S H O R T C O M M U N I C A T I O N

INTRODUCTION

arge-bodied mammals continue to experience rapid declines in Peninsular Malaysia due to illegal hunting for local and international ZLOGOLIHWUDGH .DZDQLVKLDQG6XQTXLVW Clements et al6KHSKHUGDQG6KHSKHUG L  $OO ODUJH WHUUHVWULDO PDPPDOV RYHU  NJ Q   native to Peninsular Malaysia are threatened, with the exception of the Red Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak, Eurasian Wild Pig Sus scrofa and Leopard Panthera pardus (IUCN,    $W OHDVW WZR ODUJH PDPPDOV KDYH DOUHDG\ EHHQ extirpated from Peninsular Malaysia in recent times: the Javan Rhinoceros Rhinoceros sondaicus (van Strien et al.,  DQG%DQWHQJBos javanicus (Timmins et al  The Sumatran Rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis is near extirpation, and many others are increasingly rare, including the Tiger Panthera tigris, Gaur Bos gaurus, Sambar Rusa unicolor and the little-known Sumatran Serow Capricornis sumatraensis, the subject of this paper. Demand for meat for consumption, and parts used in traditional medicines and for purported magical purposes, is the main driver behind the decline of these species in Peninsular Malaysia. Large ungulates across South-east Asia, and in particular in Malaysia, are in rapid decline due to over-exploitation (Steinmetz et al  9RQJNKDPKHQJ et al   DQG effective conservation efforts are hindered by the absence of reliable data on the abundance and distribution of ungulates Sumatran Serow Capricornis sumatraensis

(Vongkhamheng et al  MAZIKAB

Observations of Illegal Trade in Sumatran Serows in Malaysia

Chris R. Shepherd and Kanitha Krishnasamy

The Sumatran Serow is currently categorized as quartz ridge areas. In 1936, the quartz ridge of Klang Gates, Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in the State of Selangor, was established as the Klang Gates (Duckworth et al.,   ZLWK SULPDU\ WKUHDWV EHLQJ Wildlife Sanctuary for the purposes of serow conservation habitat destruction caused by limestone quarrying, (Wong et al.,  :KLOHWKHVSHFLHVLVIRXQGWKURXJKRXW unsustainable logging and habitat fragmentation by Peninsular Malaysia, recorded from more than 50 localities, roads, plantations and other human-altered landscapes, it appears to be concentrated largely in the north, especially and poaching for illegal commercial trade. In Malaysia, in the States of Kelantan, Perlis and Perak, with many of serows are killed for their meat and for their body parts, WKHSRSXODWLRQVEHLQJVPDOODQGLVRODWHG 5DKPDQ  the latter used for traditional medicinal and purported While it is estimated that populations of the Sumatran PDJLFDO SXUSRVHV 5DKPDQ    /RFDO FRPPXQLWLHV Serow in Malaysia are threatened and in decline, there are adjacent to serow habitat have noted population declines no current or reliable population estimates. due to hunting and limestone quarrying (Duckworth et Locally known as Kambing Gurun, serows have been al 8QIRUWXQDWHO\IHZSHRSOHNQRZZKDWVHURZV hunted out from parts of their former range in Peninsular are or are even aware of their existence, and therefore Malaysia, largely from easily accessible areas, such as this remarkable animal receives little attention from Batu Caves and Klang Gates, in the State of Selangor. conservationists, researchers or enforcement agencies. In July 1988, members of the Malaysian Nature Society reported hearing gunshots from the Klang Gates ridge BACKGROUND DQGVDZDQDGXOWDQGMXYHQLOHVHURZÀHHWKH\UHSRUWHG the incident to the Department of Wildlife and National Of the six species of serow, Capricornis sumatraensis 3DUNV3HQLQVXODU0DOD\VLD ':13 ZKRVHSURPSWDFWLRQ LVWKHRQO\VHURZIRXQGRQ6XPDWUD ,QGRQHVLD 3HQLQVXODU resulted in the arrest of 11 individuals who were later Malaysia and in southern Thailand (Duckworth et al ¿QHGWKHDPRXQWRIWKH¿QHLVXQNQRZQ /RZ  6KHSKHUGDQG6KHSKHUG DQGWKHRQO\ZLOGPHPEHU Despite these actions, it is reported that serows have of the Caprinae family in Malaysia, where its preferred since been heavily hunted in the Klang Gates, and in many habitat is steep forested mountains, and limestone and parts of the peninsula as well as numerous other localities not

TRAFFIC Bulletin9RO1R   S H O R T C O M M U N I C A T I O N far from the nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, including Bukit Takun, Genting and more remote places, such as the Belum- Johor Pahang Perak Melaka Selangor 6 5 3 3 1 Temengor Forest Complex in the northern State of Perak. It is most likely that the serow is a targeted species wherever Table 1. Number of restaurants in Peninsular Malaysia, poachers have access to its rugged habitats. Furthermore, it is per State, offering serow meat for sale, 2012. likely that the serow is threatened by the widespread setting of snares in Malaysia, which indiscriminately kill a wide range of species (Krishnasamy and Or, 2014). Already in 1992, it was reported that the serow population in Malaysia had been Observations of serow trade in Peninsular Malaysia found to be unable to meet the demands of the users of its parts and derivatives (Department of Wildlife and National Parks, 1992), and the overall population is thought to be in decline. Serow meat is prized amongst consumers of wild Despite robust legal protection, widespread poaching and meat in Malaysia. In 2012, TRAFFIC carried out a study illegal trade continues. TRAFFIC has carried out research on the wild meat trade in restaurants across Malaysia, into the trade in serows in Malaysia to improve understanding including the Bornean States of Sabah and Sarawak, of the hunting and trade dynamics and to be able to provide where the serow does not occur. In Peninsular Malaysia, useful and actionable information to the relevant enforcement serow was the most commonly observed Totally DJHQFLHV LQ WKH FRXQWU\ DV ZHOO DV WR UDLVH WKH SUR¿OH RI Protected species in restaurants, being sold for up to the threats to the species and its conservation needs, and 0<5 86' SHUVHUYLQJ &DLOODEHWet al., in prep). ultimately reduce consumer demand. 2IWKHUHVWDXUDQWVWKDWVHUYHGZLOGPHDWLQ3HQLQVXODU 0DOD\VLD  UHVWDXUDQWV LQ ¿YH 6WDWHV RIIHUHG WKHP IRU LEGISLATION sale (Table 1). One restaurant in the Bornean State of Sabah claimed The Sumatran Serow is afforded full legal protection to sell serow meat; given that this species is not found on (Totally Protected) in Peninsular Malaysia, under the Borneo, it was likely sourced from Peninsular Malaysia Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, which means that hunting or Sumatra, Indonesia (Caillabet et al., in prep). this species is prohibited unless a Special Permit has Surveys in and around the Belum-Temengor Forest been issued by the Minister of Natural Resources and Complex, an important habitat for Tigers, found that Environment (a practice that has never taken place). Anyone at least 10 serows had been hunted from the area found guilty of hunting, taking or keeping serow parts or between 2009 and June 2013 (Or and Krishnasamy, in GHULYDWLYHV LV OLDEOH WR D PLQLPXP ¿QH RI 0<5  prep.). Serow hunting is known to be both targeted and 86'   DQG D PD[LPXP ¿QH RI 0<5  opportunistic. In April 2012, TRAFFIC staff and other 86' DQGIDFHVDJDROWHUPRIXSWR¿YH\HDUV conservation NGOs encountered a serow head soaking The hunting of, taking or keeping female serows can lead in oil at a rest stop along the East-West Highway, some WRD¿QHRIEHWZHHQ0<5DQG0<5DQGD NPIURPWKH%HOXP7HPHQJRU)RUHVW&RPSOH[DQG JDROWHUPRIXSWR¿YH\HDUV,QDGGLWLRQDQ\RQHFRQYLFWHG ZLWQHVVHGSROLFHRI¿FHUVDVNLQJWKHYHQGRUDERXWWKHXVH of illegally hunting, taking or keeping a juvenile serow is DQGEHQH¿WVRIVHURZSDUWV1RQHRIWKHSROLFHRI¿FHUV OLDEOHWREH¿QHGEHWZHHQ0<5DQG0<5 appeared to be aware that this incident violated a national DQGJDROHGIRUXSWR¿YH\HDUV law; no action was taken against the vendor. This This species is also listed in Appendix I of CITES information was later conveyed to the DWNP by another (Convention on International Trade in Endangered conservation organization. Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which prohibits In May 2012, an online forum frequently used by army international commercial trade of the species, its parts and personnel revealed serow hunting in the Temengor Forest derivatives. Under the Malaysian CITES-implementing Reserve in Perak (Wong, 2012). A forum user explained law, the International Trade in Endangered Species Act in detail how serows are hunted, including how to track 2008, anyone caught importing or exporting serow parts is these elusive mammals, the weapons used and hunting OLDEOHRQFRQYLFWLRQWRDPLQLPXP¿QHRI0<5 hotspots. The user boasted that he hunted serows and DQGDPD[LPXP¿QH RI0<5PLOOLRQRUDJDROWHUPQRW other mammals, despite knowing it was illegal to do so. exceeding seven years, or both. Seizures of serow in Peninsular Malaysia METHODS Despite poaching being a serious threat to serows, Information on the illegal hunting and trade of serows over the period of 10 years between January 2003 and in Malaysia, especially in the form of seizure reports, was January 2012, DWNPUHFRUGHGRQO\FRQ¿VFDWLRQVRI collected and compiled over a 10-year period (2003 to VHURZSDUWV 7DEOH 2IWKHVHRQO\¿YHFDVHVUHVXOWHG 2012). The principal sources were published literature, in convictions. including DWNP annual reports, from the IUCN Red List of In March 2007, in a case involving a bomoh (a Malay Threatened Species, as well as media articles. Information shaman or faith healer) couple (Table 2), authorities found ZDV DOVR JDWKHUHG IURP GLUHFW ¿HOG REVHUYDWLRQV E\ skeletal remains of six serows in their possession. The TRAFFIC during 2012, including from the Belum- skulls were intact, while the bone fragments and fur were Temengor Forest Complex in Perak, where TRAFFIC’s mixed together and kept in a cooking container (Chooi, work has a strong focus. A survey of the availability of 2007). However, for reasons unknown, the bomoh couple wild meat in Malaysia was also conducted in 2012. was not prosecuted.

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REFERENCES

&DLOODEHW2 LQSUHS ,QWKHVRXSDVXUYH\RQWKHDYDLODELOLW\RI wild meat in Malaysia. &KRRL&ODUD  %RPRKVXQGHUSUREHIRUNLOOLQJJRDWVThe Star 0DOD\VLD 0DUFK &OHPHQWV55D\DQ'0=D¿U$:$9HQNDWDUDPDQ$$OIUHG 53D\QH-$PEX/DQG6KDUPD'6.  7ULRXQGHU threat: can we secure the future of rhinos, elephants and tigers in Malaysia? Biodiversity and Conservation 19:1115–1136.

WWF-MALAYSIA/MUHAMAD HAMIRUL WWF-MALAYSIA/MUHAMAD 'HSDUWPHQWRI:LOGOLIHDQG1DWLRQDO3DUNV  Wildlife Plan TRAFFIC Serow recorded by a camera trap (left); serow head for Peninsular Malaysia. soaking in oil. Belum Temengor Forest Complex, 2012. 'HSDUWPHQWRI:LOGOLIHDQG1DWLRQDO3DUNV VHOHFWHG\HDUV Annual Report, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Duckworth, J.W., Steinmetz, R. and MacKinnon, J. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS   Capricornis sumatraensis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. www.iucnredlist.org. ,8&1   IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version Clearly, serows are being hunted and traded in 2013.1. www.iucnredlist.org. Viewed on 23 October 2013. Peninsular Malaysia in violation of strong national .DZDQLVKL.DQG6XQTXLVW0(  &RQVHUYDWLRQVWDWXVRI wildlife laws. Declines in serow populations in Peninsular tigers in a primary rainforest of Peninsular Malaysia. Biological Malaysia have been corroborated by local people, many of Conservation 120:329–344. whom have stated that over-hunting is the primary reason. .ULVKQDVDP\.DQG2U2&  6XQ%HDU6QDULQJ+LJKOLJKWV Furthermore, despite the species being fully protected by an Enforcement Bane in the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex, Malaysia. International Bear News  ± law, serow meat is being served in restaurants, and parts, /RZ &.   3RDFKLQJ RI VHURZV RQ .ODQJ *DWHV 5LGJH especially heads, are being used by bomohs in the Malay Malayan Nature Journal  ± traditional medicine and faith healing system. 2U 2& DQG .ULVKQDVDP\ . LQ SUHS  %HOXP7HPHQJRU $  $OO¿UVWKDQGLQIRUPDWLRQRQWKHLOOHJDOWUDGHRIVHURZV Haven for Wildlife or Poachers. collected by TRAFFIC has been reported to the DWNP for 5DKPDQ 0$   6WDWXV DQG 'LVWULEXWLRQV RI &DSULQDH E\ 5HJLRQ0DOD\VLD,Q6KDFNOHWRQ'DYLG0 (G Wild Sheep action. Unfortunately, the outcomes of these reports are and Goats and their Relatives. Status Survey and Conservation not often known or made publicly available, and therefore Action Plan for Caprinae. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and cannot be reported here. TRAFFIC calls upon the DWNP to Cambridge, UK. 390+vii pp. intensify its monitoring of restaurants selling wild meat and 6KHSKHUG &5 DQG 6KHSKHUG /$   7KH SRDFKLQJ DQG of traditional medicine shops and faith healers, and to take trade of Malayan Sun Bears in Peninsular Malaysia. TRAFFIC action against anyone found violating the law. TRAFFIC Bulletin  ± 6KHSKHUG&5DQG6KHSKHUG/$  A naturalist’s guide also calls on the judiciary to issue the maximum penalties to WR WKH PDPPDOV RI 6RXWK(DVW $VLD 0DOD\VLD 6LQJDSRUH offenders, to serve as a deterrent. Meanwhile, closer work Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Java, Sumatra, with traditional medicine practitioners to encourage support Bali, Borneo and the Philippines. John Beaufoy Publishing, for alternative products should be considered. Oxford, UK. 176 pp. There is a need for citizens to become more involved Steinmetz, R., Chutipong, W., Seuaturien, N., Chirngsaard, E. and in conservation efforts. The national wildlife crime .KDHQJNKHWNDUQ 0   3RSXODWLRQ UHFRYHU\ SDWWHUQV of Southeast Asian ungulates after poaching. Biological hotline managed by the Malaysian Conservation Alliance Conservation 143:42–51. for Tigers, a coalition of NGOs, including TRAFFIC, Strien, van, N.J., Steinmetz, R., Manullang, B., Sectionov, Han, should be widely broadcast so any incidents of hunting K.H., Isnan, W., Rookmaaker, K., Sumardja, E., Khan, M.K.M. or trade of serows may be reported to the authorities. DQG(OOLV6  Rhinoceros sondaicus,Q,8&1   More research on the impact of hunting and trade IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. www. iucnredlist.org. Viewed on 21 May 2014. of serows in Malaysia and throughout South-east Asia Timmins, R.J., Duckworth, J.W., Hedges, S., Steinmetz, R. and is urgently needed. Any information gathered should 3DWWDQDYLERRO$    Bos javanicus ,Q ,8&1   be published and brought to the attention of relevant IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. www. enforcement agencies, conservation organizations and the iucnredlist.org. Viewed on 21 May 2014. SXEOLFLQDQHIIRUWWRUDLVHWKHSUR¿OHRIWKUHDWVIDFLQJWKH 9RQJNKDPKHQJ&-RKQVRQ$DQG6XQTXLVW0  $EDVHOLQH Sumatran Serow and for increased efforts to ensure that this survey of ungulate abundance and distribution in northern Lao: implications for conservation. Oryx  ± species is not pushed further towards the brink of extinction. :RQJ.06XJXPDUDQ0/HH'.3DQG=DKLG06   Ecological aspects of endemic plant populations on Klang ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Gates quartz ridge, a habitat island in Peninsular Malaysia. Biodiversity and Conservation  ± :RQJ30  7UDI¿F3XQLVKSHUSHWUDWRUSRVWLQJDERXWLOOHJDO TRAFFIC would like to thank the Los Angeles Zoo and hunting on the Internet. The Star 0DOD\VLD 0D\http://bit. Botanical Gardens, Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association ly/1swy8By. for generously supporting its work on the trade in serows in Malaysia and elsewhere in South-east Asia. Hauser Bears is thanked for generously supporting TRAFFIC’s work on the Chris R. Shepherd, Regional Director—Southeast Asia, wild meat trade in Malaysia. Steven Broad, Kim Lochen 75$)),&(PDLOFKULVVKHSKHUG#WUDI¿FRUJ and Loretta Ann Shepherd are acknowledged for their helpful Kanitha Krishnasamy, Programme Manager—Southeast Asia, comments on an earlier draft of this paper. 75$)),&(PDLONDQLWKDNULVKQDVDP\#WUDI¿FRUJ

84 TRAFFIC Bulletin 9RO1R