IF I had my way, anyone caught feeding wildlife would be severely penalised.
It doesn’t matter whether these animals are in a neighbourhood park or wildlife sanctuary.
We need people to realise that feeding these animals is doing more harm than good.
It recently dawned on me that society suffers from what I call “Civility Deficiency Syndrome.”
To me, this is a lack of understanding and adherence to the principles of citizenship and being a Good Samaritan.
During a recent public holiday, I visited one of Kuala Lumpur’s public parks.
But my experience at Bukit Jalil Recreational Park was marred by people feeding the monkeys, pigeons and even the fish in the lake.
I noticed how bold the monkeys were coming up close and demanding food.
They were everywhere, following people for scraps.
Experts say feeding wildlife like monkeys, birds and fish is not good for the animals and the ecosystem.
One approached a four-year-old child who was holding a bag of bread and feeding the pigeons.
Nearby, her parents were filming and encouraging her to smile for the camera as pigeons surrounded her, oblivious to the monkey closing in.
Had I not intervened, who knows what could have happened.
I told the parents that feeding the birds was never a good idea.
But later, I came across another young family with children feeding fish in the lake.
One child, having emptied the contents of her bag, threw the plastic right into the lake, clapping her hands with glee.
The parents did nothing to stop or teach her that littering was unacceptable.
One woman even told me she was merely teaching her child to become a caring citizen by being kind to animals.
Many people misunderstand the implications of their actions when interacting with wildlife.
People feed animals all the time out of kindness but they fail to realise that feeding wildlife disrupts natural behaviours and ecosystems.
Misguided intentions can lead to dependency, overpopulation and health issues in wildlife.
While feeding animals may seem like an immediate act of kindness, it can cause long-term harm.
Ecological Association of Malaysia president Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail said feeding animals at the park would create secondary issues such as dirtying the area and encouraging the animals to forage for food in rubbish bins.
He added that animal-human interaction could also transmit diseases, which was why some local authorities prohibit the feeding of pigeons.
Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia president and chief executive officer Andrew Sebastian said feeding bread to monkeys, birds and fish was detrimental to the environment and ecosystem.
According to Andrew, fish were not used to digesting bread, which could cause bloating and other digestive issues.
He said bread lacked the nutrients that fish need and bread in the water could lead to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria and fungi, which could cause diseases in fish.
Bread decomposing in water could lead to increased levels of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, he added.
We need our local authorities to run campaigns to educate the public on the dangers of feeding wildlife and importance of maintaining natural behaviours.
Authorities like Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) must put up clear signage in parks and city forests explaining why feeding wildlife is harmful, and encourage visitors to observe animals from a distance.
Nature non-governmental organisations should engage with communities in conservation efforts, promoting activities that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Stricter enforcement of regulations against feeding wildlife can help mitigate the issue.
Fines and penalties may deter people from engaging in harmful behaviour.
Raising awareness and educating the public about the true meaning of being a good citizen is crucial.
It involves not only caring for animals but also understanding and respecting the ecological systems they inhabit.
While your intentions might be good, the act of feeding harms the environment and the animals themselves.
If you truly want to make a positive impact today, pick up rubbish instead.
Start by picking up litter, even if it’s not yours, and placing it in the bin.
By doing this, you set an example for your children and when they see you take action, they’ll learn to do the same.
This is what being a Good Samaritan is all about.
It’s about protecting our environment and teaching future generations to do the same.
Let’s work together to preserve our natural spaces and wildlife.
