The Aesthetics of the Malaysian Wildlife: My Skudai Experience

“Air yang tenang jangan disangka tiada buaya” translated as “Don’t think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm.” -  Malay Proverb

Likewise,

“Ba a cinikin biri a sama” translated as "You can’t bargain a monkey, when it is still on the tree." -  African (Hausa) Proverb 

As an African student that just arrived to study in Malaysia, I was very curious with almost everything that I came across. And one of the most fascinating things that attracted my attention for a very long time was the way and manner the Malaysians allowed wild animals to live freely within their society. They were allowed to interact with humans without posing any serious threat to the society. They live in their natural habitats without being domesticated. Some of the animals that I saw moving freely at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai campus includes; the monkeys, the water monitors, different species of snakes, the ducks, the squirrels, the numerous wall gecko lizards, the cats and the horses (securely kept and friendly). Back in Nigeria some of these animals are nice ingredients for an African delicacy. They are popularly known as Bush meats. 

One particular incident that I find it difficult to forget took place in my first week in the UTM Skudai campus. I was together with some new students that came from the Middle-Eastern countries, when a water monitor passed just very close to where we were standing. One of the Arab students with us shouted "Wow this is crocodile let's run!” He scared the hell out of the rest, except yours sincerely. I came from Africa precisely Nigeria, and I know the difference between a crocodile and a monitor, so I was not moved by his unexpected reaction. I took my time to school him that this is not a crocodile but a water monitor. I then went further to ask him, “Haven’t you seen a monkey in this campus before?” and his response was “a monkey is okay, but a crocodile is out of this world and not safe in the school environment”. It was quite funny and an experience that I will always remember.

The Malaysian Monkey is also called Monyet in the local language Bahasa Malayu. The first time I came in contact with a monkey in Malaysia was also in my first week in school. I booked for accommodation at the hostel (Kolej). It was a good accommodation in a relatively very quite environment. I never expect to see any monkey near human settlements as it was the norm back in Nigeria where I came from. Coupled with the fact that I stayed in the fourth floor of the building, I was so confident that I left my windows wide open when I was going to the lab. When I came back from the lab, I met my room very scattered and discombobulated. At first I thought it was someone that enters the room to steal.  So, I came out to ask my uncaring and unfriendly neighbors. Then, they told me it was the monkeys that did that. I immediately rushed back and peeped through the window, and I saw a dozen of the monkeys looking at me unrepentantly. Now I know, this is not Africa where the monkeys will be running for their dear lives by mere sighting the humans. They are just hunting meats for a very delicious African gourmet. I miss that food. I wish I will have a license to do some hunting in Skudai.

I have seen many water monitors in Skudai. In one instance, I came very close to matching one by the roadside close to my Faculty. I quickly rushed and grabbed my camera to get a snap shot of it, as it swiftly dived into to the nearby river. I was not so lucky to get the picture.

The Malaysian duck is also known as Itik in Bahasa Malayu. In one of the most popular African language called Hausa language, the duck is also called Agwagwa. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, mostly smaller than the swans and geese, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. In contrast, the African duck is mostly domesticated and live in the same environments with the humans. This is another good source of proteins, especially from the eggs and the rich meat.

The Malaysian Squirrels are also known as the Tupai in the local language Bahasa Malayu. These are rat-like tree climbers that are brownish in colour with bushy or hairy tails. I so much like it because of its speed, bravery and mesmerizing tree climbing skills. Back at home, we have to go into the thick forest to hunt some, but in Skudai they are seen just about everywhere. With a license to live and not to be hunted, as conservation is a serious business in Malaysia.

The Malaysian Wall Gecko lizard is popularly called the Cicak in the local language Bahasa Malayu, it is called lizards by the locals in Skudai. Most geckos are nocturnal, hiding during the day and foraging for insects at night. Coming from Africa, I find it difficult to accept that a Gecko is also called a Lizard because it’s simply not one. They may belong to the same family biologically, but they are certainly not lizards. As the proverb goes - in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is a king. In Africa, we also have Geckos, but they are not qualified to be called Lizards because we have the real ones called the Agama Lizard.

If you are a wild enthusiasts like me, then Skudai in Malaysia is an aesthetic place to visit.

Malaysia truly Asia.

Shafi’i Muhammad Abdulhamid is a Nigerian student, who wrote this from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

Twitter: @shafiihamidu
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