Oil palm plantations contribute to poaching problem in Sabah national parks. Poaching and illegal huntings has became rampant in the national parks where endangered wildlife are killed for its meat.
Sabah Anglers Association has proposed to the authority to stop the hunting licenses. Some hunters are given permit to hunt for selected animals, however, some irresponsible hunters abuse those permit and kill protected species.
Oil palm plantations worker also kill protected species when they cut down trees during opening up of lands for oil palm planting which lead to lost of wildlife habitats and sanctuary. In fact, some national parks in Sabah are now having oil palm plantations as boundary. Strayed wildlife that ventured into the plantations for food are also killed.
So far, there is no follow up from Sabah forestry or national park authority with regards to the poaching of Sabah wildlife as well as the lose of wildlife habitats.
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Source: dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=57186 (Apr 27, 2008)
Suspend all hunting licences: Lingham
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Anglers Association President Datuk Wilfred Lingham called for all hunting licences to be suspended immediately while authorities find a solution to the poaching problem that now threatens not just our remaining wildlife but also the Rangers.
He said the problem is not confined to the Danum Valley but also rampant in the east coast and in the Crocker Range along Kimanis-Bongawan where even gibbons are being hunted.
He said a suspension would said authorities put a temporary stop to hunting and poaching until a more effective and efficient way of dealing with the matter is found.
Lingham, the former Permanent Secretary to the Tourism Ministry and ex-honorary wildlife warden, concurred that based on information, poachers are becoming daring when confronted by Rangers.
"The loss of revenue from licences is minimal compared to the irreversible damage caused to the wildlife that is unique to our land"."
He also highlighted how plantation owners are contributing to the poaching problem and that it is serious in Bongawan and Kimanis, where oil palm plantations share a common boundary with the Crocker Range.
"The poachers use the plantation roads to drive to the boundary and enter the Crocker Range to hunt the animals," he said.
He said the plantation owners should ensure that no one enters their land and there should be proper fences at the boundaries to keep poachers out.
On whether it would be a good idea to allow wildlife rangers to carry firearms for protection, Lingham said it was up to the relevant authorities to decide.
Wildlife Department Director Laurentius Ambu had on Thursday said poachers are getting bolder, often trespassing into forest reserves with the intent of tracking down totally protected animals.
It was reported that poaching has become more serious in Sabah, particularly in the Danum Valley and rhinos are among the wildlife targetted.
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