MYCAT

31/12/2024

The CAT Call - 2024 Wrap Up -

As the year draws to a close, we’d like to take a moment to reflect. Despite the trials and tribulations and sometimes disheartening tiger news, 2024 has been marked by many triumphs. This year we increased the number of CAT Walks, expanded CAT Walk's range to patrol to new trails; corporate parti...

31/12/2024

Things wind down in December but the CAT Walk leaders group has been busy. The CAT Walk Leader “Camp Out” is an opportunity for MYCAT’s CAT Walk leaders and leaders-in-training to meet up, CAT Walk together, provide the CAT team with feedback and suggestions on improvement, and for us to celebrate their efforts.

We road tested new accommodation options in Merapoh, near the Sungai Yu Ecological Corridor (Qistina Homestay gets the thumbs up) and experienced more of the town and its attractions. We suggest you do too!

CAT Walk participants will be familiar with night drives which are an extracurricular activity that can be arranged with MYCAT recommended operators. Did you know that night walks to go wildlife spotting in Taman Negara Sungai Relau can also be arranged with ?

Merapoh’s rich karst complex also has numerous caves to explore that are suitable for every skill, fitness level and phobia. The CAT Walk leader team split up with some exploring the more physically challenging Gua Harimau (also known as Gua Jinjang Pelamin), while others explored the beginner-friendly Gua Sisik Naga and Gua Tahi Bintang showcases. Our caving experience was facilitated by .

CAT Walk is supported by Mandai Nature (), US Fish and Wildlife Service (), European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) (), Singapore Wildcat Action Group (.cat.sg), Mi Technovation, Jabatan Perhilitan () and anonymous sponsor.

31/12/2024

The CAT Call - December 2024 -

Between MYCAT‘s October 2022 intake of new volunteer CAT Walk leaders-in-training until mid-2024, we more than doubled the number of certified CAT Walk leaders bringing the total to 12.

28/12/2024

Despite the wet and muddy conditions, determined CAT Walk volunteers wrapped up the year end with jungle adventures, spotting wildlife signs, tree planting, deterring poachers, and keeping the forest safe.

A big thank you to them from all Malaysians for stepping up on behalf of wildlife and Malaysia’s biodiversity.

CAT Walk is supported by Mandai Nature, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, EOCA European Outdoor Conservation Association, Singapore Wildcat Action Group, Mi Technovation, Jabatan PERHILITAN Semenanjung Malaysia, and anonymous sponsor.

25/12/2024

May all your Christmases be green.

Wishing all of MYCAT’s partners, donors, supporters, friends and family, a Merry Christmas and Season’s Greetings.

                     

23/12/2024

If there’s one thing the CAT team prioritise on CAT Walk, it’s safety. MYCAT’s CAT Walk leaders-in-training undergo a long training period before being certified as leaders.

As part of an upskilling effort, and to provide CAT Walk leaders and participants with further confidence, 15 CAT Walk leaders underwent First Aid training with X3SI with 14 gaining Wilderness and Austere First Aid certification with 1 leader also gaining Austere First Responder certification.

Both courses were intensive, highly instructive, hands-on and fun. Run over 2-days, the Austere First Aid course prepared the team for delivering care in remote wildernesses where medical care can be delayed or inacessible. Navigating hands on scenarios likely to crop up in a wilderness situation from heat exhaustion, low blood sugar and heart attack to lightning strikes, snake bite and drowning kept us on our toes. X3si Managing Director Damien Santer and his team organise lessons and information in a way that was engaging and easy to absorb with lots of examples and points of discussion that made 2 days sail by.

MYCAT highly recommends this course to anyone who spends time in the outdoors! To find out more about the Austere First Aid certification that MYCAT’s leaders underwent, go to the link in our bio. First Aid training was made possible by EOCA European Outdoor Conservation Association

13/12/2024

Penjara sehari dan denda RM130,000 (USD29,113) - itulah jumlah penalti yang diberikan mahkamah kepada seorang lelaki warga Malaysia yang ditangkap dengan lebih dari 40 paket daging liar, termasuk dari Kambing Gurun, iaitu hidupan liar yang dilindungi sepenuhnya.

Pihak berkuasa turut menemui daging rusa Sambar, kijang dan napuh di dalam peti sejuk beku di rumah lelaki tersebut di Shah Alam, Selangor sewaktu operasi dan penangkapan pada Ogos 2022 lalu. Dia menghadapi 4 pertuduhan di bawah Akta Pemuliharaan Hidupan Liar 2010.

Kambing Gurun menjadi sasaran pemburuan and perdagang haram hidupan liar untuk memenuhi permintaan untuk ubat, penawar tradisional dan sihir antara lainnya.

Pemilikan Kambing Gurun atau bahagiannya secara tidak sah tertakluk kepada hukuman berat di bawah undang-undang.

Dalam kes lain pada Oktober 2024, seorang lagi lelaki warga Malaysia dijatuhi hukuman penjara 19 bulan dan denda RM100,000 kerana memiliki kepala dan bahagian lain Kambing Gurun pada tahun 2019. Dia adalah pesalah berulang: https://shorturl.at/zKQCo

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A day’s jail and RM130,000 (USD29,113) in fines – that’s the total penalties a court gave a Malaysian man caught with over 40 packets of wild meat, including from the totally protected Serow.

In a freezer in the man’s home in Shah Alam, Selangor, authorities also found meat of Sambar deer, barking deer and the greater mousedeer when they nabbed him in August 2022. He faced a total of 4 charges under Malaysia’s Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.

The Serow, a goat-like animal, is heavily targeted by poachers and traffickers to feed the demand for medicine, traditional cures and magic among others.

Illegal possession of a serow or its parts is subject to some of the heaviest penalties under Malaysia’s laws.

Earlier in October, another Malaysian man was sentenced to 19 months in jail and a RM100,000 fine for illegal possession of the head and other parts of a serow in 2019. He was a repeat offender: https://shorturl.at/zKQCo

More about serow: https://shorturl.at/5fhGO

13/12/2024

A 17-year-old in Seri Petaling found himself in hot water after running an illegal reptile and amphibian farm at home. Wildlife officers raided his house and uncovered a variety of animals, including cobras, pythons, geckos, and tarantulas, all kept in special containers. https://shorturl.at/QGN4W

The teenager had been selling these animals online without proper permits, violating the Wildlife Conservation Act. Among the 30 tarantulas seized were some like the Singapore blue and Vietnam blue species.

The teen was handed over to the police. Meanwhile wildlife authorities issued a stern reminder to the public - trading protected wildlife is not only illegal but poses serious risks to the animals and ecosystems. Think twice before getting involved in such activities!

24/11/2024

It’s slithery Sunday!

This is an appreciation post for the sometimes hidden creatures that live in the forest. Pictured here is a Wagler’s pit viper, captured by MYCAT CAT Walk leader Ramon Fadli.

We never know what we’re going to find when we walk the trails in Sungai Yu and very often there will be creatures that remain out of sight. But we’re happy to know that our presence in the forests there protect all the amazing flora and fauna there, seen and unseen.

Join us on the last walk of 2024, 14-15 December. Link in our bio for details.

CAT Walk is supported by Mandai Nature, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, EOCA European Outdoor Conservation Association, Singapore Wildcat Action Group, Mi Technovation, Jabatan PERHILITAN Semenanjung Malaysia and anonymous sponsor.

24/11/2024

October was a big month! Committed tiger conservation supporters, Mi Technovation Berhad sent 3 separate teams into Sungai Yu Ecological corridor to assist with keeping the corridor safe and maintaining the corridor through tree planting activities.

A total of 24 members of staff participated in the CSR CAT Walk effort, walking the trails and checking check several camera traps. No snares were found, which is always good news. They also got to experience lots of wildlife and wildlife signs.

Kudos!

CAT Walk is supported by Mandai Nature, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, EOCA European Outdoor Conservation Association, Singapore Wildcat Action Group, Mi Technovation, Jabatan PERHILITAN Semenanjung Malaysia, and anonymous sponsor.

21/11/2024

Are you in? Join us for the last CAT Walk of 2024.

Takes place Saturday 14 - Sunday 15 December 2024.

We still have spots left and we’d love for you to join us in the beautiful border town of Merapoh to walk the wonderful wildness of Sungai Yu Ecological Corridor.

There’s so much to protect from hornbills and sunbears to elephants and our beautiful big cats.

More details and the registration link at the link in our bio.

Deadline to complete registration is Wednesday 27 November.

CAT Walk is supported by Mandai Nature (), US Fish and Wildlife Service (), European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) (), Singapore Wildcat Action Group (.cat.sg), Mi Technovation, Jabatan Perhilitan (perhilitan_malaysia) and anonymous sponsor.