Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the information needed to be prepared before making a report about animal (S) nuisance to the Wildlife Department?
The Department need the reporter name, their contact number, the location, address, animal species that cause the nuisance and the time the nuisance occur. Reporter can also fill in an internet form that can be found in this website.
2. If there are a lot of wild cats/dogs at a housing area, can we report it to the Wildlife Department to help?
All local animal species that belongs to this country are under the protection of the Wildlife Department except pets such as cats/dogs and livestock animals.
3. What are the types of actions that will be taken by the Wildlife Department on reports about monkeys?
The monkey(s) will be captured and will be translocated to a safer area away from human populations. Extermination actions will be taken to monkeys that cause injuries to human.
4. How fast would the Wildlife Department act to solve the case after receiving reports?
The Wildlife Department will begin investigation at around five (5) working days whereas for emergency cases, the Department will take action as soon as they receive the reports.
5. What are the best ways to handle elephant’s nuisance in my area?
If there are enough provisions, an electric fence will be installed, deep canals will be built and daily patrols will be taken at that particular area to prevent the elephant from trespassing into your land.
6. Why does the Wildlife Department would only use the “shoots to chase away” method to elephants that are in villages and agriculture areas?
The “shoot to chase away” method are used only if the nuisance area is near large forests. If that area (the one that the elephant trespasses) is far away from forests and is threatening human lives, translocation action will be taken.
7. What is CITES?
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international convention which Malaysia participated and became a member. This convention allows countries to cooperate in order to monitor international trade of Flora and Fauna species including local animal species that are listed in CITES. For more information, click CITES.
8. Am I allowed to buy and keep wildlife animal(s) that are sold in pet store?
Yes, you are allowed to buy and keep that particular wildlife animal only if the pet store has a legitimate license given by the Wildlife Department. Get a resit of the purchase and hand it to the Wildlife Department so that you will get a license to keep that animal.
9. What should I do if the wildlife animal that was in my care dies?
Report to the Wildlife Department immediately and return the license that was given to you.
10. What is RAMSAR and what are their objectives?
RAMSAR is the name of a town in Iran, where the first Wetlands Convocation took place (in the year 1971). The main objective of this convention is to conserve wetlands which is the place where migrating birds rests.
11. What is the current status or progress in regards of the RAMSAR convention (Malaysia)?Malaysia has participated RAMSAR since 1994. In year 1994,“Tasek Bera” in the State of Pahang was declared as the first RAMSAR site in Malaysia. Until now, there are 6 areas which are declared as RAMSAR site which are in Johor (Pulai River, Tanjung Piai and Kukup Island), Sarawak (Kuching Wetland National Park) and Sabah (Kulamba wetland forest reserve and Lower Kinabatangan). There are 26 more areas in Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak which declared as wetlands area that have international importance.
12. What are the meanings/definitions of wetlands and what are their roles in life?
Generally, wetlands means lands that are flooded or accessed by water constantly or periodically (whether it is natural or man-made). Wetlands hold an important role in life especially for the process of water cycle and other than that, wetlands are the habitats for various types of flora and fauna. Moreover, wetlands have economic, culture, scientific and recreational values.
13.What are the types of wetlands that are available in Sabah?
There are 3 types of wetlands in Sabah,
- Coastal Wetlands- Sea water with the depth of less than 6 meter, partly tidal aquatic sand-bed, coral reefs, sandy beach, coastal mangrove forests, river creek, tidal mud flats and lagoon.
- Inland freshwater wetlands- Permanent river or creek such as waterfall, seasonal river and creek, river flood plains including basin, permanent freshwater lake, seasonal freshwater lake, permanent freshwater ponds, seasonal freshwater ponds, “rawa or grass” swamp, freshwater swamp and forest swamp, forest moss swamp, palm forest, “gelam” forest, other swamps such as sago swamp, wood swamp and freshwater springs.
- Man-made Wetlands- Water reservoir area such as hydroelectric dam, aquaculture ponds, mineral area, waste treatment area, irrigation and drainage area including paddy fields, ponds (“lading” ponds, water storage reservoir, “tanah rawa”, man-made lake and man-made salt-water lake.