ID :
28275
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 10:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/28275
The shortlink copeid
JOHOR MANGROVE SWAMPS A HABITAT FOR THE NEAR EXTINCT MILKY STORK
JOHOR BAHARU (Malaysia), Nov 3 (Bernama) -- The mangrove swamps of Kampung Sungai Melayu and Kuala Sungai Skudai near this southern city have been identified as a habitat for the Milky Stork, a bird species listed as near extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) technical adviser (Johor branch) Vincent
Chow
said the state government should utilise the Milky Stork (Myceteria cinerea) by
turning the mangrove swamps into a tourist attraction.
"Eighteen Milky Storks had been sighted in Kampung Sungai Melayu and Kuala
Sungai Skudai. There are only about 5,000 Milky Storks worldwide and their
number is fast declining," he told Bernama here Sunday.
The Milky Storks could also be found in northern area of Larut in the state
of Perak where only two birds had been sighted.
The migratory bird had been sighted in southern state of Johor and east
coast state of Pahang (1980s), southern state of Melaka (1940s), Selangor
(1930s) and Kedah in 1907.
Milky Storks could also be found in five other countries including
Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.
Chow said the state government should ensure that development near mangrove
swamps did not destroy the natural habitat of the Milky Stork.
The bird habitat is within the Danga Island Villas luxury housing project
bought mostly by foreigners.
He said the Milky Storks made Kampung Sungai Melayu and Kuala Sungai Skudai
mangrove swamps their home because of the abundant source of food particularly
"ikan belacak" (mudskippers).
"We hope the state government and developer can cooperate with MSN and the
Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) to conduct a scientific
study on the Milky Stork habitat in the area," he added.
The mangrove swamps were also visited by other migrant birds including the
Painted Stork (Myceteria leucocephala) which could be found in Nepal, India,
Bangladesh, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.
Chow said MNS also believed that the Milky Stork and Painted Stork had
created a hybrid bird species in the mangrove swamps.
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) technical adviser (Johor branch) Vincent
Chow
said the state government should utilise the Milky Stork (Myceteria cinerea) by
turning the mangrove swamps into a tourist attraction.
"Eighteen Milky Storks had been sighted in Kampung Sungai Melayu and Kuala
Sungai Skudai. There are only about 5,000 Milky Storks worldwide and their
number is fast declining," he told Bernama here Sunday.
The Milky Storks could also be found in northern area of Larut in the state
of Perak where only two birds had been sighted.
The migratory bird had been sighted in southern state of Johor and east
coast state of Pahang (1980s), southern state of Melaka (1940s), Selangor
(1930s) and Kedah in 1907.
Milky Storks could also be found in five other countries including
Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.
Chow said the state government should ensure that development near mangrove
swamps did not destroy the natural habitat of the Milky Stork.
The bird habitat is within the Danga Island Villas luxury housing project
bought mostly by foreigners.
He said the Milky Storks made Kampung Sungai Melayu and Kuala Sungai Skudai
mangrove swamps their home because of the abundant source of food particularly
"ikan belacak" (mudskippers).
"We hope the state government and developer can cooperate with MSN and the
Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) to conduct a scientific
study on the Milky Stork habitat in the area," he added.
The mangrove swamps were also visited by other migrant birds including the
Painted Stork (Myceteria leucocephala) which could be found in Nepal, India,
Bangladesh, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.
Chow said MNS also believed that the Milky Stork and Painted Stork had
created a hybrid bird species in the mangrove swamps.
