9 minute read
6FL0\,QWHUYLHZ Dr. Lim Boo Liat (Part II
6FL0\,QWHUYLHZ Dr. Lim Boo Liat (Part II) interviewed by Dr. Lee Hooi Ling
Photo credit: Merdeka Award
Advertisement
/ŶƚŚĞĮƌƐƚƉĂƌƚŽĨƚŚĞŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁ;/ƐƐƵĞϴͿ͕ƌ͘>ŝŵŽŽ>ŝĂƚŽīĞƌĞĚĂŐůŝŵƉƐĞŝŶƚŽŚŝƐůŝĨĞďĞĨŽƌĞtŽƌůĚ tĂƌ//ĂŶĚŚŝƐũŽƵƌŶĞLJƚŽďĞĐŽŵŝŶŐĂnjŽŽůŽŐŝƐƚŝŶƚŚĞ/ŶƐƟƚƵƚĞĨŽƌDĞĚŝĐĂůZĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ͘ůƚŚŽƵŐŚŽĸĐŝĂůůLJ ƌĞƟƌĞĚŝŶϭϵϴϳ͕ƌ͘>ŝŵĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐƚŽĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚĞŚŝƐƐĞƌǀŝĐĞŝŶnjŽŽůŽŐŝĐĂůĚŝƐĐŝƉůŝŶĞ͕ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJƚŽ ƚŚĞĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚŽĨtŝůĚůŝĨĞĂŶĚEĂƟŽŶĂůWĂƌŬ͘/ŶƚŚŝƐƐĞĐŽŶĚƉĂƌƚŽĨƚŚĞŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁ͕ƌ͘>ŝŵĚŝƐĐƵƐƐĞƐ ĂďŽƵƚŚŝƐƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚĮŶĚŝŶŐƐƐƵĐŚĂƐĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂůůĂďĞůůŝŶŐĂŶĚƚŚĞZĞĚ>ŝƐƚŽĨDĂŵŵĂůƐ͕ĂŶĚĚŝƐƉĞŶƐĞ ƐŽŵĞǁŝƐĞǁŽƌĚƐĨŽƌƚŚŽƐĞǁŚŽĂƌĞŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚƚŽƉƵƌƐƵĞƚŚĞŝƌĚƌĞĂŵĂƐĂnjŽŽůŽŐŝƐƚ͘
Q1. You have been credited with the development of “ecological labeling by parasite pattern”. Can you please explain what this term means?
In zoology, the word “indicator” is used to group speci!c state of wildlife in nature. For example, habitats, such as lowland, hill and mountain forest types are often applied to de!ne residential group of species diversity in each of these habitat types.
In research study on host-parasite relationships in relation to disease transmission cycle, it is essential that more in-depth knowledge of the niche habitats of the host and behavioural activity of the animal are gathered. I have found that parasites in particular are a good indicator.
In the study on the food habits and endoparasites of small mammals, I came up with the concept of “ecological labelling” by parasite pattern. Examination of stomach contents and endoparasites helps to establish certain facts as to the behaviour and food preference of the animal in their natural environment (niche-habitat, speci!c type of preferred food). For example, in our studies we came across a rare insectivore (Moonrat) about the size of the house cat. Being in the order insectivore, the Moonrat was thought to feed on insects exclusively.
However, the parasites in the intestines were parasitic to !sh only. Based on this !nding, we were able to trace the Moonrat to its riverine habitat. From then onwards, we found that the so-called “rare animal” is very common indeed. "is concept of “ecological labelling” by parasite pattern has since been accepted by animal behaviourists and mammalogists throughout the world. "e result of this paper was published in [1].
Q2. We understand that it took 50 years of e#ort from 1947 to 1997 to produce the Red List of Mammals of Peninsular Malaysia and it is considered as the !rst national Red List. What is the Red List of Mammals of Peninsular Malaysia?
Q3. You were seconded to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Indonesia after the completion of your PhD (Zoology) at Universiti Sains Malaysia. What were your job responsibilities at WHO during that time?
I was recruited as a Senior Scientist attached to the WHO Inter-regional Vector Biology and Rodent Control Unit (VBCRU). "e !rst !ve years (mid 1977 through 1982), I was assigned to the interregional sector of VBCRU at Geneva, Switzerland, where not only I served in Indonesia but also in other Southeast Asian and South Paci!c countries where there were problems on rodent-borne diseases and Rodent Control activities.
"e last !ve years (mid 1982-1987), I was attached to the regional sector in Jakarta, Indonesia. I was promoted as a Senior Health Research Administrator in the National Institute of Health and Manpower Development (NIHRD) in Jakarta under the WHO South East Asian Regional O#ce (SEARO) in New Delhi. My main task was to assist local scientists in ZĞƐƟŶŐŝŶ<ƌĂƵ&ŽƌĞƐƚZĞƐĞƌǀĞ their research activities on vector- and rodent-borne diseases. I also helped to co-ordinate research activities Any wildlife taxa assessment, particularly on the and assist funding for three divisional centres, such ecology of species diversity and distributional pattern, as the Communicable Diseases Control (CDC), require long-term !eld studies as a database for further Nutrition Centre (NC) and Biological Research Centre information on the status of individual species in its natural (BRC). Together with the NIHRD, an annual grant environment. “My asset is only ‘experience’ in my of USD2 million was allocated to The main source of data was from specialised zoological discipline and I am these four centres as operation the Department of Wildlife and very contented to be able to relay it to funding. During the ten years’ National Parks (DWNP), with the layman, graduate and postgraduate p e r i o d w i t h WHO, it was very a focus on large mammal records students whenever needed” satisfying to see at least 25 young from 1947-1997. local researchers For the small mammals, the main data source was from upgrading their ability and capability in undertaking my collection at the Institute of Medical Research. independent research projects. A total of 58 scienti!c Additional information was from scientists of foreign papers were published by these researchers with !ve and local research institutions and universities who of these scientists being internationally recognised. periodically worked on small mammal studies. With this large collation of database, the Director Q4. You retired officially in 1987 but for the General and officers of DWNP and I decided past 27 years, you have continued to work as a to formulate a Red List of "reatened species of consultant, honorary advisor or visiting scienti!c Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 222 individual species fellow in many organisations. Perhaps you of large mammals (14 species) and small mammals can share with us why you are doing that and (volant 93, non Volant 115) were compiled. All what is the focus of your work at the moment? these individual species were based on !eld studies In 1988, I was asked by the Director-General, Mr. and !eld observations during the years. "e results Mohd Momin Khan of DWNP Kuala Lumpur to of the "reatened spp., the Red List is as follows: assist in creating a new Laboratory Research Division in the DWNP. "e objective of this division was tTQQDMBTTFTBTFYUJODU &9 to train young graduate o#cers to work on small tTQQBTDSJUJDBMMZFOEBOHFSFE $3 mammals in relation to host-parasite-relationships. tTQQBTFOEBOHFSFE &/ tTQQBTWVMOFSBCMF /6 We started with six people, headed by a Research tTQQOFBSUISFBUFOFE /5 Officer, Mr. Louis Ratnam (retired). My service tTQQBTCFJOHMFBTUDPODFSOFE -$ was to assist in the inventorying of lower vertebrate
animals (mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians) in forest reserves throughout the country and to create a “Scienti!c vertebrate reference collection for the DWNP” for a scienti!c museum.
Today, the scienti!c museum collection has about 12,000 vertebrate taxa (mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles) deposited at the Institute of Biodiversity at Bukit Ringgit, Pahang. "ese scienti!c collections have been constantly referred by our university graduate and postgraduate students and foreign students and scientists as well. At least a few M.Sc and Ph.D dissertations from local universities were partially based on the collections.
Since my retirement to date, I appreciate that my service is still needed by different institutional organisations in the country. My asset is only “experience” in my specialised zoological discipline and I am very contented to be able to relay it to the layman, graduate and postgraduate students whenever needed. In fact, it is a partnership where the students gain from my experience and in return, I also learn from them to keep abreast with the latest technological scienti!c advancements.
Q5. It takes a lot of motivation and passion for you to continue working until this golden age. What is your advice to the younger generation who are keen to pursue zoology as their career?
To the younger generation who want to pursue zoology as their career, my advice is as follows:
1.
2.
3. Develop an interest in a speci!c discipline in the !eld of zoology so as to become an authority in it.
Carry out long-term research (3 - 5 years), as it is through long-term research that new ideas can be developed, or new animal spp. discovered.
Do not be deterred by failure as persistency and perseverance will overcome it. 4.
5.
6.
dƌĂŝŶŝŶŐǁŝůĚůŝĨĞƐƚĂīŝŶĐƵƌĂƟŶŐŵĂŵŵĂůƐ
Always consult research results with your peers (local or foreign) of similar zoological work.
Publication is very important as you are judged through your published work internationally.
"ere is no ‘shortcut’ in biological sciences such as zoology - be prepared for long-term arduous !eld and research activities.
Q6. What are the e#ective ways to promote science and technology in times when basic science is dwindling?
"e dwindling of basic science in recent years is partly due to Government policy makers and also our graduates who are undetermined, and satis!ed to obtain a degree just for the sake of the degree. Because science is more di#cult and challenging, more students are opting for the arts stream.
Basic science research (long term research) is still the apex ground for turning out outstanding Malaysian scientists so as to be on par with scientists from developed countries. "e authorities in universities should coordinate with the Academy of Sciences Malaysia to make a strong case to the policy makers the need for funding basic science research.
Furthermore, we have to elevate the standard of teaching of science especially in schools so as to cultivate more students to take up science. We do train a large number of medical doctors and pharmacists as these are professional degrees. It is unfortunate that most of these specialists are contented with only a few interested in research. As such, there is a need to change the mindset of these professionals that research is indeed rewarding especially in the new biotechnology era.
REFERENCE
[1] Lim BL (1967). Note on the food habits of Ptilocerus lowii Gray (Pentail tree-shrew) and Echinosorex gymnurus (Ra$es) (Moonrat) in Malaya with remarks on ‘ecological labelling’ by parasite pattern. J of Zool;152:375-9.
ABOUT THE WILDLIFE OF MALAYSIA, DID YOU KNOW THAT... Malaysia is rich with !ora and fauna. However, many of these species, especially animals, are severely threatened and near extinction if further protection measures are not taken. The main threats are loss of their natural habitat and forced removal of the animals from the wild. Among the concerned species are
Sumatran rhinoceros, Malayan tiger, Malayan tapir, Orangutan and Leatherback turtle.
Leatherback Turtle Orangutan Malayan Tapir
t t
t
WŚŽƚŽ͗ZLJĂŶ^ŽŵŵĂͬ&ůŝĐŬƌ
Largest of all marine turtles. Threat: loss of nesting and feeding habitats & coastal development. Declined by 99% since 1960s.
Sumatran Rhinoceros
t
t
t
WŚŽƚŽ͗njŽŶƐĨŽƚŽͬ&ůŝĐŬƌ
WŚŽƚŽ͗ŐƵŝͺͬ&ůŝĐŬƌ
Two species: Sumatran and Bornean species. Threat: poaching of their horns. Estimated number left in the world: ~300.
t
t
t
WŚŽƚŽ͗t͘ůĂŶĂŬĞƌͬ&ůŝĐŬƌ
Two species: Sumatran and t Inhabit the forest regions Bornean species. of South America, Central "reat: logging activities & America & South East Asia. forest !res. t Threat: habitat loss & the Estimated number left in the hunt for their meat and hide. world: Sumatran ~7,000, t Estimated number left in the Bornean ~45,000-65,000. world: ~369.
Malayan Tiger
t
t
t
WŚŽƚŽ͗ZĞŶŶĞƩ^ƚŽǁĞͬ&ůŝĐŬƌ
Found ONLY on the Malay Peninsula & in the southern tip of "ailand. Latin name: Panthera tigris jacksoni - honours Peter Jackson, the famous tiger conservationist. Estimated number left in the world: ~500.
Corrigendum
"e authors were noti!ed of an error contained in “SciMy Interview: Professor Dato’ Dr. Lam Sai Kit” (Issue 9) on page 30 – the !fth sentence of the !rst paragraph should state “discovery of Nipah virus in late 1990s” rather than “discovery of Nipah virus in 1997”. "e error has now been recti!ed in both the PDF and webzine versions. We thank Peter Lee for notifying us, and we would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.