animals. Isolated communities now in-
breed. Albino monkeys and civet cats are
increasingly seen. Slow loris climb power
cables and are electrocuted. Millions were
spent on a fake tunnel by the sea (because
it looks good), but not on the bridges that
would permit nature corridors to allow
animal access to a wider gene pool. Golf
courses discharge fertilizer into the sea,
damaging coral reefs.Irshad has a passion for conservation
and is leading the struggle to preserve
Langkawi’s natural heritage before
developers – or should that be
devastators? – destroy it. Together with
other naturalists, he has brought in
several NGOs and has succeeded in
getting some of the better resorts to
initiate conservation initiatives in an echo
of the mixed species cooperation.The mangrove and karst (limestone)
landscape of the famed Kilim Karst
Geopark is one example where
fraudulently labeled eco-tourism has
started to destroy an asset. There is no
limit on numbers or speed. Tourist boats
race around recklessly like waterborne mat
rempit, their wake eroding the soil built
up over millennia so that mangroves trees
are often toppled. The pollution from their
noisy two-cycle motors leaves oil slicks.
In order to attract eagles, waste chicken
fat is tossed into the water. This contains
antibiotics and growth hormones and
affects the health and of the birds which
normally would eat fish and lean meat.Fortunately, a rising number of tour
operators have been switching to cleaner-
burning four-cycle motors for their boats,
but Irshad one-upped that. Several years
ago, he decided that he had to show that
he walked the talk and invested in a
solar-powered boat. Fortunately for his
pocketbook, this proved to be a success.
Recharging of the boat’s batteries is taken
care of by the sun, so he’s not facing any
petrol bills. The performance statistics
are impressive. The boat goes out two or
three times a day for three hours eachpersonality