Kubah National Park a frog heaven

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KUCHING: Kubah National Park is a frog heaven, said Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) chief executive officer Zolkipli Mohamad Aton.

He revealed this while officiating at the closing of the eighth International Bornean Frog Race 2019.

The race organised by SFC and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) attracted more than 100 local and international photographers.

Zolkipli, who presented prizes to the winners of the frog photography competition said, “To date, we have relied mainly on our iconic species to attract and bring eco-tourists into the state. To name a few, we have the orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, the Proboscis Monkeys at Bako National Park, marine turtles at Talang-Satang National Park, Oriental-pied Hornbill at Piasau Nature Reserve and Rafflesia at Gunung Gading National Park.

Zolkipli (third left) and others posing for a group photograph with the participants of the frog race. Photo: Marvin Kudang

The Wallace Flying Frog or Rhacophorus nigropalmatus, also known as parachute frog. This species of frog lives almost exclusively in trees, descending only to mate and lay eggs. Alfred Russel Wallace, a naturalist and biologist, travelled to the Malay Archipelago in the early 1900s where he conducted research at Kubah National Park. The Wallace Flying Frog was named after his discovery.

“We can now add Kubah National Park at Matang Wildlife Centre as one of the eco-tourists spots for 104 frog species.

“We believe that with time, the abundance of the frog species recorded in the TPAs of Western Sarawak will go beyond documented facts alone.”

For the frog photography competition, the contestants had to take photographs of the amphibian species along the forest trails at Kubah National Park, Matang Wildlife Centre, Samajaya Nature Reserve and Unimas.

Zolkipli added that as custodian of the Totally Protected Areas (TPA), SFC advocated any programmes and activities that promoted education and awareness on biodiversity and its conservation.

“With the richness of flora and fauna that Sarawak is endowed with, activities such as the frog race brings attention to this very subject and in the long run will provide a world of good to the conservation efforts as well as ecotourism drive that the state government aspires to achieve.”

The team who found the most amphibian species -24 – comprised Paul Imbun and Benedict Butit; they took home RM1,000.

For capturing the best photo taken with a DSLR camera in the individual category, winner Jason Teo Jia Hong also went home with RM1,000.

First runner-up Chen Chin Fong received RM800 while second runner-up Hashim Mahrin took home RM500.

The winner of the best photo taken with a compact and mobile camera in the individual category was Chun Xing Wong who received RM500. First runner-up Ng Jia Jie took home RM400 while second runner-up Dayang Puteri Syahirah received RM300.

All prize winners also received a certificate of appreciation each.

Dirk Mazger was chosen as the most enthusiastic participant of the competition.

Present at the closing ceremony were Unimas Faculty of Resource Science and Technology dean associate professor Dr Ramlah Zainudin, Unimas Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation Professor Dr Gabriel Torga, SFC general manager Oswald Braken Tisen and National Parks and Nature Resource controller Jack Liam.