Naturalist calls for probe on death of Dusky Langurs

SUBANG JAYA, May 24 – A leading naturalist has called for a thorough probe on the death of about 20 Dusky Langurs alleged to have been shot by men from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) in Port Dickson on May 19.

Dusky Langurs. Photo courtesy of Mike/Flickr

Andrew Sebastian, who is also the founder of Ecotourism & Conservation Society of Malaysia (Ecomy), said Perhilitan had the responsibility of having to report back to the public on the claims of the shooting and the outcome.

This will be the way forward, “As I have many dedicated friends within the department for them to report back to the public on the outcome and way forward,” he told Weekly-Echo in a telephone interview.

He said he has been in touch with Perhilitan and has requested for a quick verification on whether indeed that it is a group of Dusky Langurs that have been killed in the incident.

“If that is the case, then it is really shocking. These animals are really docile and shy. I am waiting for a confirmation.”

Andrew also proposed a review and a new approach on how best to tackle species based intervention, be it harmless herbivorous animals or giant sized elephants that have no choice but to walk among humans in the land that was theirs to roam freely not too long ago.

“Indeed we live in disturbing times where we now find ourselves confronted with viruses, flooding, extreme weather and a growing incidences of human-wildlife conflict! The latter is karma for all the years and ongoing wanton destruction, greed and disrespect that us humans have when we invade natural ecosystems and are too egoistic to understand that there will be dangerous retribution’s from nature itself.”

If indeed there has been a culling of herbivorous (non man eating monsters) such as the Dusky Langurs, “this raises a sad issue as to how we have reacted poorly in the form of the wildlife authority acting on complaints from the public!

“Can we justify this killing ? The answer is no! These species are generally very shy and are of no threat to any age group Homo sapiens! Sure there are a (very very few) cases of them foraging and grabbing bags in search of food (after being habituated through feeding), does this call for lethal force?”.

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