Kanthan Cave
Regarding the article on Kanthan, “Do Caves and Cement Mix?” by Jack Foo in the last issue of IE, No 269, I would like to point out a few things.
The trapdoor spider Liphistius kanthan is actually listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List, not Endangered. This CR status is much more serious and is the last one before extinction.
Gua Kanthan is 435m long, not 270m. I was on the original survey team in 2001 and the survey has been published in international journals, etc.
The ladders and ropes have been put in fairly recently, probably within the last 10 years.
“Some of the future plans for Kanthan Hill will include conservation efforts where sensitive species are found, establishing a nursery for native species of the area with the objective of rehabilitating the quarry with these local species that not only includes the trapdoor spider, but also the bent-toed geckos, cave crickets and cave millipedes, amongst others.”
This paragraph can be read in different ways, but I assume the plans don’t include rehabilitating the quarry by introducing the cave spiders, crickets and millipedes……..?
Tasek Dust
Re the letter on dust from the Tasek Cement factory in IE 269, it seems this has been an ongoing problem for decades. In fact ever since the plant was built. The Straits Times on February 2, 1964, had an article “Row over cement dust fall-out for King” and that was prior to the Sultan opening the cement works on September 12, 1964.
Ipoh Echo 66 also did a report January 16-31, 2009.
So it seems the locals have been suffering for a long time.
Liz Price
