langkawi magazine

Nature SECTION

Conservation News: News from the Scientific and Heritage Expedition Langkawi, 18 April

Mad about bugs!.

Today, it?s a field day, if you?re a journalist covering this expedition (which I am unfortunately not, sob sob). Why? Because they were taken out to survey a large area of the expedition?s coastal study locations, to get a feel of what we've been doing in the past 9 days. They took off very early to Kilim, the largest mangrove area of the island (see pix of the area, taken from Mt. Raya), to catch their boat. Then they circled around the Langun and Tg. Dendang islands, then cruised by Gua Cherita, and made a turn towards the mainland, from Tg Rhu, via the Air Hangat river, and back to Kilim via the open sea due to high tide. Great way to spend the day, don't you think?

Back at the base-camp, bugs were getting the limelight. Naturally, because they are after all the biggest group in the animal kingdom! So, here in Langkawi, we have teams of entomologists from UKM and UM and let's not forget the IMR people who were trapping mosquitoes, which no matter how annoying, are still an intriguing insect.

And at the night peresentation, it?s all about beetles! Prof Zaidi from UKM and Dr. Fauziah from UM got us better acquainted with these fascinating creatures. Did you know that except for two species (not found in Malaysia), only male cicadas ?sing?, and nothing else but mating calls! But we have wonderful, beautiful specimens here in Langkawi, such the Pamponia Imperatoria (see pix), the biggest cicada in the world and it?s still bountiful, as Dr. Fauziah?s hardworking team would confirm. They?re still sorting through their 6th day specimens, and so far, about 500 individuals from 200 morpho species and 15 families collectively from terrestrial land and islands have been identified.

For cicada alone, Prof Zaidi?s team has identified, in only a few days, 20 species. But to have diversity is not enough if we do not disseminate it. Information based tourism, that?s all you need to capitalize on to leap forward, and for the sake of conservation. That?s the advice given by Assoc. Prof Dorall from UM who surveyed the various tourism sites in Langkawi. For that, kudos to the management of Mutiara Burau Bay Beach Resort which provides additional info on the many indigenous plants they grow in the hotel compound (see pix). Now, that?s something the Langkawi Development Agency should take note of when they work on their Eco-Tourism Plan.

Langkawi 18/04/2003