BY: LYNDY ANG

In this New Millennium, animals are beginning to play a changing role in this world of ours as they grapple with many issues affecting their habitat and the environment so much so that there is a concern as to their changing role.

Owing to climate change, lowland animals are moving up the highlands as evidenced in this country in Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands, Fraser’s Hill and other hill stations around the country.

Other animals have been displaced from their habitats by the clearing of land for development and dams and other such mega projects like rail networks that they have been unable to survive while a number are becoming extinct.

The Malayan Tiger, the rhinoceros and the unique Malayan Tapir have become depleted in numbers as their habitat has been the subject of illegal logging and land being cleared for housing projects which has alarmed environmentalists.

Not just wildlife but domestic and tame animals are also seeing a dwindling of their numbers as they face starvation and neglect especially stray animals which animal welfare groups cite as having become a major concern.

Therefore, the government must pay heed to these developments and be more conscious that animals play a vital role in balancing the ecology and their habitats must not be disturbed for them as well to live peacefully.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher