Travel - Page 12

If you have been to Bako National Park, then you have seen one of its leading stars, the Bornean bearded pigs (Sus barbatus).

There, they can be found strolling along Bako’s beaches or hanging around the park’s headquarter and chalets.

These creatures are so used to visitors that they couldn’t care less about the presence of people.

More commonly known as wild boar,  Bornean bearded pigs live in almost every type of habitat from the beach to the mountain top.

Just as their name says, they have beards and sometimes tassels on their tails.

Here are 10 things you need to know about the Bornean bearded pigs found in Sarawak:

1.There are two sub-species of Bornean bearded pigs.

The first subspecies Sus barbatus barbatus can be found in Borneo and at the tip of Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines.

The second one is Sus barbatus oi which ranges at the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra.

2.They have a wide variety of favourite food.

According to Sarawak Forestry Department website, these pigs enjoy fallen fruits and seeds, roots, herbs, earthworms, and other small animals.

3.Bearded pigs are destructive to plantations.

Apart from that, they also feed on young palms and cocoa fruits making them destructive to plantations.

4.Borneans have been hunting them for the last 40,000 years.

An archaeological excavation at Niah Cave showed that bearded pigs have been hunted by people of Borneo as far back as 40,000 years.

5.They are an important source of protein.

Bornean bearded pigs are high up on the natives’ hunting list because they are a source of dietary protein.

The meat is usually barbecued, cooked in soup with various vegetables, or made into babi salai (smoked pig).

6.Their bones are usually kept as trophies.

In a study by Earl of Cranbrook and David Labang published by the Sarawak Museum, it is common for rural people of the Malayan and Southwest Pacific regions to keep trophies from their hunting.

For example, the Penan people keep or hang the skulls, lower jaws and mandibles of bearded pigs.

7.These pigs can swim.

Bornean bearded pigs are known among naturalists for their periodic mass movements.

They can travel some distance to find food and even swim across rivers. Some believe they even swim to offshore islands.

8.Python versus bearded pigs; pigs win

Robert Shelford, a former curator of Sarawak Museum wrote one of the earliest records of these mammals.

In his book ‘A Naturalist in Borneo’, he described an incident witnessed by a fellow naturalist Ernest Hose who was also the brother of Charles Hose.

“Hearing one day in the jungle, close to his house at Santubong, a tremendous noise of wild pigs grunting, snorting, and squealing, he ran out to see what was the reason of it, and presently came on a large python that had seized a young pig and was endeavouring to crush it. The snake was surrounded by a number of full-grown swine, which were goring it with their tusks and trampling on it; so resolute was their attack that the python was compelled to relinquish its hold of the loudly protesting young pig, when the herd, catching the sight of Mr. Hose, hastily made off, the young one, apparently little the worse for its adventure, trotting away with its companions. Mr Hose examined the snake, and found it to be so slashed and mangle that it was unable to crawl away from the scene of battle.”

9.Their populations are in threat.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed Bornean bearded pigs as vulnerable as its population has been in decline over the last two decades.

IUCN also stated there are three primary threats facing bearded pigs. These include the conversion of forests for agriculture, particularly oil palm and rubber, fragmentation of remaining habitat, and unsustainable logging primarily for dipterocarps.

10.It is illegal to have more than 5 kilos of its meat in your possession.

Here in Sarawak, Bornean bearded pigs are not listed as protected species so it can be hunted for consumption.

However, according to Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998, commercial sale of bearded pigs is strictly prohibited.

The sellers can be fined up to RM5,000 while the buyers can be fined up to RM2,000. If you have more than five kilograms in your possession, you will be deemed having the intent to sell it. Thus, you can also be charged up to RM5,000.

Located about 20km from Kuching, Semenggoh Nature Reserve is usually on a tourist itinerary when in town.

However as a locaI, I believe every Sarawakian should visit this place at least once in their lives.

Although we pride ourselves as being the home for orangutans here in Sarawak, I bet not all of us have actually seen one in real life.

And one of the nearest and accessible places to see an orangutan in the world is none other than the Semenggoh Nature Reserve.

This place has been a rehabilitation centre for young orangutans who have been unfortunately orphaned or rescued from captivity for more than 20 years.

The program which trains the young into healthy adult orangutans has been transferred to Matang Wildlife Centre.

But Semenggoh still plays home to some of the program’s graduates.

Most of them prefer to roam the forest but frequently come back to the reserve during feeding time.

Get to know Semenggoh’s official residents

The most interesting part of visiting Semenggoh Nature Reserve is getting to know the orangutan.

During my visit, three orangutans thought I was worthy of their presence.

The first one was whom they called the ‘Grand Old Lady of Semenggoh’.

Her name is Seduku and she was born in 1971. She is now a mother of three – Analisa, Saddamiah and Ganya.

The second orang utan is Edwin, a male born in 1996.

He is believed to be strong contender to Ritchie’s throne, the big boss (dominant male) of Semenggoh.

I visited the reserve on the day Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim was released from prison.

And interestingly, Annuar the orangutan also decided to show up during my visit at Semenggoh.

He was born in 1998 and is known to be real lady killer in the reserve.

Visiting the feeding area of Semenggoh is unlike going to the zoo.

There at Semenggoh, the orangutans are the VIPs. Hence, visitors need to make way for them at all times.

Guests are required to listen to the park ranger’s instructions.

At one point when we were leaving the feeding area to the park headquarters, we had to scramble back to the feeding area.

Apparently, Seduku was leisurely using the park’s trail (instead of swinging from the trees) to make her way to the feeding area.

We had to wait a few minutes to make way for her till the rangers told us the path was clear.

To learn more about orangutans at Semenggoh

Apart from observing the orangutans at Semenggoh Nature Reserve, visitors will learn a thing or two about this primate.

For example, do you know that the dominant male orangutan does not like to see his reflection in the mirror? This is because he thinks that his reflection is another male orangutan.

They also make use of their opposable thumb by peeling the banana skin before they eat.

Visitors are not allowed to bring plastic bottles into the feeding area because the baby orangutan uses them to drink milk.

Other rules at the reserve are to be quiet at all times at the feeding area, turn your flash off while taking photos and of course, no littering.

Show your support for the orangutans

Those who want to show their love and support for the orangutans can do so at Semenggoh.

With as low as RM200 annually, visitors can do their part by adopting an orangutan.

The money goes to food and medication for the orangutans at Semenggoh and Matang, orangutan conservation projects and education programs.

The best times to visit Semenggoh are during orangutan feeding times, 9am to 10 am and 3pm to 4pm.

Read more about this nature reserve at Sarawak Tourism and Sarawak Forestry Corporation websites.