MNS 2021 scientific expedition team to Panti Bird Sanctuary in Panti Forest Reserve. — Photo courtesy of Vincent Chow
EDUCATION plays an important role in helping create awareness on protecting local wildlife and forests in the country.
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) president Vincent Chow (pic) said young children in Malaysia were exposed to few animals via books and television, with the majority of those wildlife not endemic to the country.
“We have rich biodiversity at Panti Forest Reserve which is located just 9km away from Kota Tinggi town and 42km from Johor Baru city.
“MNS has been actively carrying out research at the forest reserve for the past two years,” he said, adding that Panti was known as the gateway to Malaysia’s tropical forests.
MNS was set up more than 80 years ago.
Chow said that during field studies at Panti Forest Reserve, MNS was able to identify and record many animals, including endangered ones.
“Among the animals that we found were tigers, Asian golden cat, spotted leopard and flat-headed cat, which is highly endangered because of poaching.
“This is why education should be emphasised as it is the best tool to help protect our rich flora and fauna. Many Malaysians do not know that these animals can be found in our country,” he added.
Chow said some university students taking part in the expedition held jointly with MNS, Johor Forestry Department and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) were not familiar with the animals and plants found at Panti Forest Reserve.
He also urged for more research expeditions to be carried out as there were still many things that had yet to be discovered in the area.
“We are very excited to record the clouded leopard as it is something very rare.
“We need more research so that we can have a better understanding of how to protect Panti,” he said.
