Subang Jaya council uses barn owls to solve areas of its rat problem

Subang Jaya council releases barn owls to solve areas of its rat problem

BY KATHLEEN MICHAEL

tHE STAR

 

SUBANG Jaya residents now have friendly new “neighbours” -- a pair of barn owls.

The rat’s natural predators were released at the SS 15/2E field under the RM100,000 Barn Owl pilot project.

The project is a collaboration between the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), Universiti Sains Malaysia, SJ Echo and the Wildlife and Natural Parks Department (Perhilitan).

It was officially launched by MPSJ president Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan at the field where the owls’ nest have been prepared high up on a tree.Nor Hisham said the initiative promised a healthier way to address the growing rat population in Subang Jaya.

“We used to put rat poison in commercial areas but over time, the rats’ tolerance to the poison grew,” he said, adding that the project was also in line with the council’s commitment to initiate green projects in Subang Jaya.

Nor Hisham announced that 12 pairs would be brought in with the first pair being monitored on a weekly basis.

The first of the 12 pairs of barn owls that will help Subang Jaya control the rat population. - Photos: IBRAHIM MOHTAR /The Star

MPSJ would continue to set up rat traps around Subang Jaya but not use poison to ensure the owls’ health was not endangered by consuming rats with poison in their system.

The barn owls would be placed around Subang Jaya, USJ and Bandar Sunway with nests prepared for each pair.

A total of RM150,000 has been collected for the two-year project, with funds coming from MPSJ, Adun Subang Jaya office, JKP Zone 1 and 2, and several corporations around Subang Jaya.

USM barn owl project researchers Dr Hasber Salim, Dr Hamdan Ahmad as well as Prof Abu Hassan Ahmad have been harvesting and training barn owls taken from Felda Sungai Tekam, Pahang to familiarise them with hunting and getting them to feed off urban rats.

Prof Abu Hassan said barn owls fed almost exclusively on rodents comprising 98% rats.

“They can consume about 1,300 rats a year and will catch more during the breeding season.

“These owls do not attack humans and have gotten used to the noise and activity around human settlements,” he said, adding that they could hunt up to a radius of 20ha.

Barn owls are protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).

Prof Abu Hassan added that future generations would be bred and trained in the aviary at the 3C Complex in Subang Jaya.