20 Ways You Can Save Our WIldlife

Some "dos" and "don'ts".

1. Do not buy bones, skulls, teeth, trophies or feathers of wild animals.
   To obtain these product, animals have to be killed and you are encouraging the wildlife trade.
2. Do not think of our wild animals (such as wild boar and deer meat) as exotic food.
   If we continue to eat these animals at the current rate, there will soon be none left. There is plenty of beef, chicken, fish and other meats available.
3. Don't think of wild animal parts as having medicinal value.
   For most of the times it is not true. A simple fact - the rhino horn is made of the same stuff (keratin) as your finger nail. Therefore, if you have a fever, would you cook and eat your finger nail?
4. Do not think of hunting for wild animals as a sport.
   It may be a sport to you but it is certainly not a sport for the animal.
5. Do not hunt for sale or trade in wildlife.
   Commercial sale of our animals reduces the tourism potential and regeneration potential of our forests, and is bringing some species close to extinction in Sarawak.
6. If you have no other sources of food and are allowed to hunt animals for subsistence, do not hunt any protected or totally protected species. These are so rare that if they are hunted, they might become extinct.
7. Do not poison the rivers when you go fishing.
   Poison kills almost everything in the rivers. Besides, it is illegal to do so.
8. If you are fishing using jala (cast nets) or jaring (drift nets), do not use nets with small mesh sizes. We encourage the use of bigger mesh sizes as this allows juvenile fish to escape capture.
9. Do not fish near the shore, especially in the mangroves. The mangroves are critical breeding grounds for most fishes and prawns.
10. Do not keep wild animals as pets. This includes birds like mynas, hornbills and parrots. By discouraging the pet trade, you are helping to eliminate the harvest of animals from the wild.
11. Do inform the National Parks and Wildlife Service if you encounter illegal activities concerning wildlife. Examples of some illegal activities are : hunting inside national parks and hunting or keeping protected or totally protected species without a licence.
12. Do learn about ways to conserve our animals. Subscribe to a wildlife magazine and watch nature programmes on TV.
13. Make education your objective when you next visit a wildlife centre.
14. You can contribute to wildlife conservation. Donate to a nature society or club. The contributions are often tax deductable. GIVE to SAVE!!!!
15. Be a volunteer for a nature society or club. Your efforts are valuable.
16. Encourage your school, club and friends to have talks and debates on the values of wildlife conservation.
17. Do take photographs of our wonderful wildlife. Show them to your friends.
18. Encourage your friends and family to respect Wildlife. The animals contribute to your well-being.
19. If you have the option, think of wildlife conservation as a career. It is extremely rewarding.
20. Finally, remember this saying, "In the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught." Bring a friend to a Wildlife Centre and learn more about Wildlife conservation.