Department of Biology

Faculty of Science & Mathematics

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris

Ecology

(SBV 3013)

Field trip report

Place: Pusat Konservasi Hidupan Liar, SungkaiDate: 20 Mei 2012

Group members:

1. Norharyan Erdayu bt Sahar D20091035078

2. Fadilah bt Mahmud D20091035094

3. Nur Eiana bt Mohmad Noor D20091035093

4. Salmiza bt Zainal Abidin D20091035074

5. Pui Wan Ting D20091034840

6. Norujamnah bt Ismail D20091035097

7. Nur Hafizah bt Abdul Hadi D20091035072

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (DWNP/PERHILITAN)

was formerly known as the Game Department. The first law pertaining to wildlife was

declared in 1896. The first wildlife reserve, Chior Wildlife Reserve was gazette in 1902. An

effort to create a central agency to coordinate wildlife and habitat conservation activities was

initiated in 1930 with the appointment of T.R. Hubback, the former Game Warden of Pahang

as the Chief of the Wildlife Commission of Malaya. Peninsula Malaysia wildlife

rehabilitation and conservation centers provide a booster shot to endangered animals on the

verge of species extinction. Providing a protected sanctuary for marine animals, jungle

animals and wetland birds, captive breeding sites and animal refuges help to maintain

dwindling wild populations. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks and

the Department of Fisheries operate these wildlife centers as part of the national program to

protect biodiversity. Their first priority is animal conservation; tourism and wildlife watching

are secondary.

OBJECTIVES

1. To study the biodiversity of animals at the centre.

2. To investigate behavior of seladang.

1.The morphological characteristics of seladang

Seladang is an extremely large mammal with the average weight is 650 to 1000 kg (1400 to

2200 lb). It has a head and body length of 250 to 330 cm (8.2 to 10.8 ft), not counting a 70 to

105 cm (28 to 41 in) long tail and is 165 to 220 cm (5.41 to 7.2 ft) high at the shoulder. Males

are about one-fourth larger and heavier than females. The seladang is a strong and massively

built species with a high convex ridge on the forehead between the horns, which bends

forward causing a deep hollow in the profile of the upper part of the head. There is a

prominent ridge on the back. The tail only reaches the hocks and the ears are very large. The

adult male seladang is dark brown, approaching black in old. The lower part of seladang legs

is pure white in colour. Usually the horns grow to a length of 60 to 115 cm. Both sexes got

horns which grow from the sides of the head, curving upwards. They are flattened and

regularly curved throughout their length and are bent inward and slightly backward at their

tips. The colour of the horns is some shade of pale green or yellow throughout the greater part

of their length but the tips are black. According to the worker in the PERHILITAN, male

seladang has wide open horn meanwhile female seladang has bent inward horn.

2. Habitat of Seladang

Gaur (seladang) historically occurred throughout mainland South and Southeast Asia,

including Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. In Malaysia, in 1994 the population

was stated to be less than 500 individuals and it was thought to be declining with then

confirmed records from various sites, e.g. the Sungai Singgor area of Temenggor Forest

Reserve, Hulu Perak. Seladang habitat is characterized by large, relatively undisturbed forest

tracts, hilly terrain below an altitude of 1,500 to 1,800 m, availability of water, and an

abundance of forage in the form of grasses, bamboo, shrubs, and trees. They’re both grazes

and browses, reportedly eating mostly young green grasses but also leaves, fruit, twigs, and

bark of various woody species, as well as coarse dry grasses, and bamboo. The species was

largely confined to evergreen, semi-evergreen, and moist deciduous forest but it also occurred

in dry deciduous forest areas at the periphery of its range. They occur from sea level up to at

least 2,800 m altitude. Low-lying areas seem to comprise optimal habitat. Despite the many

report that call it an animal’s of hill-country, low lying areas to comprise optimal habitat.

3. Investigate behavior of the seladang

The seladang or the gaur (bos gaurus), also called wild cattle, is the

second largest land mammal in Malaysia after the elephant, and has lived

and happily survived in the forests of Peninsular Malaysia for countless

decades. These seladangs, like the elephants, are also given pet names,

according to their sex of course, such as Wangi which is the female

seladang. We were advised by one of the staff not to get too close as

these huge and gigantic animals because they can be easily agitated with

unfamiliar scent and faces. They looked threatening and showed that like

they are in a danger stage. They could suddenly turn offensive by certain

smells or colors, and might unexpectedly try to attack. Apart from that, a

simple tip given by the keepers to soften the rage of the seladangs or

make them back away, is by picking a tree branch or small stones and

gesturing or pretending to hit them. They will back off.

4. Observe for one hour.

The first few minutes we stay in front of the cage, the seladang seems like

they are being in danger stage but they still remain at the same place

they were by looking at us. There is some of the seladang that eating but

keep watching us but they stand still at their position. However, within

this hour, one of the seladang starts moving towards us, the keeper took a

tree branch and pretending to hit it. The seladang back off and move to its

initial position. Then, once again the seladang move forward and project

its voice sound like it angry and not comfortable with our visit. The keeper

told us that this female seladang is actually quite new to that place and

seems like it did not too familiar with the new environment that is the

reason why it behaves like that.

Male seladang

Female seladang

REFERENCES

1. http://www.pahang-delights.com/elephant-seladang-wildlife-sanctuaries.html 2. http://www.wildlife.gov.my/images/stories/penerbitan/jurnal/Jil151996_97.pdf 3. http://www.jaycjayc.com/sungkai-wildlife-conservation-centre/