More at http://www.sanctuaryasia.com | Wild Destination
Along with the Tasik Muda, two more man-made lakes – the Pedu and
Ahning – collect the waters of the expansive catchment area of the
Greater Ulu Muda Forest Complex.A smooth-coated otter stands in its typical manner, straight up to get a better view and watch the author’s group curiously, before deciding that they
pose no threat and continues feeding.
We decide to spend the night at the hide at Sira Ayer
Hangat the following night.
Within minutes of our arrival, the family of eight elephants is
visible, teasing the mineral soil into their mouths before melting
back into the jungle. One night, the elephants even visited the
lodge, but did not come inside the compound. We saw tracks
near some of the bungalows close to the river and heard
them trumpeting on another night. In all we saw 16 diff erent
individuals from two families, plus lone males within a week.
Clearly the elephants loved the salt lick!
Comprising mainly lowland and hill dipterocarp forests,
typical of tropical Southeast Asia, Ulu Muda supports a stunning
biodiversity, a fact reinforced by camera trap images that reveal
clouded leopards, marbled cats, golden cats, leopard cats, sun
bears, sambar deer, muntjac, an assortment of civets and even
pangolins that are so tragically in decline across their range.
Leopards are present and up to a few years ago, locals reported
sighting tigers and more recently, have reported tiger signs.
Hymeir suggests a bird count of over 300 species, with
more likely to be added. It is clear even from our short visit that
this is a hotspot for elephants and otters (which speaks of a
very healthy aquatic ecosystem). The discovery of a hairy-nosed
otter close to Earth Lodge, the fi rst-ever sighting of the species
in Kedah, further reinforces our belief that this area needs
extra-special protection as these are rarest of all Asian otters.
NOT WITHOUT PROBLEMS
Lest our narrations give the wrong impression, we hasten to add
that the forest is beset with problems, including encroachments
from the east where it borders Thailand and from where poachers
launch sorties. Such border transgressions have even been
captured on camera trap images, but little eff ective action has
been taken. Logging continues apace as the state government
has not decreed full protection status to the forest, though it
has recognised the signifi cance of this crucial watershed and has
gazetted 35,000 ha. of the total 1,60,000 ha of the Greater
Ulu Muda Forest Complex as forest reserve. But even here
we saw evidence of road construction and logging. Siltation, a
consequence of logging is now a serious issue. Tire tracks ride
roughshod even over the hot springs.
It hurts to see a paradise so wounded. It would be tragic if
this ecologically-diverse biome were allowed to fall due to human
ignorance. Ironically, the water supply of about four million
people in Kedah, Penang, and Perlis, plus an estimated 40 per
cent of Malaysia’s food security, is dependent on this forest.
It is imperative that the forest be aff orded fullest protection,
that logging be stopped and disturbance curtailed. Hymeir and
a group of individuals, NGOs, scientists, and other concerned
citizens have formed a coalition called ‘Friends of Ulu Muda’
and have started a petition on change.org to raise awareness.
Sanctuary readers are urged to support this campaign to
help keep one of South East Asia’s great treasures wild
and intact. E