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Nature talks: Revealing Santubong's secrets

KUCHING: From Sarawak’s very own ‘Stonehenge’ to butterflies, moths, birds, carnivorous plants, night creatures and early Chinese settlers, the Santubong peninsula has many secrets to reveal.

These secrets will be revealed at the Santubong Nature Festival’s (SNF) nature talks this weekend, Nov 9 and 10.

Festival organisers, Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch (MNSKB) and Permai Rainforest Resort have arranged a line up of 12 speakers who will deliberate on various interesting topic related to the peninsula’s geological and historical past, rich heritage and biodiversity.

These talks will take place at Permai Rainforest Resort’s conference room from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday, and 9am to 11am on Sunday. Admission is opened to the public for free.

Tengku Hilda

On Saturday (Nov 9), the first speaker at 2pm is a senior geologist from the Geological Department Sarawak Mr. Henry Litong who will speak on Geology of Santubong. For those interested in the geology of Santubong, Mr. Hans Hazebroek who is a geologist, author and professional photographer will give a Hands-on Geology Walk at 2.30pm immediately after Mr. Henry Litong’s talk.

For those who wish to continue listening to other topics, wildlife photographer and biologist Mr. Chi’en Chien Lee will speak on The Carnivorous Plants of Santubong at 2.30pm; social scientist Tengku Hilda Tengku Ahmad on Santubong Stonehenge (3pm); writer and teacher Mr. Tom McLaughlin on Chinese Settlers In Santubong (3.30pm); ecologist with SFC Mr. Rambli Ahmad on Defining Wallace’s Line (4pm); and researcher and entomologist with UNIMAS Mr. Ikhwan Idris on Butterflies & Moths of Santubong (4.30pm).

An indoor 30-minute talk by herpetologist Mr. Hans Breuer,

Hans Breuer

introducing forest creatures of the night will be held at 7.30pm and to be followed by a night walk which will take 90 minutes.

On Sunday, the nature talks continue at 9am with the first speaker talking on Oriental Pied Hornbills at Piasau Camp, Miri by MNS Miri Branch chairman & SFC honorary wildlife ranger Mr. Musa Musbah; a bird specialist and environmental consultant, based in Penang Mr Dave Bakewell will speak on Surveying Migratory Waterbirds In Sarawak (9.30am); head of Protected areas Biodiversity Conservation Sarawak Forestry Corporation & and MNS Council member Mr. Oswald Braken Tisen on Endangered Animas & Enforcement in Sarawak (10am); and TRAFFIC Southeast Asia senior programme officer and MNS Council Ms. Kanitha Krishnasamy and senior communications officer Ms. Elizabeth John will speak on Illegal Wildlife Trade In Malaysia (10.30am).

Organising chairman Mr. Vincent Wong said the public should take the opportunity to learn more about Santubong’s past, uniqueness and rich biodiversity during these talks.

“It is through better understanding of the peninsula that we will appreciate the area and better manage and conserve it for posterity,” he said.

He said some of the talks would cover a wider perspective than Santubong itself such as wildlife trafficking in Malaysia and wildlife conservation in Sarawak.

He thanked all speakers and Santubong Nature Festival’s partners such as Kuching City North Hall (DBKU), Damai Central, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, LimKokWing Institute of Creative Technology, UCSI University, Friends of Sarawak Museum, Sarawak Museum Department, SSPCA and Sarawak Heritage Society for their support towards the event.

DBKU Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai is expected to officiate at the festival launching on Nov 9 at 11am.

For more information on other activities during the festival and updates, visit www.facebook.com/SantubongNatureFestival.