Shrinking Habitat Leads To More Wild Animals Killed On Road
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Wildlife habitat in the world is shrinking by the day and one of the main reasons is human encroachment. To say Brunei is no exception may surprise many.

But more and more wild animals are being killed on Brunei's roads and the Museums Department said a few causes have been identified.

Roads have been built across the wildlife habitat such as forests, swamps, rivers, agriculture areas, bushes, peat swamp forest and so on. Wild animals have to cross the roads that split the forest.

Some animal species use roads to warm their body and to look for food. Nocturnal birds, for example, usually go to the road to catch insects, which are attracted by the light.

Also, rubbish containers placed along the roads also attract wildlife in search of food. Some wildlife species that scavenge for food get run over by passing vehicles, for instance birds, which fly low.

The Museums Department has put on display a number of wild animals killed on Brunei's roads at the Natural Section Gallery of the Museums in Jln Kota Batu, which will be on for four months.

Last year, a proboscis monkey and leopard cat were run over and killed in Kg Sungai Belukut and Jin Mabohai respectively.

In 2006, a giant squirrel, a monitor lizard, a bear cat, a pangolin, a common cobra and a banded krait were found dead in Kg Bukit in the Tutong District, Kg Mentiri, highway near Bukit Panggal, highway near Bukit Shahbandar, Tutong, Kg Wasan and Merimbun area in Tutong respectively.

In fact, 171 species of wildlife have been killed on the Brunei roads between 1966 and 2007.

Other species found over the recent years include the plantain squirrel, cinnamon-headed pigeon, long-tailed macaque, common palm civet, common racer, bat species, oriental whip snake, ground snake and silvered langur. The dead animals were collected by the Museums Department, or donated by the public, Fire and Rescue Department or Fisheries Department.

Almost every day, accidents happen on the road claiming human lives, wildlife, or damage to public or government properties. Accidents that claim human lives are widely reported compared to accidents involving animals.

But there are a few sympathetic road users who save the animals (hit on the road) by bringing them home or moving them to the side of the road so that they will not be run over by more cars.

Some concerned members of the public collect dead animals and send it to the Museums Department, hoping that it can be preserved and will become one of the valuable heritages.

The exhibition also shows a replica of a leopard cat, which is one of the most common mammals killed on Brunei's roads and donated to the Museums Department.

The aim of the exhibition is to provide awareness to the public on accidents that kill wildlife. Statistics obtained by the Natural History Section found out that there are several species that have become victims of 'road kills' such as the leopard cat, monitor lizard and several species of birds.

The exhibition also gives information and tips to the public on ways to handle the dead species, if found, to add to the collection of the Museums Department, which could give valuable information on the wildlife distribution in Brunei.

The Natural Section Gallery is divided into various categories such as mammals, reptiles, birds, fish and concology.

Since it was opened in May 2007 after undergoing renovation, the exhibition has been attracting many visitors, especially children. Besides the Natural History Section, the Museums Department also provides another exhibition at Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park in Mukim Rambai in Tutong.

The gallery is open from Sunday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 11.30am & 2.30pm to 5pm and Saturday 9.45am to 5pm. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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