Reply from NRE--Monkey matters: Full probe on all macaque reports

2008/02/21

By : NOR AZEAN HASAN for Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Putrajaya

I REFER to the letter on the export of monkeys, "Don't stop with the no-export decision" (NST, Feb 5) from Thing Siew Shuen of Johor Baru.

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks appreciates the suggestions by the writer, especially about the awareness programme for the public.

The department's programmes include:

- Giving advice via letters, phone or email to those who face human-wildlife conflicts, especially with long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis); and

- Putting up signboards to inform the public to stop feeding wildlife at parks, jogging tracks and housing areas. Some of the signboards have been put up at Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Taman Tasik Perdana, Taman Zooview, Bukit Tunku and Taman TAR, Ampang.

Last year, 6,578 reports of human-wildlife encounters, especially with long-tailed macaques, were received and all were investigated and acted upon.

A total of 7,558 macaques from human-wildlife conflict areas were located to new habitats.