Environment- Part 2 :Endangered Plants in Malaysia

1. Durio Kutejensis

Durio kutejensis, commonly known as durian pulu, durian merah, nyekak, or lai, is a primary rainforest substorey fruit tree from Borneo. It is a very attractive small- to medium-sized tree up to 30 m tall. It has large, glossy leaves, numerous large red flowers that emit a strong carrion smell at anthesis . It has been reported that this species is pollinated by giant honey bees and birds as well as bats. The large durian fruit it bears has thick, yellow flesh with a mild, sweet taste and creamy texture similar to that of Durio zibethinus. It bears fruit late in the season. It is cultivated in East Kalimantan and has been introduced to Queensland. In Brunei, the fruit of D. kutejensis is preferred by local consumers over that of D.zibethinus, even though the latter is the only durian species available in the international market.


2. Pitcher Plants

Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants whose prey-trapping mechanism features a deep cavity filled with liquid known as a pitfall trap. It has been widely assumed that the various sorts of pitfall trap evolved from rolled leaves, with selection pressure favouring more deeply cupped leaves over evolutionary time. However, some pitcher plant genara (such as Nepenthes) are placed within clades consisting mostly of flypaper traps: this indicates that this view may be too simplistic, and some pitchers may have evolved from the common ancestors of today's flypaper traps by loss of mucilage.






3. Shorea


Shorea is a genus of about 196 species of mainly rainforest trees in the family Dipterocarpaceae. The genus is named after Sir John Shore, the Governor-General of the British East India Company\, 1793-1798. They are native to southeast Asia, from Northern India to Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines . In west Malesia and the Philippines this genus dominates the skyline of the tropical forest. The tallest documented tropical angiosperm is a 88.3-metre-tall Shorea faguetiana in the Tawau Hill National Park, in Sabah on the island of Borneo, and in that park at least five other species of the genus have been measured to be over 80 m tall: S.argentifolia, S.gibbosa, S.johorensis, S.smithiana and S.superba. Borneo is also the hotspot of Shorea diversity with 138 species, of which 91 are endemic to the island.


4. Rafflesia Kerrii

Rafflesia kerrii is a member of the genus Rafflesia. It is found in the rainforest of southern Thailand and peninsular Malaysia, with the most famous population in the Khao Sok National Park. The local Thai names are Bua Phut (บัวผุด) and Bua Tum (บัวตูม). The red flowers have a diameter of 50–90 cm and smell awfully of rotten meat to attract flies for pollination. The plant is a parasite to the wild grapes of the genus Tetrastigma (T. leucostaphylum, T. papillosum and T. quadrangulum). , but only the flowers are visible. Small buds appear along the trunk and roots of the host, which after 9 months open the giant flowers. After just one week the flower dies. The species seems to be flowering seasonally, as flowers are only reported during the dry season, from January to March, and more rarely till July.The flower is endangered. Though already naturally rare, tourists trying to get close to the flower for photos easily trample the host plant or young buds. Also the locals collect both buds and flowers both as a delicacy as well as for its claimed medical powers. A concoction of cooked buds or flowers is used as a general tonic, to help for fever or backache or even as a sexual stimulant. However western medicine doesn't recognize any medical power of the flower.


4. Dipterocarpus gracili


Dipterocarpus gracilis is a species of tree in the family Dipterocarpaceae. The species is found in Bangladesh, India( The Andaman and Nicobar Island, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Tripure), Indonesia( Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra), Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and the Philippines. This large tree is found in lowland seasonal semi-evergreen and evergreen dipterocarp forest. Often used as a commercial grade plywood, it is one of the most important sources of keruing timber.








We live in this wonderful world which is fulfillled with trees, jungles and forest. We live together harmony. We can't live without one another. Why must human beings destroy mother nature? Floras and faunas are going to extinct. Why should we suffer like this ? Our next generations should be experiencing the beauty of nature through their senses but not by pictures. Hence, human beings must be responsible to save the earth, for a better future.


Ways to overcome this problem:

• Stop wasting paper. (Use more recycle paper and use both pages)
• Practicing concept 3R. ( Recycle, reuse and reduce)
• Stop using tissue paper.

Have you done it ?

Environment- Part 1: Endangered Animals in Malaysia

1. Black Shrew

Black Shrew has rarely been seen by human and there is no official record on its size. However, witnesses have estimated the size to be 20 – 100 mm. One recorded specimen was found in Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia. Nobody knows whether this creature has extinct or still occupy a small area in the Sabah state of Malaysia. They tend to be aggressive towards each others and are mostly solitary creatures.

Estimated number left in the world = Critically endangered. Might already been extinct. 

2. Sumatran Rhinoceros

Sumatran Rhino is the smallest rhinoceros measuring about 250 centimeters in length and 120-145 centimeters tall (shoulder). It is also much lighter than other rhinos, weighing about 500-800 kilograms. The 2-horned rhino can normally be found in swamps and rainforests of Asia countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and India. However, these solitary animals are facing the threat of extinction due to the poaching of their horns.

Estimated number left in the world = 300

3. Malayan Tapir

Tapir is a pig-like animal with a short snout. They inhabit the forest regions of South America, Central America and South East Asia. Their closest relatives are the horses and rhinoceroses, and all 4 species have been classified as endangered. In Malaysia, only 1 of the 4 species of tapir exists – the Malayan Tapir. Tapir mainly survive on the forest’s resources such as berries, leaves and fruits. They have not many natural predators in the forest thanks to their thick skin and ability to run fast. As for Malayan Tapir, its strange body colour is often misunderstood as a large rock when lying down. This serves as a good camourflage for the creature. However, their numbers are fast declining due to their habitat loss (establishment of plantations, forest burning and logging), and the hunt for their meat and hide.


Estimated number left in Malaysia (Malayan Tapir) = about 369

4. Mouse Deer

Mouse Deer or better known as Sang Kancil in one of Malaysia’s folklores, is a small creature about 70 centimeters long, 30-35 centimeters tall (shoulder), and around 5-8 kilograms in weight. That’s the estimated size of the Greater Mouse Deer while the Lesser Mouse Deer species is estimated to weight around 2 kilograms. Mouse deers can only be found in Malaysia, Borneo and parts of Indonesia. They survive mostly on fruits and leaves. They are also believed to be nocturnal creatures.

Estimated number left in the world = No population estimate has been made, but has been classified as Endangered

5. Orang Utan

There are basically 2 species of Orang utan – the critically endangered Sumatran species and also the endangered Bornean species. Both these species could only be found in the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The name Orangutan is actually derived from the Malay language Orang Hutan which means “forest man”, due to the similarity between the Orangutans’ behavior and those of the human beings. Orangutans are very intelligent creatures, said to be the smartest creature on Earth after human. However, their numbers have been on a decline in the past few decades due to active logging activities and forest fires.

Estimated number left in the world (Sumatran species) = about 7000

Estimated number left in the world (Bornean species) = about 45000 – 69000

6. Malayan Tiger

The Malayan Tiger, along with the Sumatran tiger, is perhaps the smallest extant subspecies of tiger. Its stripe pattern is similar to the Indochinese tigers but its size is closer to the Sumatran tigers, with an average weight of 120kg for adult males and 100kg for females. Male Malayan Tigers measures around 237cm in length from head to tail and female Malayan tigress around 200cm in length.

Estimated number left in the world = about 500

Animals have their right to live in peace and harmony. They should not be treated like that. They deserve a better life.

Ways to help endangered animals:

• Stop buying leather products. (Like handbags, footwear, bags, and belts )
• Starting concept 3R. ( Recycle, reuse, and reduce )
• Stop using herbicides and pesticides. 

Are you going to save the animals?