Warden Training

As the title suggests, we had Warden Training thanks to the Wildlife Department of Sabah. We would be trained to become Honorary Wardens to assist the Wildlife Department to protect wildlife against poaching.  We are responsible for monitoring our respective areas, and reporting it to the Wildlife Department on a regular basis. Also, our powers are extended to throughout the whole of Sabah.

So we underwent a 3 day training course; learning the rules and regulations against wildlife endangerment, the powers held by a Warden, and the concerns and dangers facing our wildlife today. At the end of the course, we are required to take part in a real-life simulation of confronting a a group of poachers.

There are 7 people in a Warden Team: 1 leader, 1 assistant leader, 1 evidence collector, 1 information collector, 2 guards, and 1 photographer. The following photos should make their roles clearer. 

The team leader is responsible for negotiating calmly with the
poachers.  He's an all around guy actually. The asst. leader
follows him close behind.

Evidence is found after inspection of vehicle. 

The 2 guards (far left and far right) are responsible for ensuring
that none of the suspects run away. They are, if required, allowed
to use hard means of doing so. The asst. leader asks for I.D.

The evidence collector writes (a) description of the object
collected,  (b) name of the owner of the object, (c) time and
place of object collected.

Collection of evidence and information.

The evidence and information is then submitted to the Wildlife Department, along with a Police Report

and other official documents needed.

The process of the investigation and capture of poachers. It's important that we help in whatever way we can, but to do so with caution and a sense of security. As a lot of the poachers are from the villages, we have to be sensitive as we are dealing with tradition, and in changing so, for any culture, is never an easy thing to do.  It is a way of life, passed down from generation to generation. Anyone who disrupts it is seen as an threat. Therefore, we have to handle this as respectful as we can, even when we do get cursed and threatened by them. 

The reality is hard to deal. Being a firsthand witness, who's fresh to the world of forestry, it's difficult. We wish that it would be all grass and daffodils; especially in a world more educated than before, especially for a mutual benefitting cause. 

However, some of us disagree. They are chasing something at the expense of the environment: money. Their actions are negatively uncontrolled. Moreover, it affects what all of us call home: Earth. Forget the law, our houses, our communities, money. Everything else made by man. We created those things. And we can create it again. 

Our Earth, though, isn't. Question this: What's really gone if its gone? Are we really caring for the things that we need to be cared? Think about it.