Don’t harm the herons, MB warns
BY LOONG MENG YEESHAH ALAM: Fish breeders in Rawang have been warned not to touch herons pilfering stock from their ponds.
Although breeders in the area have complained about suffering 15% losses with herons eating their fish, the Selangor government has forbidden them from harming or killing these birds.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir said herons had established nesting grounds in Rawang after it was developed as an aquaculture site.
“While the state understands the breeders' plight, we also ask for their co-operation in keeping totally protected birds alive,” he told reporters after chairing the state exco meeting yesterday.
Fishponds in the area, with abundant stock, have proven to be quite a lure for birds. These include two totally protected species – the Malaysian black-crowned night heron and the purple heron – that have turned an abandoned pond near the Selayang landfill into a breeding site.
The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) is excited about the newly discovered heronry, which could be the biggest in the state and possibly the second largest in the peninsula.
Surveys by MNS have shown that the site is home to 43 bird species, of which 28 are on the totally protected list of the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972.
The society is, however, concerned as the heronry is vulnerable to leaching of heavy metals from the nearby landfill.
Moreover, a man had called up the state Wildlife and National Parks Department recently claiming to own the site. The man also said he intended to drain the pond and start earthworks soon to develop the area.
The matter was brought to the attention of the state executive council, which has declared its interest in protecting the heronry.
“We are conducting a check with the Land and Mines Department to determine land ownership.
“The area will be gazetted as a bird sanctuary because it has tremendous potential as an eco-tourism site,” said Dr Khir.
The Selayang Municipal Council, he added, had also been directed to look for an alternative landfill site.
On another matter, Dr Khir said promotions to senior positions in the state subsidiaries would be based on performance instead of seniority from now on.
“We want people who can helm the companies. Age should not be a barrier.
“Likewise, if people in a senior position think they can no longer give their best, they should volunteer to resign and make way for others,” he said..
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