langkawi magazine
Nature SECTION
A Cornucopia of Biological Treasures
The Scientific Expedition in Langkawi, Kedah (SEUK) only lasted ten days, but reaped a vast harvest of flora and fauna, with several possibly new species reported.
It's a trove that will keep Expedition scientists busy for months classifying, analysing and interpreting their significance to the island's complex and diverse natural heritage.
Organised and funded the Scientific Expedition of the Langkawi Islands, Kedah (SELIK),it brought some 37 scientific teams comprising over 150 scientists from local universities (University Malaya, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and Universiti Sains Malaysia), institutions such as MARDI (Malaysian Agriculture, Research and Development Institute), IMR (Institute for Medical Research), FRIM (Forest Research Institute Malaysia), Taman Botani in Putra Jaya, SIRIM, and World Fish Centre (formerly ICLARM).
The Expedition leader was Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff of UKM, with Dato'Dr Hashim Abdul Wahab, a son of Langkawi himself, as organising chairperson. Both Prof Latiff and Dato' Hashim are MNS vice presidents.The subjects for study included birds and bats, beetles, coral reefs, macro fungi, mangroves, fish, sea grasses, small mammals and orchids, as well as eco tourism and knowledge based mapping.
Researchers in 39 teams combed mountains, mangrove forests, limestone outcrops and streams. They sampled anything that flew, crawled or walked to document the island's rich bio diversity.
Some highlights:
Dr Fauziah Abdullah of UM collected over 400 specimens of beetles representing over 20 families, with some possibly new species.
Dr ldris Abdul Ghani (UKM) found among the island's thriving cicada populations two new records, including Puranoides jaafari (only recently discovered in Peninsular Malaysia).
Prof Zaidi Isa (UKM) reported the presence of Pamponia imperatoria, the world's largest cicada.
Expedition leader Prof Datuk Abdul Latiff (UKM) collected on Gunung Raya, Langkawi's highest peak, the extremely rare freshwater crab Geosesarma foxi, only the second time it has been recorded since 1914.
Malaysian Nature Society scientific officer Yeap Chin Aik reported seeing large numbers of Great Hornbills on Gunung Raya, a rare sight elsewhere in Malaysia. (The mountain is also home to a newly discovered Mountain Hawk Eagle and threatened birds such as the Large Green Pigeon and the Malaysian Plover).
Prof Phang Sooi Moi (UM) collected 52 species of seaweed, some of which could be new.
Taxonomist Mariana Abdullah (UPM) was dismayed to find as many as 80 per cent of some rare wild orchids may have been lost to indiscriminate collectors, hence the need for immediate conservation measures.
Dr Shahrul Anuar (USM) found abundant specimens of rats (including the long tailed giant rat), flying lemurs (colugo), bats (at least 10 species), porcupines, mouse deer, and wild boar.
Dr Azhar Husin (UM) found many more coral reefs, some pristine, than are currently known in Langkawi; "But unless the new reefs we have discovered are placed under proper management guidelines," he warns, "premature eco tourism to these sites will do more harm than good".
The SELIK haul dramatically demonstrates the richness of Langkawi biodiversity.
The data collected will ultimately be translated into information, tourist products (books, pamphlets, maps, CD ROMs) and services (information rich and knowledge based tours) that will immeasurably enrich Langkawi eco tourism industry.
Dato Dr Hashim Wahab of LADA certainly hopes the knowledge gained from the expedition could help Langkawi formulate a sustainable ecotourism plan, and provide tourism planners with a solid basis on which to make appropriate environmental decisions.
"With such a document," he said, "we can avoid activities which are not in line with ecotourism."
Langkawi 27/08/2003
