Serpents in the city BY STORY PHOTOS BY GRACE CHEN

 

The rising rat population in urban areas combined with the heatwave have increased the incidence of city folk coming into contact with venomous snakes.

ON MARCH 31, the Remote Envenomation Consultancy Services (RECS) in Ampang Hospital treated an 11-year-old girl for suspected snake bite on her left foot. 

Case files reported that she was bitten at a night market. The location was not recorded and the snake was not positively identified. But symptoms exhibited were characteristic of a cobra bite. 

Doctors had to remove dead tissue destroyed by what was suspected to be neurotoxic venom from a cobra. 

The patient required a skin graft. 

In another case which happened a year earlier, the RECS team in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) reported a Malayan pit viper biting a 32-year-old woman from Taman Bukit Segar Cahaya 2, Cheras. 

She was bitten on her right hand but it was a “dry” bite (where no venom was released) and was discharged. 

Last July, the same team reported another pit viper bite from the same area. 

The victim, a 12-year-old boy, had found the snake in his neighbourhood and was bitten while trying to put the snake into a bottle. 

All three cases happened in urban locations and the snakes were venomous. 

Malaysian Society on Toxinology president and RECS consultant Dr Ahmad Khaldun Ismail confirmed that out of 24 cases reported by RECS from Ampang Hospital, Kuala Lumpur Hospital and UKMMC between 2015 and 2016, five snakes were identified to be venomous. The snake species identified were the Malayan pit viper and mangrove cat eye. 

“This year, we are seeing two to five consultations per day for Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. 

“There was once we had five within 24 hours in the Klang Valley alone,” said Dr Ahmad. 

Judging from the number of times he had been called in to remove snakes from residential areas in the Klang Valley, snake venom researcher and conservationist Arun Raveendaran agrees the snake population has increased in the past 10 years. 

Arun has removed up to 50 snakes, mostly monocled and spitting cobras from Ampang alone. 

Khaldun with the pit viper he caught in Cheras.

Both types of cobras are venomous. 

He has identified Ampang, Cheras, Melawati, Setapak, Selayang and Kepong as habitats. 

In Gombak, he has extracted 100 pythons from the homes of startled residents. 

One recent case was in a restaurant near Kuala Lumpur city centre. According to Arun, pythons are not venomous but their teeth may contain bacteria which can lead to infection. 

“Cities make the most ideal breeding grounds. 

“They can breed in drains, rat holes, rubbish dumps and underneath houses. 

“Market areas are the best because the high rat population provides a large food source,” he said.

Explaining the cycle, Arun said food waste would attract rats which in turn attracted snakes. 

“This explains why there is a possibility for snakes to thrive better in cities than in the wild.”

Arun with his monocled cobra.

His opinion is backed up by the large captures he has carried out in houses and building. His record catch is a 1.9m-long monocled cobra. 

From RECS records, Dr Ahmad confirmed and verified six to seven cases of Malayan pit viper bites in Cheras residential areas since 2011. 

The latest incident occurred early this year. 

An exploratory trip to the area saw Dr Ahmad discovering two live adult specimens.

While jungle clearing for development is regularly cited as a reason for the migration of serpents into populated urban areas, Dr Ahmad notes that pet owners are also contributing to snake bite statistics.

“More animal enthusiasts are buying snakes as pets. 

“Non-venomous exotics like corn snakes, Burmese and ball pythons are popular but some collectors go for venomous and dangerous snakes. 

“Whether the snakes are venomous or not, their owners are at high risk of getting bitten.

“In the case of exotic venomous snakes, there will be an issue with anti-venom in case of bites. 

“Pet suppliers do not provide or sell anti-venom because it is a controlled drug and need special care and medical specialists to administer them,” he pointed out.

From RECS records, two Malaysians were bitten by rattlesnakes in Selangor. 

As the species is exotic here, there was no anti-venom in the local hospitals. 

It had to be brought in from the Singapore Zoo, an extremely expensive affair for the patient.

Former National Zoo employee, Tayalan Rahman said there was a strict procedure to follow when importing venomous snakes.

“When the zoo brought in an African king cobra, it had to be reported to the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) and the National Poison Centre. 

“It was especially necessary to inform the National Poison Centre so that it would have the anti-venom in stock in case of emergency. 

Tayalan advised keepers of venomous snakes to get a licence from Perhilitan and, for their own safety, inform the nearest hospital that they have these snakes as pets. 

He reckoned that one reason why the rattlesnake case required the help of Singapore Zoo might be due to the owner’s failure to tell the nearest hospital of the existence of their exotic pet. 

Commenting on the case, Malaysian Association of Reptile And Exotic Animal Keepers (Marak) founder Mohd Nazri Hassan Basri said permits for the keeping of exotic venomous snakes were highly regulated by Perhilitan. 

“Permits are only issued to zoos and permanent display facilities, not to individuals,” he said. 

On cases of pet snakes escaping from their confines or were abandoned by their owners who thought it would be best for them to go back to the wild, a 2013 story in The Star cited then Perhilitan law and enforcement director Burhanuddin Mohd Nor describing the impact of such actions as “devastating.” 

There are precautions one can take to avoid snake bites.

“Cut away the rubbish and lalang and you would have addressed a big part of the problem,” said Mohd Nazri.

Arun said: “Don’t look for trouble.”

“If you see a snake, do not disturb or try to catch it. Chances are high that it will move away when it feels the vibration of human footsteps.

“Snakes do not usually chase after humans. 

“It is usually the other way around,” he added. 

RECS was developed to assist healthcare providers at various levels of clinical management for snakebite (and bites or stings from venomous animals) and envenoming. Established in early 2012, it is made up of emergency physicians who are members of Malaysian Society On Toxinology. 

A consultation network among members is established through telephone calls, email and various forms of short text messaging systems.

Onto the River, caving trip for mns members

Onto the River
The meandering road to Borneo Highlands or Annah Rais Longhouse in the Penrissen Highlands edges the Sarawak River. But have you ever thought about exploring the river; bathing in the golden sunlight as it edges through the trees; observing man's influence on nature and nature's influence on man; and pretending that you are the first person to do so.
The Kuching Branch of Malaysian Nature Society is giving all members an opportunity to take a journey of discovery down the Upper Sarawak River, on Sunday, May 8, 2016. This voyage, which is organised through Semandang Kayaking (), will let you explore the river.
Please note that children must be over 6 years old. However, all minors must be accompanied by a guardian.
The discounted package price for MNS members is RM165. This includes kayaks, paddles, life jackets, lunch, and pick up. The pick-up / drop-off point is the parking lot in front of the Choice Daily in Tabuan Laru (map attached).
Registration for this adventure is a must and the closing date is Thursday, April 28, 2016 through email at mnskuching@gmail.com. Full payment must be made and the completed attached indemnity form submitted by Monday May 2, 2016 to Ann or Alcila
Trip Details
Day / Date: Sunday, May 8, 2016
River: Upper Sarawak River
Pick-up / Drop-off Point: Parking Lot in Front of Choice Daily in Tabuan Laru Starting Time: 8:30am (sharp from pick-up / drop-off point)
Return Time: Approximately 3:00pm (to pick-up / drop-off point)
Cost Per Person: RM165 (inclusive of kayak, paddles, life jacket, lunch and pick up) Contact: Ann (010-9837564 -Please message or whatsapp)
Registration
Required Information for all Participants Including ALL Family Members:

• Information Needed for Registration:
  
• Complete Name
  
• Membership Number
  
• IC / Passport Number
  
• Handphone Number
  
• Email
  

(Please note we cannot register participants without these details.)

Closing Date for Registration: Thursday, April 27, 2016
Final Date for Payment: Monday, May 2, 2016
Final Date for Submitting Completed Indemnity Form: Monday, May 2, 2016
Contact for Registration: Cynthia at mnskuching@gmail.com
Contact for Payment: Ann (010-9837564 at the weekend - please message or whatsapp)) or
Alcila (014-6881301 during office hours)
You do need to bring a few things with you in a waterproof bag and please wear shoes that

will not
• • • • • • •

come off; slippers should not be worn while kayaking. The items are: Sunblock
Sunhat
Extra water
Change of clothes Towel
Spectacle / glasses strap Sunglasses

This is a members-only trip and families need to have a family membership if children and partners are joining. If you would like to convert your membership, for a mere RM10, please contact the MNS Membership Officer at 03-22879422 or email membership@mns.org.my .

An opportunity to explore the Upper Sarawak River does not happen often. So join us.
Love Life Love Nature
Ann 

Drought and floods: the connection? April 24, 2016, Sunday Mary Margaret

Photo shows an aerial view of the recent flood.

KUCHING was wet; very wet. The incessant rain on the night of Feb 26 and morning of Feb 27 resulted in floods that brought many parts of unsuspecting Kuching to a halt.

Floods flooded social media sites. Sarawak General Hospital patients and staff waded through mid-calf deep water. Cars were partially submerged along some roads, which had literally become rivers. Coffee shop patrons sat with water around them while having their morning cups of tea or coffee. Despite the potential dangers and initial panic, Kuching residents did not loose their sense of humour as a mermaid even floated down the flooded streets.

Numerous government agencies sprung into action issuing notices on roads inundated, establishing evacuation centres and ensuring safety. For the security and the humour, we say thank you.

Kuching is in the wet tropics, so heavy rain and the associated flooding is almost normal, but extreme flooding was not. The Borneo Post reported on Feb 29 that 300 millimetres of rain fell over a short period of time. This combined with high tide left many parts of Kuching underwater.

Kuching is not alone. Floods have hit several countries, including the United States, China, India, the United Kingdom, and Germany, as well as many in Africa. They generally lead to economic loss as, for example, roads and infrastructure in general need to be repaired, business and production have few clients and individual salaries may be cut.

The Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) indicated on March 1 in the report ‘MPP assessing flood damage, appeals for patience’ that the bill to repair roads, drains, clear up landslides was between RM20 million and RM30 million. Individuals whose homes were flooded also experience personal losses since damaged electrical appliances and furniture may need to be replaced. Victims, in addition to economic ramifications, may experience stress and emotional turmoil.

Concerns about and the hope for action to prevent floods were expressed in The Borneo Post and other newspapers, as well as online news portals. MPP echoed the feeling that planning has to be re-examined and that they are not able to solve the floods without working with other agencies.

Possible preventative actions, which include the identification of long-term solutions and development of infrastructure to minimise flooding, were reported in The Borneo Post on Feb 28-29. On March 1, Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof requested developers to plan for future extreme weather patterns when developing projects.

Drainage was cited by many as the culprit, but Fadillah suggested that Kuching, Serian and Samarahan were hit by floods because of the quick pace of development that has taken place. The lands that used to serve as storage areas of water are no longer there.

Ironically, while Kuching was flooded, Miri and most other parts of Malaysia were on extreme alert for fires. This means that fine fuels, such as twigs and grass, are so dry that they can be easily ignited by even, for example, a dropped lighted cigarette or match. A front page article in a national newspaper on Feb 29 also commented that Kuching, unlike most of the country, was extremely wet.

However, as the month of March marched on, the daytime temperatures began to rise. Kuching, unlike other cities, has been spared droughts (so far) and extreme highs. However, schools in Kedah and Perlis were ordered closed due to the extreme heat of 39 degrees Celsius for three consecutive days. Unfortunately as the heat returns, so generally does the haze. In September 2015, schools in four states were closed because air quality reached unhealthy levels.

These reports highlight two extreme water situations — too much and not enough. Could the solutions be connected?

Environmental science degree holder Rebecca D’Cruz, who has been involved in wetland management for 25 years, gave a talk entitled ‘Wetlands: Our First Line of Defence’ in February. She discussed ways in which natural features, such as wetlands, can be incorporated into water management plans that include excessive and insufficient water.

Wetlands, according to the Ramsar Convention, are any lands that are wet, including rivers, streams, lakes, swamps, coastal areas, and paddy fields as well as coastal areas and underground aquifers; but the definition varies according to locality. In 1971, 168 countries signed the convention and committed themselves to using wetlands wisely.

Senior citizens wade through the recent flood.

D’Cruz said managing for floods and droughts involve the entire watershed, including land use, wetlands, forests, agriculture, and housing areas. Land use, whether natural or man-made, in the upper reaches of watershed affects the downriver areas. She noted that flood control measures such as barriers and dams are expensive to build and maintain, whereas the use of existing wetlands would be more cost efficient and increase in effectiveness over time.

Conservation worker Cynthia Chin said the economic benefits of keeping wetlands to absorb the rains should be readily and immediately measurable on an economic basis. In addition, water would be available during droughts.

Forests and wetlands can reduce run-off and pollution, soak up water and then release it as the land dries during the dry season; a service provided by nature. It is a safety net and is called natural capital. Another benefit is that animals living wetlands, such as fish and dragonflies, prey on mosquito larvae and are a natural control of the population of this pest.

Natural capital refers to services and renewable and non-renewable resources (including air, water, biodiversity, life, oil and other minerals) provided by nature (www.davidsuzuki.org). Services include purifying water, regulating climate, reducing flood risk and pollinating plants. The concept extends an economic value to natural resources, although, as Chin pointed out, they are priceless.

As mentioned many regions are facing floods. Cape Town in South Africa applies the principles of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS). This system aims to imitate natural water regimes by reducing the volume and speed of run-off, increasing absorption into the soil to replenish ground water and integrating storm water management with the environment.

Measures include reducing hard surfaces and directing rain to permeable areas such as flower gardens so that water can sink into the ground, thus reducing the amount of water in the drains. Also storm drains, rivers and wetlands, which are flood control measures, are part of the city’s green spaces.

The planners in Cape Town appear, in the implementation of SUDS, to have considered water management rather than only flood control. The Department of Irrigation and Drainage in the proposal to implement the Sarawak Urban Storm Water Management Manual, which is a guideline on urban storm water management, also seems to be looking at the larger picture. This strategy, which would require developers to include water storage units either as ponds or underground, is under discussion. This was reported in ‘DID hopes state govt will adopt SUStoM to mitigate floods’ on March 1.

The planners for the River Devon in Clackmannanshire, Scotland, north of Edinburgh are experimenting with the management of the entire watershed to address the actual reasons for floods not just the symptoms. This includes restoring wetlands, planting native trees along the riverbanks, controlling erosion and slowing the flow of water into the river. This water management, described in the WWF leaflet ‘River Devon Project: Slowing the Flow’, incorporates cost effective natural features and man-made ones.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/04/24/drought-and-floods-the-connection/#ixzz46oWhVOZ3

Loggers deride Malaysia’s forest conservation policies April 24, 2016, Sunday Ainul Huda Mohamed Saaid

KUALA LUMPUR: You may have heard that the country’s rainforest is fast depleting due to ferocious logging.

However, what you probably did not hear is that it is going at a rate so fast that it is rather impossible to state logging figures, because the numbers are rapidly changing by the week.

As Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (PEKA) president Datuk Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil puts it, “It’s all about the money! What you must understand is that logging brings fast money. If you have the licence or the proper letter, you just show it to them and the money is there (sic),” said Shariffa Sabrina during the launching of Save Our Rainforest Race SORR) 2016 here, recently.

She said the crisis was worsening each day, and it seemed like the louder environmentalists like PEKA spoke against it, the more rampant the deforestation.

“We are not anti-logging. But if you could see what I saw, what was once a beautiful forest turn into “padang jarak padang tekukur” (a wasteland), you would feel very sad too.

“The way the trees are cut is also very appalling. They cut young trees, trees near the river and trees that support big chunk of stones,” she lamented, adding that the ignorant manner in which trees were felled compromised the safety features that God had put into place.

Ignored policies

However, Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Senior Lecturer of the Human Ecology Department Dr Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman said the country actually has one of the best forest management policies in the world.

Unfortunately, he said, greedy and shortsighted parties have manipulated the enforcement of these policies, rendering them impotent.

Among the policies is that trees must reach a certain diameter in size or mature age before they could be felled, which means young trees must be left behind so that the area could be harvested again after 30 years.

“The ‘ibu pokok’, which are usually the oldest, biggest trees from different species, should also be spared. We must keep these trees for their seeds or else they would go extinct,” he said.

According to Abdul Razak, it was near impossible to grow back a damaged forest and was certainly not as easy as replanting trees. The complex process involved many intricate factors including species diversity.

“Not every species would grow in a certain place. For example, a Meranti species in Kelantan is very different from Meranti in other states, so if we were to plant this type of Meranti in other places it would not necessarily grow.

“That is why it is very important for us not to cut all the trees during logging or randomly bring in foreign species,” Abdul Razak explained.

He said the authorities needed to better support the country’s forest management for the system to become more effective.

“The cost of managing the forest will definitely escalate in the future if we do not pay attention to details now,” said Abdul Razak, who is also the PEKA Vice president.

When nature strikes back

It is a well-known fact that deforestation causes long-term effects such as global warming and climate changes, which Malaysians, as well as the entire world have already experienced in the past five years.

Many have yet to forget how they suffocated during the two-month haze last year caused by the uncontrolled forest burning and land clearing in a neighbouring country.

Drastic disasters, namely the Cameron Highlands landslide and the major floods in the east coast two years back, had resulted not only in the destruction and loss of property but lives as well.

Shariffa Sabrina also pointed that not only was the forest biodiversity becoming increasingly threatened, the extreme deforestation had also affected the livelihood of the Orang Asli whose survival depended on the forest.

Compared with other Asean countries like Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, Malaysia was actually going backwards in forest conservation and preservation, she said.

“Can we call ourselves a developed nation if we cannot take care of our own natural resources?” she questioned.

Shariffa Sabrina proposed that the government allocate a budget specifically for nature conservation and preservation and ensure that every state maintains at least 50 per cent of their rainforest.

Most important of all, she said, was that Malaysians should shift their apathetic stance and jointly fight for the protection and conservation of the rainforest.

“Many of us can’t be bothered. They adopt the “it’s not a big deal” or “it’s not my job” attitude, or they say that they can’t do much because they are up against those with political leverage.

“But I believe if the people speak in one language, be vocal, and work together, we can fight against this (destruction),” stressed Shariffa Sabrina.

Race to save the rainforest

PEKA celebrated the annual event ‘Save Our Rainforest Race’ or SORR 2016 at Pusat Pelancongan Pendidikan Eco-Edutourism, Hutan Simpan Sungai Menyala Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan on March 26.

The fourth edition, themed “Trees Are Our Future”, drew over 2,000 participants for a 10km fun and challenging adventure into the forest, with the mission of planting a thousand trees.

More information on PEKA’s efforts can be obtained from its official website http://pekamalaysia.org/ or the PEKA Malaysia Facebook page. — Bernama

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/04/24/loggers-deride-malaysias-forest-conservation-policies/#ixzz46oWBcGz5