Irrational Fears Part 1

People are surrounded by irrational fears - spiders, for example.

What is the average house spider, barely the size of your pinky fingernail, going to do to you? Life is not a science-fiction movie. He will not turn into a giant monster and chase after you. In fact, he's great pest control; he's taking care of all the bugs you don't want in your house. You're unlikely to miss those, anyways.

While some fear is instinctual, some fear is taught. An issue I have been struggling for days, after witnessing the sudden death and mutilation of a snake at the hands of man.

I don't have a very good appetite for these sorts of things. It had begun before I could say anything, and before it was over, I had burst into tears.

To me, the act I had witnessed was barbaric. To the people around me, the act I had witnessed was normal, maybe even a fun sort of intermittent entertainment.

A large Indochinese Rat Snake. Photo credits to Ecology Asia.

The snake killed was a rat snake. A perfectly harmless animal in my eyes; it isn't even venomous. Less than two feet long, the young animal had unwittingly ventured into a truck of grain, probably hunting the rats it was named for.

But why are people so afraid?

Because they are taught to be. Now, everyone has self-preserving natural instincts, but these are easily overcome by most who want to. Some people are scared of heights, and they still climb. Some people are scared of speed, and they can still drive quickly. So why can't people get over their fear of snakes?

It's a cultural thing. If Hollywood hasn't created the image of menacing monster already, than Old Wives Tales have.

If we want to see people getting over their fear of snakes, we need to teach them about the ones they should be afraid of. People don't need to run away from rat snakes - they need to run away from cobras and kraits.

Next time I see a snake, I just want it to still be alive.

Bad News

Bureaucracy has its positives and its negatives.

Due to the long and arduous process, MNI has to sadly postpone events until August of this year. On the bright side, the program will be even bigger and better!

We look forward to seeing you then.

World Pangolin Day

Happy World Pangolin Day!!

Yes, that is indeed a holiday.

If you say the word "pangolin," the chances are that people will give you a strange look and ask if meant "penguin." The same person will stare at you unbelieving eyes as you try to explain just what this creature is.

Don't let that person be you! Pangolins are amazing creatures that deserve recognition. So for World Pangolin Day, take the chance to learn some fun fact about them:

1. There are eight species of pangolin that range across the globe, from Africa to the Indian sub-continent. Malaysia has its own species, (creatively named) the Malayan pangolin.

2. All but two species are listed on Appendix II of CITES; the other two are on Appendix I. One of those is the Malayan pangolin. Malaysia has been considered one of the number one country of origin for pangolins for several years now.

3. The word "pangolin" actually comes from the Bahasa word for "to roll up," the word "penggiling."

Fourteen Borneo Elephants Dead - Now What?

By now, wildlife enthusiasts everywhere have heard about the travesty that has become the recent Borneo pygmy elephant case.

The death toll, surpassing fourteen individuals, is a devastating blow to the already fragile population of Bornean elephants. The most heart-wrenching portion of the story is attributed to the young calf, cowering over his dead mother's carcass, that has since been rescued by national officials. The calf, christened "Joe," now resides at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, but is not left unscarred by the passing of his mother and of his family.

Bornean pygmy elephants were only recently distinguished as a sub-species separate from their mainland cousins. With a population teetering around 1000, living in only small areas of the Malaysian state of Sabah, they are a CITES Appendix I Endangered Species.

Preliminary investigations point to poisoning by illegal loggers. All the animals were found with ruptured digestive organs.

While we are not anti-development, seeing development as a necessary step to improve a country, we do condone the activities of illegal loggers in protected areas. These elephants were killed on their own turf, by people who were not meant to be in the vicinity.

We hope those responsible will receive the proper sentencing.

Baby Joe tries to awaken his dead mother.
Image property of Reuters via The Guardian.