Captive breeding and conservation of storks

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The academic I was hosted by at UPM is closely involved in the conservation of stork species in Malaysia. He works with the National Zoo in Malaysia, primarily working on the milky stork. We visited Zoo Negari for the day, where there is also a large number of wild storks, such as these painted storks (Mycteria leucocephala), and the rather less attractive lesser adjutant storks (Leptoptilos javanicus). The painted storks also breed in the trees surrounding the zoo.






The milky storks (Mycteria cinerea) are free flying in large aviaries. There are fewer than 10 remaining in Malaysia, and this programme aims to rebuild their numbers. Overall, there are thought to be fewer than 5500 remaining in the wild globally.



In addition to the birds, the salt water crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) were impressive.



Finally, quite a few wild long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) were taking advantage of the free food...

Malaysia - hornbill and tapir conservation, porcupine farming

Visit Mark Fellowes Nature Photography

Continuing on with my visit to UPM in Malaysia, I was taken to see a captive breeding programme for tapirs. On the way we stopped to see an example of artificial nest sites being provided for oriental pied hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris), which are becoming increasingly uncommon. They typically nest in tree holes, but this research shows that earthenware pots can provide a replacement nest site, even if it is located on the ground. Further details are here.




We arrived at Sungai Dusun Nature Reserve, home to the captive breeding programme for Malayan tapirs. There was little chance to see wild tapirs (Tapirus indicus), but this group are one of the few to manage to add to the rapidly diminishing numbers of tapirs in Malaysia.





Also at the reserve was a 'porcupine farm'. Having eaten Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyura) I can understand why locals eat this herbivorous rodent - it's very tasty. This is an attempt to minimise the effect of bush meat hunting on declining wild populations. However, the husbandry of the animals was poor, and there are many criticisms of this approach to conservation.

Malaysian birds

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I spent a week in Malaysia visiting undergraduate project students who were working on the effects of oil palm plantations on the abundance and diversity of frogs and toads. I was made to feel very welcome by all at Universiti Putra Malaysia, which is located in Selangor province, near Kuala Lumpur. I was shown many local habitats, including this bird reserve in the middle of a quickly developing area. The large pond was home to roosting purple, grey, night and Chinese pond herons, as well as several egret and stork species.



The next day we visited part of UPM's forestry department's field station, close to the main campus. This provided a new variety of species, the highlight of which was a superb male Raffle's malkoha (Rhinortha chlorophaea).

Wood mouse

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A close up of a species which is usually much more timid! Wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) foraging on our patio.