Monday January 9, 2012
Monitor lizards heading for extinction
By R.S.N. MURALI
murali@thestar.com.my
MALACCA: Frequent hunting of Malacca's giant monitor lizards, allegedly for their skin and meat as well as their body liquid for aphrodisiac purposes, could drive the reptile to extinction.
“Fifteen years ago, these reptiles could be easily spotted lazing along the river bank of scenic Malacca River. Now, they are hard to come by,” said city councillor Ronald Gan Yong Hoe.
“In some countries, monitor lizards are protected under Endangered Species Acts. We hope the state government will move to conserve our local reptiles,” the member of the Malacca Historic City Council said.
“If nothing is done, the extensive poaching of this reptile could lead to its extinction,” he said.
Gan said the local monitor lizards, known locally as biawak, are large water monitor species (varanussalvator) capable of growing up to three metres long and 25 kilos in weight.
He said that apart from their skin and meat, the reptlie was sought for a liquid from its body that was commonly believed to increase sexual prowess in both men and women.
Gan said the reptile's thick and leathery skin was used for clothing accessories, such as bags and belts, while its meat was said to have healing powers for ailments such as asthma and pneumonia besides increasing sexual prowess.
He said that besides poaching, the reptiles were often exposed to other risks, such as being hit by vehicles when crossing roads.
On a more positive note, Gan said a father and daughter from Australia, who dubbed themselves as Biawak Dundees, were rescuing and treating injured monitor lizards here.
Gan added that following a proposal by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, the state government has made lizard- watching one of the features of the Malacca River cruise.
Meanwhile, mayor Zainal Abu said poaching activities along the river bank has declined due to continuous patrols by the council's enforcement officers.
However, he added, there could still be some hunting upstream and it was up to the state Wildlife and National Parks Department to curtail such activity.
- Police: Use of handcuffs on student activist is standard operating procedure
- Suspected cow thieves get ‘moo’ then they bargained for
- Najib congratulates Everest-conquering Felda youths
- RCI: Foreign nationals owe RM21.67mil in medical bills
- Families of top brass should not bid for gov’t contracts, says MACC panel
- Malaysia to work hard for UN Security Council seat
- Respect the rule of law, Senate chief tells Karpal
- Fishermen slammed for selling off free engines
- Cops urge motorists to avoid roads near Dataran PJ Thursday evening
- EC: Special team to find out why indelible ink was not indelible
- Banting murders: Thilaiyalagan never met Sosilawati and friends
- Sabah moves to annul rape victim's marriage to alleged rapist
- Sarawak ministers, assemblymen get three-fold pay hike
- Low’s Cabinet appointment will not change his principles, says Tunku Aziz
- Saturday rally near Amcorp Mall to go on despite official warning
- Alliance full year profit up 7% to RM538mil
- Bumi Armada's earnings up 22% to RM109.67mil, order book RM12.2b
- Dayang bags RM2bil contract from Shell
- CIMB earnings up 37.1% to RM1.386b in Q1, 2013
- MMHE Q1 earnings down 35% to RM50.59m
- KLCI closes a shade below record high
- AmIncome Flexi bond fund to attract RM200m investments
- EPF invests additional US$1.3b overseas
- MIDA: Investments up 44% on-year to RM49.3b in Q1
- Prague metro plans to launch love train for singles
- iGate sacks chief executive Murthy after sexual harassment probe
- Eversendai Q1 earnings slip 13.1% to RM23.68m on timing differences
- US asks judge to deny S&P's motion to dismiss fraud lawsuit
- Perdana Petroleum bidding for over RM1b contracts
- IOI Corp Q3 earnings up just 2.8% to RM567.8m (Update)
- 6.0 quake off Russia's far-east Kamchatka coastline: USGS
- Death toll rises to 21 in Indonesian mine collapse
- Dozens dead as tornado hits Oklahoma City (Updated)
- No new H7N9 cases in China for a week: government
- Villagers discover ancient ball game statue in Mexico
- British PM survives gay marriage vote
- Kerry to help ink $2.1 bn defense accord with Oman
- Yahoo unveils makeover of flickr site
- China crush arch rivals Indonesia
- Former Asian phenom takes slow route to success
- Plenty for Hafizh as 55 is significant in his early racing career
- Yi Ting on a mission
- Razif: Indiscipline the cause of senior players’ poor performances
- Cool V Shem believes he will be too hot for rivals to handle
- Spirited Malaysian team vow to deliver against Germans
- Japan hope to reach their first semis in tourney
- KLHC to rule the roost if other teams don’t raise their game
- Malaysia have their work cut out in the World League
- Gobi’s fate to be decided by MHC’s administrative committee
- Andre nails it with last jump
- Grace hammers home a point with two golds
- Delia one step away from main draw after easy win
- Sharon believes KPT circuit is excellent for squash’s future
- Rape accused defends marriage to 13-year-old, says it was mutual
- MAS flew baby home with doctor's certification, says CEO Ahmad Jauhari
- Wee: MCA shouldn’t join Government
- AirAsia: Child not allowed on board because of chicken pox
- ‘Boycott will be self-defeating’
- Sarawak ministers, assemblymen get three-fold pay hike
- The best ways to national unity
- Mustapa against call to boycott products of Chinese firms
- Group upset over man marrying underage victim
- Zahid: I will not interfere with decisions of HODs
- Sarawak ministers, assemblymen get three-fold pay hike
- Rape accused defends marriage to 13-year-old, says it was mutual
- Kerry visits Oman for arms deal, talks on Syria, Mideast
- Malindo set to operate from Subang Skypark
- MAS flew baby home with doctor's certification, says CEO Ahmad Jauhari
- Coconut yogurt anyone?
- Cops urge motorists to avoid roads near Dataran PJ Thursday evening
- AmIncome Flexi bond fund to attract RM200m investments
- The best ways to national unity
- ‘Boycott will be self-defeating’
RSS
