment. To provide the best care and treatment for wildlife casualties, there need to be advances in techniques, practices and facilities. This does require that the facilities are operated in conjunction with high-quality animal management systems based on a good understanding of the needs of wild animal species.
This is particularly important in light of changes in legislation with the implementation of the Animal Welfare Act 2015.
It is high time an audit be conducted into the rescue facilities operated by Perhilitan. The field of wildlife rehabilitation is a discipline with its own body of literature, training and certification. In the best interests of wildlife, SAM urges Perhilitan to have the wellbeing of the gibbons as their first priority by entrusting them into the capable hands of a trained, experienced and permitted rehabilitator.
S. M. MOHD IDRIS President Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)