MIRI: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) is open to researchers in Niah National Park with regard to various matters, including the decreasing amounts of guano available in the area.
Guano refers to the excrements of bats and birds. It is used as a form of fertiliser as it contains high levels of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium — key nutrients required for the growth of plants.
Shirley Naning, SFC park warden at Niah National Park, revealed that the amount of guano collected now was less compared to its early practice in the 1980s.
“Perhaps the population of bats has decreased? We can only assume — further studies need to be conducted,” she said, adding that currently no research projects on fauna in Niah National Park were ongoing.
When met at the International Conference on Archaeology at Pullman Miri Waterfront here, yesterday, she remarked that there were many potential fields of research in Niah National Park, such as the bats, flora and fauna, and the limestone forest.
“We may need the latest update on what species there are and their populations,” she further said.
“We encourage any research here. However, the research must be done ethically,” Shirley emphasised.
According to her, interested researchers must follow the proper procedure, including first applying for a permit from the Forestry Department, the controller of the national park and nature reserve.
“The controller will inform us of the research project and its details such as their visit dates and their permit,” she explained.
Elaborating on guano, Shirley said that the excrements were deposited on the ground by bats and birds and then collected by the local community, including Penan villagers from nearby Kampung Tanjung Belipat.
“It can be used raw or it can be sold to a secondary party, in this case local Chinese businesses, to produce processed fertiliser,” she said.
She revealed that sometimes using it directly without processing may not be suitable due to the high acidity of raw guano.
“Some people say that when you use guano to fertilise chilli plants, the chillies will be even spicier,” Shirley disclosed.
She remarked collection activities were controlled to prevent potentially disturbing artefacts or archaeological sites in the area.
She said that guano at the Niah National Park was gathered approximately twice a week, and by only about two or three people at a time.
“They do not take much, only about one gunny sack of guano per person.”
