General Perceptions and Awareness Level among Local Residents in Penang Island toward Bats Conservation Efforts

Abstract

The population of bats has declined from year to year caused by human activities such as logging and hunting activities. Since the human factor is linked to the issues of population decline in many animal species, a community-based conservation strategy that involved local communities is needed. We conducted face-to-face surveys among residents in Penang Island to assess knowledge and awareness level toward bats conservation efforts. We collected demographic values such as age, gender, level of education, length of residency as well as their monthly income, since different group in these variable might have different perception. We found that age groups, level of education and monthly income have shown significant differences among the respondents. However, no other significant differences were indicated for by gender and length of residency. Respondent’s knowledge of bats showed that the majority of the respondents were less likely to value the importance of bats in the ecosystem. We recommended stronger legal system, earlier exposure towards environmental education, well-planned urbanisation implementation and long-term monitoring programs to strengthen efforts in conserving bats in Malaysia.

Populasi kelawar telah berkurangan dari tahun ke tahun disebabkan oleh aktiviti manusia seperti aktiviti pembalakan dan pemburuan. Oleh kerana faktor manusia dikaitkan dengan isu penurunan populasi dalam banyak spesies haiwan, strategi pemuliharaan berasaskan komuniti yang melibatkan masyarakat setempat diperlukan. Satu tinjauan secara bersemuka telah dibuat dalam kalangan penduduk di Pulau Pinang untuk menilai tahap pengetahuan dan kesedaran terhadap usaha pemuliharaan kelawar. Nilai-nilai demografi seperti umur, jantina, tahap pendidikan, tempoh masa pemastautin serta pendapatan bulanan mereka dikumpul, kerana kumpulan yang berbeza dalam pemboleh ubah ini mungkin mempunyai persepsi yang berbeza. Kajian mendapati bahawa kumpulan umur, tahap pendidikan dan pendapatan bulanan menunjukkan perbezaan yang ketara di kalangan responden. Walau bagaimanapun, tiada perbezaan penting lain yang ditunjukkan oleh jantina dan tempoh masa pemastautin. Pengetahuan tentang responden kelawar menunjukkan bahawa majoriti responden kurang mengutamakan pentingnya kelawar dalam ekosistem. Kajain mengesyorkan sistem perundangan yang lebih kuat, pendedahan terdahulu terhadap pendidikan alam sekitar, pelaksanaan perbandaran yang dirancang dengan baik dan program pemantauan jangka panjang untuk menguatkan usaha memelihara kelawar di Malaysia.