An article in the Star Newspapers recently:
It’s time to ban farming of swiftlets
THE mushrooming and highly-lucrative swiftlet nests industry in peninsular Malaysia has led to public complaints without much response from the authorities.
The situation is bad as most of the swiftlet farms are located in shoplots and commercial areas.
Noisy recorders are installed to lure the swallows from dawn till late at night, causing disturbances to those living in the surrounding areas. The noise pollution is something the people in residential areas has to tolerate daily and it would be most annoying when exposed to the noise for days on end.
Under the local council guidelines, the loudspeakers should be positioned 60 degrees upwards and broadcasts of bird noises should not exceed 40 decibels, but the noise comes daily from 7am to late at night and it is the long exposure to this noise that upsets the public.
Regarding health hazards, there have been complaints from residents in Seberang Perai who suffered from rashes when insects from the nests come into contact with them.
In another case, hundreds of nearby residents located near a bird hotel in Kuala Terengganu also complained of itchiness, rashes and frequent colds.
Concerns over bird flu have been raised too. SAM would like to know that should bird flu strike, will all the swiftlets be exterminated during an outbreak?
Bird droppings will hasten the destruction of building materials, interior ornamentation and embellishments and mars the beautiful façade of heritage buildings. Moisture in an enclosed environment will also cause decay to timber ceilings, brick walls and plaster.
SAM expresses concern over the actual harvesting of the nests by collectors, the methods used and timing of harvests. Nests are removed when these are supposed to be left for the brood, depriving the birds of a chance to raise their young. So far, harvesting patterns of home farming of swiftlets are not well-documented by the authorities.
A question raised is whether there is any monitoring by the Wildlife Department during harvesting to ensure no killing of fledgelings.
In view of these problems, SAM would like to call for a ban on all farming of swiftlets. All species of swiftlets should be made totally protected under Schedule I of the Protection of Wildlife Act to prevent further exploitation of the birds’ nests.
S.M. MOHD IDRIS,
President, Sahabat Alam Malaysia.
Before I voice my opinions I would like to say that The President have very little knowledge on swiftlet farming (this is what I mean by BLIND) and it is sad that his recommendations is totally a disaster to the economy of our country.
He should first own one BH and then he can gives those recommendations to the Government.
Remember there are at least 50,000 BHs in Malaysia and they are increasing by at least 8% to 10% a year(It might be more).
Each unit is estimated to be in the region of 250,000 RM. If we pull all those BHs down, there will a ultimate loss of 50,000 X 250,000 = RM12,500,000,000 (RM12.5 billion)to the country and savings of all those who dream to be a successful BH owners.
Remember we also generate a foreign exchage income of at least 1.5 billion ringgit and increasing at about 15-40% a year.
Every BH owner will normally look after these special birds much better then their own children. So how the hell are they going to do harm to these wild creatures?
These swiftlet are a very sensitive animals. The moment they know that their life are not safe they will move to another place. So if the BH owners are rough and mistreat them they will move to the next door.
One of the most important thing to take care in the BH conditions. If they are not properly taken care of, say it leaks, the owner will immediately revamp his BH at any cost that it takes. They cannot effort to let their tenant move out. So how the hell will the building be not in good shape?
Frankly swiftlets are the most cleaned animal. They do not land on any structures, trees, water pond area except their home. Once they are out of the house they will continue to be airborne until they are back home. They normally shit in the BH which they stay. They do use their shits as a territorial marking. They do not shit anywhere else except in their house.
This bird's species is currently under the extinction list, in Malaysia but not Indonesia. With 50,000 BHs I think they should be removed from the so called extinction list. Rubbish !!!
You try this: Meet up with any BH owners and ask them who is more precious, a human life of a swiftlet? The answer is swiftlet !!! Dr Reduan of Veterina Department can testify to this statement.
If this is always the answer, please be rest assurred that those black birds are very precious and they are well looked after.
Before making any sweeping statements do some research or perhaps meet up with those who owned those BHs and ask questions.
My recommendation to him is to push our Goverment to come out with those guidelines. They have been long overdued and stop pushing the guidelines from one department to another.
In this Guidelines there are specific instruction to all BH owners how to spray insecticides on a regular basis. With their application there will be minimal disturbance to others and ensure that the birds are healthy.
Those guidelines will be very strong for those Local Council to enforce. Right now they just do not know what actions to take and what sound volume to be allowed.
It is silly to be a President when every statement made are not true !!!
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