89
field guides on reptiles (Indraneil 2010) and fish (Ambak et al. 2012). Data obtained
were recorded in a prepared datasheet. Meanwhile, secondary data were obtained
from various resources, including books, journals and documented reports.
Results and Discussion
Thirty-two known species of fish from 14 families and six species of other animals
used by the Orang Asli were recorded in the survey and compiled in Table 2. The
animals were categorised according to their taxonomic order and purposes.
Figure 2 shows the aquatic resources that the Orang Asli utilised. Of the common
pool of 96 respondents, fish seemed to be the most utilised in Tasik Kenyir, followed
by reptiles and amphibians. Other than those, 42 and 29 respondents said they also
consumed gastropods and mussels found in Tasik Kenyir.
Most respondents, at a percentage of 97.91%, caught the aquatic resources for
household consumption. Apart from that, the Orang Asli mentioned that there was a
species that was hunted due to its economic value. Eighty-seven respondents, or
90.63%, hunted acquatic life as a source of income as shown in Fig. 3. The highest
number of aquatic resources sold by 64 and 84 respondents was frog and tortoise at
66.67% and 87.50%, respectively, as shown in Fig. 4. They were sold for consumption at exotic restaurants in the nearest city. The low percentage of fish being sold,
like the kelah (Malayan mahseer), indicated that the Orang Asli caught fish mainly
for household consumption.
Severals methods and tools were used to catch the aquatic resources. The common items included fishing rods, nets, traps and spear guns, besides using their bare
hands. Most of the respondents used a fishing rod as it was easy to handle and not
as costly as a net. On the other hand, hand-made spear guns were still frequently
used, especially by the elders, as it required a great deal of experience in using it.
According to Kuchikura (1996), the Semoq Beri sub-tribe identified the rivers
around the lake based on their depth and width, as well as the location and topography. Table 3 summarized that the rivers were divided into three parts — pahog was
the upper stream with a width less than 5 m and depth less than 1 m. Lawog were
small rivers with a width of between 10 m and 30 m, and a depth of less than 3 m.
Downstream from the pahog and lawog, was the geradu, which had a width of
between 50 m and 250 m, and a depth of more than 10 m. The type of river would
affect the Orang Asli’s choice of tools and methods. Fishing rods and hooks were
often used in small rivers that were not deep, like the pahog and certain stretches of
the lawog. The fish trap, or bubu, was also used in the pahog, where the current was
gentler. Nets were used in the geradu that had deeper water and fast currents. The
Semoq Beri also fished and obtained other aquatic resources by diving into the rivers and using spear guns. Animals like frogs (balio) and turtles (Pa’as) were caught
by hand on the riverbanks.
Nine species of animals were recorded as being used for medicine or spiritual
purposes as listed in Table 4. These practices only applied to certain people and the
Ethnoichtyological Survey of the Orang Asli in Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu
field guides on reptiles (Indraneil 2010) and fish (Ambak et al. 2012). Data obtained
were recorded in a prepared datasheet. Meanwhile, secondary data were obtained
from various resources, including books, journals and documented reports.
Results and Discussion
Thirty-two known species of fish from 14 families and six species of other animals
used by the Orang Asli were recorded in the survey and compiled in Table 2. The
animals were categorised according to their taxonomic order and purposes.
Figure 2 shows the aquatic resources that the Orang Asli utilised. Of the common
pool of 96 respondents, fish seemed to be the most utilised in Tasik Kenyir, followed
by reptiles and amphibians. Other than those, 42 and 29 respondents said they also
consumed gastropods and mussels found in Tasik Kenyir.
Most respondents, at a percentage of 97.91%, caught the aquatic resources for
household consumption. Apart from that, the Orang Asli mentioned that there was a
species that was hunted due to its economic value. Eighty-seven respondents, or
90.63%, hunted acquatic life as a source of income as shown in Fig. 3. The highest
number of aquatic resources sold by 64 and 84 respondents was frog and tortoise at
66.67% and 87.50%, respectively, as shown in Fig. 4. They were sold for consumption at exotic restaurants in the nearest city. The low percentage of fish being sold,
like the kelah (Malayan mahseer), indicated that the Orang Asli caught fish mainly
for household consumption.
Severals methods and tools were used to catch the aquatic resources. The common items included fishing rods, nets, traps and spear guns, besides using their bare
hands. Most of the respondents used a fishing rod as it was easy to handle and not
as costly as a net. On the other hand, hand-made spear guns were still frequently
used, especially by the elders, as it required a great deal of experience in using it.
According to Kuchikura (1996), the Semoq Beri sub-tribe identified the rivers
around the lake based on their depth and width, as well as the location and topography. Table 3 summarized that the rivers were divided into three parts — pahog was
the upper stream with a width less than 5 m and depth less than 1 m. Lawog were
small rivers with a width of between 10 m and 30 m, and a depth of less than 3 m.
Downstream from the pahog and lawog, was the geradu, which had a width of
between 50 m and 250 m, and a depth of more than 10 m. The type of river would
affect the Orang Asli’s choice of tools and methods. Fishing rods and hooks were
often used in small rivers that were not deep, like the pahog and certain stretches of
the lawog. The fish trap, or bubu, was also used in the pahog, where the current was
gentler. Nets were used in the geradu that had deeper water and fast currents. The
Semoq Beri also fished and obtained other aquatic resources by diving into the rivers and using spear guns. Animals like frogs (balio) and turtles (Pa’as) were caught
by hand on the riverbanks.
Nine species of animals were recorded as being used for medicine or spiritual
purposes as listed in Table 4. These practices only applied to certain people and the
Ethnoichtyological Survey of the Orang Asli in Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu