Big-game hunting in Malaya during the British colonial administration

Introduction

Throughout the Malaya administration big-game hunting was popular amongst many British and European visitors and residents who regarded it as a hobby and a sport, taken up as and when their employment permitted. It was also the provider of specimens to the new museums which were being established especially at the end of the 19th century, as many of the hunters were also keen conservationists.

One of the most notable big-game hunters was Theodore Hubback who was the brother of Arthur Benison Hubback, the architect who designed many of the colonial buildings in Kuala Lumpur and elsewhere. Hubback worked as a civil engineer but pursued big-game hunting in his spare time writing a book on the subject, Elephant and Seladang Hunting in Malaya published in the 1900s. He was also a conservationist persuading the Sultans of Pahang, Terengganu, and Kelantan to create National Parks as designated protected areas.

Hubback, in the introduction to his book, states that Malaya had hitherto not been a popular area for big-game hunting with much of the terrain consisting of impenetrable jungle with very few roads, and less support available to the hunter as existed in other areas such as in Africa and India. However he mentions that with a certain degree of patience and persistence the hunter would be rewarded,-

“But the difficulty of obtaining a trophy generally enhances its value to the possessor, and those who are prepared to face a certain amount of hard work and inconvenience,. should be able to obtain trophies that will repay them for the hard work, energy and time expended.”

Hunting equipment

According to the traveller Cuthbert Woodville Harrison writing in the 1900s, The Federated Malay States had a very complete gun law which stated that three licences were required to hunt for game;- A permit to import arms and ammunition (if a arriving from outside the country); and a permit to carry arms, both obtainable from the Chief Police Officer at Penang; and a Big Game licence issued by any District Police Officer. The Big Game licence cost $100 (Straits) and lasted for six months and had to be endorsed by the British Resident of the relevant State.

Much of the hunting in Malaya was carried out in the dense jungle, and opportunities were most likely to present themselves where the game was very close, frequently less than twenty-five yards distant. Therefore, according to Hubback, a very powerful weapon is essential as the dangerous animal will be met at extremely close quarters. He recommends rifles .450 or .500 bore, and a 12-bore shotgun. He states equipment need not include tents as,-

“The Malays who would be with the party can in a very short time put up a most respectable shelter, made out of small jungle saplings and the leaves of one of the many ground palms that can be found in almost any part of the virgin forest.”

Trackers and Carriers

A good Malay hunter is essential on every hunting expedition we’re told. He must also be a good tracker as well as having detailed knowledge of the area. Hubback states that it was very difficult to obtain a good Malay tracker as the younger generation had neither the skill or inclination to follow the profession. As to carriers, Malays can generally be found which are generally to be satisfactory provided they are well treated,-

“If Malay coolies are treated like children and not asked to do much work or carry more than 25 to 30 pounds a day, are allowed to amuse themselves as they think best when the day’s work is over, even though the singing sets one’s teeth on edge, the sportsman will find that he can manage fairly well with them, and they will enter into the spirit of the expedition.”

The “Big-Game” – Elephant, Seladang and Rhinoceros

Big-game hunting in Malaya generally involved the hunting of elephant, seladang (red bull) and rhinoceros. Tigers and leopards were present in the jungle but were hardly ever seen. In Perak, elephants were found near the coast, and in Upper Perak elephant, seladang and rhinoceros could all be found, but by far the best country for shooting was in Pahang.

The wild elephant, according to Hubback was the most prized trophy, especially the large bulls. Not all male Asian elephants have tusks so one with a good pair of tusks was a particular attraction. He states that they are easy to approach even in thick jungle provided the hunter does not get on the windward side of the animal. The spot to aim for is the middle of the forehead at the base of the trunk which consists of a large lump, or failing this an ear shot. Following up a wounded elephant in the jungle could take a week or more.

The seladang, also called the gaur or Indian bison, is more difficult to track than an elephant, we’re told, because his eyes and ears are better than the elephant and he can escape more readily. One recognised expert in hunting the seladang was the founder of the Selangor Museum in 1898, Captain Syers, who was also First Commissioner of Police of the Federated Malay States. He collected their horns as a hobby and donated many of his trophies to the Selangor museum. He had amassed a large collection when he was gored by a seladang that he was hunting and tragically died.

The rhinoceros, we’re informed, is difficult to hunt because it is very shy and found in mountain ranges which are difficult to traverse. However, one exception was that they could be found in Perak near the coast not far from the Dindings. They are also difficult to track because their prints are similar to the tapir which is not classed as big-game.

Wildlife conservation

Since Hubback was writing at the beginning of the 20th century, public opinion regarding the ethics of hunting in many areas has rightly moved on, but today in Malaysia, the elephant, seladang and the rhinoceros are still considered by some as “big-game” animals.

The authorities have passed legislation in order to outlaw hunting of such species and many others, including the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, now replaced by the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 which include stringent penalties, but illegal hunting or poaching continues as reported frequently in the Malaysian press. According to the IUCN Red List, the Sumatran rhino is critically endangered whilst the Asian elephant is endangered, with only between 1,000 and 1,500 said to be surviving in the wild in Malaysia.

It is hoped that the tough new wildlife protection laws in Malaysia, including mandatory imprisonment, will be actively enforced, and eventually end the illegal hunting, whether for trade, or for sport as widely practised during the British administration.