SANDAKAN: The Sabah Ficus Germplasm Centre in Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Lahad Datu has successfully bred over 90 species of Ficus or fig trees since 2011 to conserve the plant and maintain the forest ecosystem.
Field manager Dr Zainal Zahari Zainuddin said among the Ficus species that could be found at the centre were the Magnoliifolia or black figs, which is rarely found as wild plants in Sabah, and Variegata, which is claimed to be extinct in Brunei.
"The Ficus collection at the centre is more than half of the total species in Sabah which is estimated to be at least 150 species," he told Bernama.
According to Zainal, the centre's success in breeding over 90 species of fig trees has enabled it to receive recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) for having the largest collection of Ficus species in Malaysia.
He said the presentation of the certificate was supposed to be held last year but had to be postponed following the implementation of the Movement Control Order.
Interestingly, Zainal said the Ficus collection was edible and its fruit, as well as fresh leaves, were originally the favourite food of Sumatran rhinos in captivity.
"When the rhino becomes extinct in 2019, we feel the need to continue breeding the plant so as to conserve the forest and in turn, become the source of food for other wildlife," he said.
He added that the effort was also crucial to educate the people on the importance of fig trees to the forest and wildlife.
Elaborating, Zainal said the team would collect fig seeds from the forest and plant them in polybags until they reach a certain growth level before being replanted in the forest.
"We do this because fig trees that have just grown in the forest will usually be grazed by animals. So, we collect the seeds and let them grow first before we transfer them back into the forest," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Wed May 12 2021
The centre's success in breeding over 90 species of fig trees has enabled it to receive recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records for having the largest collection of Ficus species in Malaysia. AWANIpic
Elak anak kerap kecacingan, banyakkan jenis makanan ini!
Petanda anak yang mengalami kecacingan adalah selalu gatal dan kerap menggaru di bahagian belakang terutama dubur.
PRK Sungai Bakap: Calon PN Abang Abidin selesai buang undi
Abidin hadir berkemeja putih pada jam 8.15 pagi tadi dan terus bergerak untuk proses buang undi.
Hello Kedah platform dekatkan Astro dengan masyarakat setempat
Pengunjung juga tidak melepaskan peluang 'terlibat sama' dalam beberapa aktiviti yang memfokuskan kepada pelbagai lapisan usia.
AWANI Pagi: Jojo sedia harumkan nama Malaysia di pentas dunia
Gelanggang #AWANIPagi akan dikunjungi sensasi Muay Thai, Johan 'Jojo' Ghazali untuk berkongsi perihal langkahnya yang semakin menyinar dalam sukan itu. Jangan ketinggalan saksikan eksklusif di AWANI Pagi 7.30 pagi Sabtu
#AWANInews #AWANIPagi
#AWANInews #AWANIPagi
Ular tedung tercekik botol ubat batuk
Reptilia berkenaan dilihat seperti sukar bernafas dan bergelut untuk mengeluarkan botol dari rahangnya.
PRK Sungai Bakap: Warga emas bersemangat turun undi, bangun 4.30 pagi
Walaupun hanya mengambil masa kira-kira 15 minit untuk sampai ke pusat pengundian, dia keluar lebih awal bagi mengelak kesesakan.
Usaha gencatan senjata, bebas tebusan dapat momentum
Pejabat Netanyahu bagaimanapun memaklumkan, masih terdapat jurang antara kedua-dua pihak.
Siapa wakil rakyat baharu di Sungai Bakap?
Sebanyak sembilan pusat mengundi membabitkan 65 saluran dibuka mulai jam 8 pagi hingga 6 petang sebelum proses penjumlahan undi berlangsung di Dewan Serbaguna Jawi, Taman Desa Jawi bagi tujuan PRK Sungai Bakap ini.
PRK Sungai Bakap: Sembilan pusat mengundi dibuka 8 pagi ini
Proses pengundian hari ini melibatkan 39,151 pengundi yang akan menunaikan tanggungjawab mereka bagi memilih wakil rakyat baharu kawasan itu.
Lima rakyat Palestin terbunuh dalam serangan Israel
Israel mendakwa sedang menjalankan aktiviti memerangi keganasan termasuk serangan udara di Jenin.