Authorities to take action against ‘improper’ swiftlet farming

Tuesday October 21, 2008
The Star

By SHARON LING


KUCHING: Swiftlet farmers operating in shophouses in town areas must cease their operations by the end of this year or face action from the Forest Department and Sarawak Forestry Corporation.

State forest director Datuk Len Talif Salleh said the birds should not be reared in shophouses as their droppings were unhygienic and posed a health hazard.

In addition, music played on loudspeakers to attract the birds was a nuisance to others.

“We are not against swiftlet farming. In fact, we encourage swiftlet farming, but it must be done in a proper way and not at the expense of others,” he said, adding that swiftlet farmers must obtain a licence from the department before they could begin operations.

Under the state’s Wildlife Protection Rules, swiftlet farming can only be done on agricultural land or in rural areas.

Len said the department had identified about 1,500 farmers in the state who were operating illegally without a licence.

Last week, enforcement officers from the department and Sarawak Forestry took action against several illegal swiftlet farms in Mukah town district by removing the birds and the nests.

However, following requests for a grace period, the authorities have halted their operation to allow the farmers to dismantle the nests by Dec 31.

“I have agreed to the grace period until the end of the year and the farmers will remove the birds and nests on their own.

“We are now monitoring them to make sure they are removing the nests one by one,” Len said.