139
Howell et al. 2010). The most common plants include petai (Parkia speciosa), tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) and agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis). The Orang
Asli also use animals for a variety of purposes. However, only a few studies have
documented the use of animals by the Orang Asli. At least 12 species of animals
have been utilised for medicinal purposes (Yahaya 2015; Azliza et al. 2012; Howell
et al. 2010). In Sarawak, however, up to 52 species of animals are utilised by the
indigenous people for medicinal purposes (Azlan and Faisal 2006). Species regarded
to have medicinal value by the indigenous people of Malaysia, including the peninsular Orang Asli, are the reticulated python (Python reticulatus), Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyura) and black giant squirrel (Ratufa bicolor). At least 10
terrestrial and aquatic animal taxa are consumed by the Orang Asli of the peninsula:
the river terrapin (Batagur baska), tortoise (Testudo spp.), monitor lizards (Varanus
spp.), Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyura), Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica),
wild pig (Sus scrofa), macaques (Macaca spp.), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak),
plaintain squirrel (Callosciurus notatus) and mousedeers (Tragulus spp.). In some
Orang Asli communities, animals are commercially traded or kept as pets (Yahaya
2015; Howell et al. 2010). Unfortunately, some animal species utilised by the Orang
Asli (e.g. the Sunda pangolin) are considered critically endangered in the IUCN
Red List (IUCN 2016) and are totally protected under the Malaysian Wildlife
Conservation Act (2010).
Traditionally, the Orang Asli communities are known to exploit natural resources
to sustain their livelihood. Today, many of the communities have been resettled in
villages outside forests. Under the Sixth Schedule of the Wildlife Conservation Act
(2010), the Orang Asli are permitted to hunt 10 species of wildlife for their own
consumption. Nevertheless, there is a lack of information on the present state of
wildlife being hunted by the Orang Asli and their hunting practices.
The Semoq Beri was chosen in this study because previous studies of this subtribe have only explored their concept of the forest and traditional knowledge
(Ramle et al. 2014a, b), but did not look into their hunting practices. This has important implications for the conservation of threatened wildlife species. Therefore, by
using qualitative and quantitative methods, we aim to: (1) determine the animals
hunted by the Semoq Beri people living in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, (2)
elucidate their hunting practices and (3) identify the favourite mammals hunted by
this sub-tribe.
Methods
In a period of 6 months (between August 2015 to January 2016), information was
gathered on the wildlife perceived and hunted by the Orang Asli in Kampung Sungai
Berua (5° 4
′
49.8
″
N 102° 53
′
2.76
″
E) in Kenyir, Terengganu (Fig. 1). The majority
of the Orang Asli people in the village belonged to the Semoq Beri sub-tribe. Ethic
approval was obtained from the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) of
the Rural Development Ministry, and consent was requested from the village head.
Wildlife Hunting Practices by the Indigenous People of Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia
Howell et al. 2010). The most common plants include petai (Parkia speciosa), tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) and agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis). The Orang
Asli also use animals for a variety of purposes. However, only a few studies have
documented the use of animals by the Orang Asli. At least 12 species of animals
have been utilised for medicinal purposes (Yahaya 2015; Azliza et al. 2012; Howell
et al. 2010). In Sarawak, however, up to 52 species of animals are utilised by the
indigenous people for medicinal purposes (Azlan and Faisal 2006). Species regarded
to have medicinal value by the indigenous people of Malaysia, including the peninsular Orang Asli, are the reticulated python (Python reticulatus), Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyura) and black giant squirrel (Ratufa bicolor). At least 10
terrestrial and aquatic animal taxa are consumed by the Orang Asli of the peninsula:
the river terrapin (Batagur baska), tortoise (Testudo spp.), monitor lizards (Varanus
spp.), Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyura), Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica),
wild pig (Sus scrofa), macaques (Macaca spp.), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak),
plaintain squirrel (Callosciurus notatus) and mousedeers (Tragulus spp.). In some
Orang Asli communities, animals are commercially traded or kept as pets (Yahaya
2015; Howell et al. 2010). Unfortunately, some animal species utilised by the Orang
Asli (e.g. the Sunda pangolin) are considered critically endangered in the IUCN
Red List (IUCN 2016) and are totally protected under the Malaysian Wildlife
Conservation Act (2010).
Traditionally, the Orang Asli communities are known to exploit natural resources
to sustain their livelihood. Today, many of the communities have been resettled in
villages outside forests. Under the Sixth Schedule of the Wildlife Conservation Act
(2010), the Orang Asli are permitted to hunt 10 species of wildlife for their own
consumption. Nevertheless, there is a lack of information on the present state of
wildlife being hunted by the Orang Asli and their hunting practices.
The Semoq Beri was chosen in this study because previous studies of this subtribe have only explored their concept of the forest and traditional knowledge
(Ramle et al. 2014a, b), but did not look into their hunting practices. This has important implications for the conservation of threatened wildlife species. Therefore, by
using qualitative and quantitative methods, we aim to: (1) determine the animals
hunted by the Semoq Beri people living in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, (2)
elucidate their hunting practices and (3) identify the favourite mammals hunted by
this sub-tribe.
Methods
In a period of 6 months (between August 2015 to January 2016), information was
gathered on the wildlife perceived and hunted by the Orang Asli in Kampung Sungai
Berua (5° 4
′
49.8
″
N 102° 53
′
2.76
″
E) in Kenyir, Terengganu (Fig. 1). The majority
of the Orang Asli people in the village belonged to the Semoq Beri sub-tribe. Ethic
approval was obtained from the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) of
the Rural Development Ministry, and consent was requested from the village head.
Wildlife Hunting Practices by the Indigenous People of Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia