Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Darussalam currently has four wildlife sanctuaries that total up to 8,916 hectares.
The wildlife sanctuaries are - Pelong Rocks (two hectares), Pulau Berambang (721 hectares), Pualu Siarau (393-hectares) as well as Taman Warisan Tasek Merimbun (7,800 hectares), which has been declared an Asean Heritage Park.
Under the Wildlife Protection Act 1978 (Revised 1984), anyone inside a wildlife sanctuary cannot shoot, hunt, kill, catch or take any animal, bird, fish or reptile or disturb their nesting grounds.
Visitors are also not allowed to cut or remove any plantation, start a fire or dig the grounds at any of the wildlife sanctuaries.
This were some of the regulations highlighted by Museums Department Senior Taxidermist Kassim bin Haji Ismail yesterday during a presentation at the launching of the ‘Endangered Species Awareness Campaign‘ organised by Team Symbiotic Ranger of Persatuan Belia Lumapas (PERLU) on the 2nd floor of The Mall.
Kassim bin Haji Ismail also highlighted some of the regulations under the Wildlife Protection Act 1978 (Revised 1984), whereby anyone caught hunting, killing or capturing protected animals (without any licence issued under the regulation) would face a punishment of one year imprisonment and a $2,000 fine.
Meanwhile, anyone found guilty of selling/offering to sell or own any protected animal or any animal part (except for those who hold a licence issued under the regulations) would face imprisonment of six months and a fine of $1,000.
Additionally, no one is allowed to export the 34 species protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1978 (Revised 1984).
Anyone found guilty of exporting the endangered species will face a jail term of one year and a $2,000 fine.
The senior taxidermist also spoke of some of the cases of attempted turtle egg smuggling and the suspects who were prosecuted. The first prosecuted case was reported in May 2005.
In his presentation, he also outlined the seven species of mammals, 25 species of birds and four species of reptiles that are protected.
The protected species are: The Proboscis Monkey, Orang Utan, Rhinoceros, Tarsier, Clouded Leopard, Slow Loris, Dugong, Cattle Egret, Storm‘s Stork, Lasser Adjutant Stork, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Grey Headed Fishing Eagle, Black Napped Tern, Brown Winged Tern/Bridled Tern, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Stork Billed Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Black Capped Kingfisher, Great Argus Pheasant, Bulwer‘s Pheasant, Malaysian Peacock Pheasant, White-Crested Hornbill, Bushy-Crested Hornbill, Wrinkled Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Black Hornbill, Pied Hornbill, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Heimated Hornbill, Earless Monitor Lizard, Green Turtle, Hawksbill turtle and Leatherback Turtle. By James Kon
Source: http://www.brunei-online.com (July 07, 2008)
