Batu Caves Scientific Expedition
In 2018, Dr Ruth Kiew on behalf of the Malaysian Cave & Karst Conservancy approached the MNS Selangor Branch Committee (MNSSB) seeking a collaboration on its Batu Caves Scientific Expedition. MNSSB agreed to the collaboration and invited its Special Interest Groups on board, namely, the Bird Group, Flora Group, Herpetofauna Group and the Photo Group, and we made several field trips to survey Batu Caves, including visiting its temple caves for photography purposes, on the written condition that the photographs would be used for non-commercial purposes since none of the photographers received any payment. The first edition of Batu Caves - Malaysia's Majestic Limestone Icon published in March 2020 was not for sale. However, the photographs were re-used in a second edition, which was put up for sale, without the knowledge of the Photo Group and the MNSSB. Although MNSSB was neither acknowledged in the first or subsequent editions, at least several of the MNS members whose scientific work and photographs were used received acknowledgements.
Read Macaranga's story of the Batu Caves Scientific Expedition and the organisations involved, including MNSSB.
Click here for the podcast recording.
Dr Rosli Omar, Naturalist and photographer
It's always a delight to spot butterflies, not just for their aesthetic value, but also because we know they are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems. But even for these gentle Lepidoptera, threats abound, impacting their survival. Habitat change, development, climate change, widespread pesticide use, and invasive species are just some of the threats they face, because of both direct and indirect impacts on native host plants. In Malaysia, Dr Rosli Omar, a naturalist and wildlife photographer took part in two surveys on butterflies - one in Batu Caves back in 2019, and more recently, one in Bukit Dinding in Wangsa Maju, KL. Dr Rosli has also published a book called Butterflies of Peninsular Malaysia, with a checklist of Scientific, English and Malay names. He joins us to share more about his discoveries and observations of butterfly species in Malaysia through such surveys, and his recommendations or actions to protect remaining species.
Image Credit: Omar, R., Aziz, A.A. & Badrud’din, S. (2023). Butterflies of Peninsular Malaysia: with a checklist of Scientific, English and Malay names. Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Malaysia
Produced and presented by: Juliet Jacobs
