Pictorial blogs on some of the interesting caves I have visited around Southeast Asia. On some blogs I have included photos taken over the years.
Although this blog was only born in 2011, I have now included older posts from my Multiply blog which closed in March 2013. This includes articles I have written. I am now also adding news relating to caves I have a particular interest in.
See my website on Caves of Malaysia.
Lafarge Malaysia, who are quarrying Gunung Kanthan (see labels), provided a grant to scientists from Rimba and Universiti Malaysia Sabah to study land snails on 12 limestone hills in Perak. See Rimba for more on this.
The results were published in ZooKeys 682 on 4 July 2017, Diversity and biogeography of land snails (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the limestone hills of Perak, Peninsular Malaysia, by Junn Kitt Foon, Gopalasamy Reuben Clements, Thor-Seng Liew. The results are very interesting, on 12 hills -
"We found 122 species of land snails, of which 34 species were unique to one of the surveyed hills. We identified 30 species that are potentially new to science. The number of land snail species recorded at each hill ranged between 39 and 63 species.".
This is quite exciting, lots of potentially new species.
The study also reveals that "Charopa lafargei which previously presumed as endemic to Gunung Kanthan (Vermeulen and Marzuki 2014), is shown in our study to also occur on the limestone hills at the north of Kinta Valley".
--------
Over the years I have collected a few snails from limestone areas. This one is common all over Peninsula Malaysia -
My blog in June 2014 reported that Cement giants Lafarge and Holcim would merge. The merger happened in July 2015.
Lafarge is the company quarrying Gunung Kanthan - see labels about this.
On 11 July 2017, LafargeHolcim published an article, " LafargeHolcim accelerates biodiversity efforts in Southeast Asia". See link for the full article. Although Gunung Kanthan isn't specifically mentioned, it does relate to Malaysia. Excerpt from first paragraph:
"LafargeHolcim is accelerating its efforts on biodiversity conservation and has signed an agreement with Fauna & Flora International (FFI), a leading NGO focused on biodiversity. Under the agreement, FFI will perform an independent external review of the Group’s existing biodiversity management plans (BMP’s) at sites in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines; contribute to the development of a Groupwide strategy on karst management since karst areas are an important habitat for unique and specialized fauna; identify opportunities for enhancing biodiversity in quarry rehabilitation; and organize a stakeholder dialogue bringing together an external expert group, local government, local NGOs and LafargeHolcim staff to consult on BMP recommendations."
For the last 2 years, I have been keeping a record of all the media reports concerning Lafarge quarrying Gunung Kanthan in Perak. I will continue this list in 2015.
Malaysian snail among hundreds of species to become extinct as a result of fishing, logging, mining, agriculture and other activities to satisfy our growing appetite for resources.
Humble snails are no match for the might and indifference of the global cement industry. So it has proved for the now extinct Plectostoma sciaphilum, a rather beautiful snail that lived only on a single limestone hill in Peninsular Malaysia. A cement company blew up the entire hill and all remaining molluscs with it. All that is left of its former habitat is a big hole in the ground filled with water.
Its extinction was highlighted by the global environment network IUCN when it launched a major new study showing that 22,413 out of its 76,199 assessed species are threatened with extinction.
The neighbouring isolated hills are being quarried by Malaysian multinational YTL, owner of Wessex Water, where snails such as the bizarrely-shaped Hypselostoma elephas are in critical danger.
While attention is often drawn to iconic species threatened with extinction – the IUCN report highlights the vulnerability of the Pacific bluefin tuna among others – it also chose the demise of the tiny snail as an example of the damage being done by the extractive industry.
According to the IUCN: “The future of several other species in the region is uncertain for similar reasons. Whilst some mining companies are starting to take the necessary steps to reduce impact, IUCN is urging stronger commitment to prevent further extinctions.”
IUCN’s intervention comes just weeks after Guardian Sustainable Business revealed that another snail was at risk in Malaysia. The mollusc, recently discovered living on an isolated limestone hill called Gunung Kanthan in the northwest of Peninsular Malaysia, was named Charopa lafargei after Lafarge in a bid to prevent the global and aggregates giant from decimating it. The IUCN says this snail is critically endangered and that the “continued existence of the species will depend in large part on the actions of the company.”
Tony Whitten, Fauna & Flora International’s Asia regional director, says the humble snail should not be seen as any less important than iconic species. “Snails have a marketing problem because they are small and in general are considered joke animals because they are slow and slimy,” he says.
“But they have beautiful shapes and colours and on a personal level I abhor the idea of extinctions when it results from deliberate ignorance. A species is a species and we are morally bound to protect them. When I ask people why they think snails are less worthy, they don’t really have an answer.
“Some people may see species such as the bluefin tuna as being more important but that is only because we can identify with them because of their size and the fact we like to eat them.”
Whitten says the reason the cement industry has been able to escape scrutiny until now is because limestone is not considered a strategic mineral so regulation tends to be governed at a local level, and because the companies rarely need international financing. Cement is a basic commodity and margins are razor thin. Whitten says because companies focus on volume to maintain profits, they are unhappy to set aside protected areas within quarrying sites.
It is not only in Malaysia where snails and other species are at risk from the cement industry. “This is a global issue,” he says. “Wherever in the world limestone occurs it has a special fauna and flora but the problems are especially acute in countries such as China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the US where you get isolated limestone hills.”
A common problem among cement mining companies, according to Whitten, is that environmental impact assessments they carry out are often of a poor quality and focus on birds and mammals and don’t give enough attention to limestone-associated species. The reports are not made public and cannot be scrutinised independently.
Worse still, Whitten says the cement industry has become fixated with trumpeting the restoration of sites they destroy, rather than taking a rational, proactive landscape approach which would include sustainable management and protection.
“No cement business has ever admitted the scale of the problem,” he says. “They tout their biodiversity pages in their websites and sustainability reports with pictures of ducks and frogs and children enjoying the wetlands created from the hills they remove. They give and receive prizes for their restoration work – but do not acknowledge what is being lost.”
The snail at Lafarge’s quarry was named after the company to make it pay attention to inconspicuous animals. “They would never have taken note of the snail unless the scientists had named it after them,” Whitten says. “Lafarge did not like it ... But the reality is I had been talking with them for 15 years and you get to the point where that discussion gets nowhere. This led Fauna & Flora International to resign from their international biodiversity panel. We are, though, having positive discussions with the local senior management.”
The IUCN’s Red List, the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of plant, animal and fungi species, shows that Plectostoma sciaphilum is one of 901 species of the 76,199 assessed to have become extinct through fishing, logging, mining and agriculture.
The Guardian (UK) 17 Nov 2014 featured some of the world's most threatened species on the IUCN Red List report. Two of these are snails, found on limestone hills in Malaysia, which may be quarried to extinction.
The first is Charopa lafargei , which has Critically Endangered status, and is found at Gunung Kanthan in Perak. This hill is being quarried by Lafarge, after whom the snail was named. I have already posted many blogs about the quarrying of the hill and our fight to save the hill, caves, flora and fauna from destruction/extinction.
The second snail featured is Plectostoma sciaphilum. This is already thought to be extinct. It was known on Bukit Panching, near Kuantan in Pahang. This hill was totally destroyed some years ago, all that remains now is a lake.
There have been press reports earlier in 2014 that Holcim and Lafarge will merge. These are two of the world's cement giants. On April 7 2014 Holcim of Switzerland unveiled a deal to buy France's Lafarge, which would create the world's biggest cement maker, with $44 billion (26 billion pounds) of annual sales, and launch asset sales worldwide to steer it over antitrust hurdles. It will be known as LafargeHolcim.
Both these companies operate in southeast Asia. Both are destroying limestone hills.
Holcim is active in southwest Vietnam, in the controversial Ha Tien / Hon Chong area. I say controversial as this area is important for its biodiversity. One important document (in English) is "Beleaguered Hills: managing the biodiversity of the remaining karst hills of Kien Giang, Vietnam , (various authors / sponsors) 2008.
In 2013 I made several posts about Gunung Kanthan and Gua Kanthan in Perak, Malaysia. This important hill and cave system are in danger of being quarried by Lafarge. The hill is important as it is home to several rare species of flora and fauna, and Gua Kanthan is a large cave with endemic cave fauna. There are other caves on the hill as well as several temples. See the posts by looking for keywords (Kanthan gua, Kanthan gunung, Lafarge, quarry, liphistius) in the 'labels' in the column on the right of the page.
One blog from Sept 2013 listed various web sites and media reports relating to Kanthan, see the blog here. For 2014, I will now continue this list here...............
The Star,8 Feb 2014 Cement plant staff spruces up octogenarian's home
The Star, 8 Feb 2014 New
flora and fauna species found
AsiaOne 8 Feb 2014 (reprinted from The Star) New flora and fauna species found in Malaysia
WildSingapore blog , 8 Feb 2014 (taken from The Star) Malaysia: new flora and fauna species found
The Star, 8 Feb 2014 Perak hills open to destruction, say experts
The Star, 9 Feb 2014 Conserve rest of Gunung Kanthan The GreenReporter blog , 11 Feb 2014 (reprint of The Star 8 Feb)
The Star, 2 March 2014 FRIM comes under threat (Among the media recognised by FRIM were The Star journalists Tan Cheng Li and Isabelle Lai for their respective reports last year on Merapoh, Pahang, and Gunung Kanthan, Perak)
The Star, 5 May 2014 Illegal use of limestone caves must be stopped, says Dr Zambry
(This rather one sided article was the result of a meeting with Lafarge and the Perak MB on 30 Apr)
Oriental Daily, 27 May 2014 Half
year of research, endangered species found in Gunung Kanthan
Oriental Daily , 7 July 2014 (400 million years old Gunung Kanthan rare species found) Sinar Harian , 28 May 2014 Jumpa
spesies flora, fauna Gunung Kanthan
New Straits Times , 29 May 2014 Rare
finds at Gunung Kanthan The Star , 29 May 2014 ‘Preserve all of Gunung Kanthan’
Ipoh Echo, No 197, 16-30 Sept
New Snail Species Discovered In Kinta Valley Phytotaxa 177 (3) 29 Aug 2014 Three
new species from Gunung Kanthan, a limestone tower karst in Perak, Malaysia.
Global Trees (Sept 2014) Vatica kanthanensis Malay Mail, 2 Sept In Ipoh, rare snail named after cement giant is safe, says French quarry company
The Star , 12 Sept 2014 Bloom is of a new species of plant discovered on Gunung Kanthan
Descent , Oct/Nov 2014 , No 240 Snail slows quarrying
First blog of the year and it is not good news. Lafarge seem to be continuing their relentless onslaught of destruction on Gunung Kanthan. They are heading for the area of hill where Gua Kanthan is located.
Despite Lafarge saying (in Sept 2013) they would not start work on area C until 15-20 months time, as they have first to build access roads up the hill to make it safe, they already seem to be heading towards C.
Area C is where the monastery cave is, Gua Dhamma Sakyamuni, as well as Gua Tokong Gufodong & Gua Sungai Gufodong. Area D is where Gua Kanthan and the other smaller caves are, also the Zhi Nan Gong temple. Lafarge can only access D from C.
According to reports, Lafarge are busy building a ramp up the isolated piece of hill between B and C (at the northern end of C). Some people think this ramp is now leading into the swampy forest near C. Lafarge are working day and night, 7 days a week.
This area is particularly important as it is currently untouched limestone forest, and is home to many species of flora and fauna, several of which are on national and international lists as endangered species. The area is also hydrologically important.
Photos taken by helicopter camera show the current state of destruction. This photo was taken in Nov 2013 by Ong Poh Teck -
There is no sign yet of the report of the biodiversity study done by UM over the last 6+ months. Lafarge did tell us (MNS etc) that the report would be made available.
Perak State government does nothing. They gave Lafarge the permit to quarry the hill.
Gua Kanthan is a magnificent cave with a variety of cave fauna. The most important inhabitants are the trapdoor spiders, Liphistius kanthan. They are listed on IUCN Red List as critically endangered. All the cave creatures play a part in the cave ecosystem. Apart from this cave there are various other smaller caves.
Large mammals such as serow (mountain goats) and monkeys live on the hill. If the hill is destroyed these animals will have nowhere to go as the hill is already an island surrounded by a main road and smaller roads, industry, housing, farmed areas and plantations.
Lafarge claim they "are committed to the protection of the environment". But their claims seem to relate to areas AFTER they have been quarried. See this link that says -
"Develop a rehabilitation plan for all quarry sites that responds to the needs and expectations of our stakeholders and, where feasible, fosters wildlife habitat creation and contributes to the conservation of endangered species"
The species existing now can't be protected if the hill is destroyed.
Lafarge seem to have no conscience. They don't seem to care about making species extinct. This makes a mockery of what they claim on their website. Maybe they want to be known as the international company that has wiped out several Red Listed and Critically Endangered species.
[Note - I have not listed here the Gunung Kanthan flora and fauna that is endangered. This is intentional]
The last few months have seen a lot of articles in the press and on websites about Gua Kanthan and Gunung Kanthan, since they are being threatened by quarrying from Lafarge.
Gunung Kanthan is one of the most, if not the most, important limestone hill in Perak, Malaysia, in terms of its biodiversity. It has endemic flora and fauna, some of which is listed on IUCN Red Lists. There are several caves in the hill, the biggest and most important being Gua Kanthan. The area of hill where Gua Kanthan is located is in danger of being quarried by Lafarge. This area is also occupied by cave temples.
Since April 2013 a lot has been published about this. I will list some of those sites here -
Malaysian Naturalist , Sept 2013 Conservation Management of Limestone Hills in Perak - Gunung Kanthan
China Press - 19 Sept 2013 (Quarry shifts to Zone C: Gunung Kanthan's precious resource threatened)
Sin Chew , 25 Sept 2013 (mining impacts temples. Land Office will take action) Star , 28 Sept 2013 WWF, MNS asked to join Gunung Kanthan research
MKS [reprinted from Star 28 Sept 2013] WWF, MNS asked to join Gunung Kanthan research. With comments. Malaysia Sun [reprinted from Star 28 Sept 2013] WWF, MNS asked to join Gunung Kanthan research Sin Chew , 29 Sept 2013 [reprinted from Star 28 Sept 2013] WWF, MNS asked to join Gunung Kanthan research
Big News Network [reprinted from Star 28 Sept 2013] WWF, MNS asked to join Gunung Kanthan research
Ipoh Echo No 176, 16-31 Oct 2013 Letter from Lafarge, "Lafarge Malaysia Berhad - Kanthan quarry development".
MNS letter to Lafarge , ' Stop all proposal to quarry the remaining Gunung Kanthan.' This letter was sent to Lafarge in July, posted on MNS www in Dec.
Over the past 6 months, I have spent a lot of time with emails about Gunung Kanthan, joining those who are trying to save the hill from being quarried by Lafarge.
Gunung Kanthan is home to Gua Kanthan, one of the best caves in Perak, Malaysia and nicknamed as Cathedral Cave because of the huge chamber inside. The cave is also home to a variety of cave fauna. The most important inhabitants are the trapdoors spiders, named after the cave, Liphistius kanthan.
Various letters have been published in the Malaysian papers about saving the spiders and the cave. Also a report on Mongabay. My 2012 blog on Gunung Kanthan.
Gunung Kanthan is also home to other endemic species, such as Paraboea vulpina, a plant belonging to the African Violet family. It houses other endangered species of limestone flora. Two species of snail are endemic to the hill. The elusive serow, or mountain goat, also lives on the hill.
There are also crinoid fossils. One geological report, according to MNS, [I don't know the source] says Gunung Kanthan is older than other limestone hills in the Kinta Valley, at 425-500 myo. However more recent studies show that the hill is actually younger than this.
There are several temples, including cave temples of various religions, around the hill. Locals have established fruit and veg farms as well as fish ponds.
The 1991 MNS conservation report on the Kinta Valley lists Gunung Kanthan as amongst the four most important hills for conservation, based on botanical, geological, zoological and culture/ recreation aspects. Of the hour hills, Gunung Kanthan is the only one important in all four aspects.
Despite all these important reasons for saving the hill, Lafarge seem intent on continuing to quarry the area and have no apparent concern for the endemic flora and fauna. Despite the fact that some of it is listed on IUCN Red List as being critically endangered or endangered, again Lafarge don't seem to care.
Since April 2013 when I heard about the possible destruction by quarrying of Gua Kanthan, I have been concerned both about the cave, and its most important inhabitant, Liphistius kanthan. The hill is being quarried by Lafarge.
Gua Kanthan is the largest known cave in Gunung Kanthan, which is near Chemor, north of Ipoh, in Perak, Malaysia. Many parts of the hill have already been quarried. Pan Malaysia Cement Works Bhd (PMCW) started in 1964, they became Associated Pan Malaysia Cement Sdn Bhd (APMC) in 1967. The Lafarge group took over in 2001 and the company name officially changed from Malayan Cement Berhad to Lafarge Malayan Cement Berhad in 2003.
The company name was officially changed from Lafarge Malayan Cement Berhad to Lafarge Malaysia Berhad on 27 May 2013 to better reflect the corporate identity and branding as a member of the Lafarge Group of Companies and the alignment of its cement, concrete and aggregates businesses.
Lafarge prides itself on its "Green Initiative" and it has won awards for this and its sustainability approach. On its www it says "It is about safeguarding the world we live in. At Lafarge Malaysia, we believe that innovation is not just about enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in our products. As a Group, we are committed to protecting in four main fronts: stop climate change; preservation of biodiversity; conservation of natural resources; and to develop innovative approaches that promote a better respect for the environment."
Lets hope they remember this and do not destroy the cave and its "critically endangered" Liphistius kanthan trapdoor spider.
In April 2013 I heard about the possible destruction of Gua Kanthan in June 2013. It seems that the quarry company, Lafarge Malaysia Berhad had asked the people living and farming in the area to move out.
Gua Kanthan is the largest known cave in Gunung Kanthan, which is near Chemor, north of Ipoh, in Perak, Malaysia. Many parts of the hill have already been quarried.
I was concerned both about the cave and its most important inhabitant, Liphistius kanthan. This trapdoor spider is endemic to the cave and is found nowhere else in the world. As with all the Malaysian Liphistius species, it is protected under the 2012 amendment of the Malaysian Wildlife Conservation Bill.
On 2 July 2013 the spider was listed on the IUCN Red List as "critically endangered".
On 4 July I had letters published in the Malaysian newspapers :
I REFER to "Save Kanthan Cave" (Letters, April 17). Gua Kanthan is located in Gunung Kanthan, Perak. This limestone cave is in danger of being quarried by Lafarge Malaysia Berhad.
Many parts of the hill are already being quarried and now there is a threat to the area of the hill with the cave.
Gua Kanthan is a spectacular river cave, nicknamed "The Cathedral" due to its large size. It is also home to an endemic trapdoor spider which is found nowhere else in the world.
Liphistius kanthan has now been listed as critically endangered on the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red List. Critically Endangered is highest risk category assigned by the IUCN Red List for wild species. The next level is Extinct.
Liphistius kanthan is also included on the Malaysian Wildlife Conservation Bill (2012 amendment) as a protected species. Thus, all the Malaysian Liphistius are protected.
Let's hope that Lafarge is aware of this and will preserve the cave.
According to its website: "As a Group, we are committed to protecting in four main fronts: stop climate change; preservation of biodiversity; conservation of natural resources; and to develop innovative approaches that promote a better respect for the environment." Liz Price Kuala Lumpur
I N April, the media published news about saving Gua Kanthan, which is in Gunung Kanthan, Perak.
This limestone cave is in danger of being quarried by Lafarge Malaysia Bhd.
Many parts of the hill are being quarried and now, there is a threat to the area of the hill that contains Gua Kanthan.
On May 5 last year, NST published an article, "Ipoh council to protect limestone hills", and Gunung Kanthan was one of the hills mentioned.
Gua Kanthan is a spectacular river cave, nicknamed "The Cathedral" because of its large size.
It is also home to an endemic trapdoor spider found nowhere else in the world.
This spider, Liphistius kanthan, has now been listed as critically endangered on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List.
Critically endangered is the highest level of danger for living creatures. The next level is extinct.
Liphistius kanthan is also included in the Malaysian Wildlife Conservation Bill (2012 amendment) as a protected species.
In fact, all the Malaysian Liphistius are protected, as well as their habitats.
Let us hope that the company quarrying the area is aware of this and will preserve the cave.
According to its website, it said: "As a group, we are committed to protecting in four main fronts: stop climate change; preservation of biodiversity; conservation of natural resources; and to develop innovative approaches that promote a better respect for the environment."
Let us hold them to that.
Published: Thursday July 4, 2013 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Thursday July 4, 2013 MYT 8:30:10 AM
IN April there were media reports about “saving” Gua Kanthan in Perak.
Several parts of a limestone hill near Gua Kanthan are used as a quarry and now there are concerns that the area within the cave would be added to the existing quarry site.
Gua Kanthan is a spectacular river cave, nicknamed “The Cathedral” due to its large size.
It is also home to an endemic trapdoor spider which is found nowhere else in the world.
This spider, Liphistius kanthan, has now been listed as critically endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
Critically endangered is the highest level of danger for living creatures. The next level is extinct. Liphistius kanthan is also included in the Malaysian Wildlife Conservation Bill (2012 Amendment) as a protected species. In fact, all Malaysian Liphistius are protected.
We hope the quarry company at Gua Kanthan is aware about the rare trapdoor spider and will preserve the cave.
LIZ PRICE Kuala Lumpur
-----------
Let's hope Lafarge take note that the spider is critically endangered and is a protected species.
