An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has calculated the percentage of endangered species as 40 percent of all organisms based on the sample of species that have been evaluated through 2006.[2]
Obtained from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species
Do you think swiftlet should still be classified as an endangered species?
The description says that: An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either a few in numbers and blah blah blah.
You know that the yearly transaction of birdnest is above 15 billion ringgit a year. This was stated in many articles and newspapers about swiftlet industries.
Malaysia aimed to produce 5 billion by year 2020.
Let us try to calculate how many swiftlet there are right now in the planet and perhaps it is time for those relevant authorities to consider the idea.
If the transaction is 15 billion ringgit a year, the number looks like this:
15,000,000,000 /5000 = 3,000,000 kilograms. (I assumed that the cost of raw nests per kg is RM 5,000).
If each kilogram is made up of 120 nests this will be 3,000,000 x 120 = 360,000,000 nests being sold.
Since they produce three times a year we will divide the figure by 3 = 120,000,000 nests.
Each nest will have two birds so you multiply by 2 = 240,000,000 birds.
You also need to know that these birds will produce 3 sets of babies per year. So one year the number of birds produced can be as high as 240,000,000 X 3 plus the current population of 240,000,000. (of course not all will stay alive) which can be as high as 960,000,000.
This figure is based on the assumption that all the 15 billions are raw nests and not processed nests which is not realistic.
How about we assume that the raw nest is only a third? This will be equivalent to 240,000,000/3 = 73,333,333.
Should 73,000,000 birds be still is under the extinction list? I think those authorities should look into the matter seriously so that the swiftlet industry be more vibrant and less restrictions.
I am not against the law to protect endangered species but my question is should it be still applicable to swiftlet farmed inside man made buildings?
The issues since it is under endangered species can be very destructive to the industry.
The authorities relevant to keeping the law enforced can be very tricky. They have the right to tear down any BH for as long as the birds are under the list. Remember those Mukah Tragedy?
How are we going to reach our target of 5 billion by 2020 if the the industry is designed for an endangered species?
Note: Malaysia aim to increase their share of swiftlet market to 5 billion by year 2020.
The irony is that we have so many rules and laws and this and that in Malaysia while our neighboring contries have none or very little?
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