‘Silent guardians' of the fields: What to know about Asian barn owls that are helping Malaysian farms fight rat infestations for less
GEORGE TOWN, May 21 — The Asian barn owls, natives of Malaysia, are known as 'silent guardians' — whose voracious appetite for rats protects valuable crops on local farms.
Since 2014, the Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (Borg) from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has been encouraging the conservation of barn owls and introducing the species to padi farms and oil palm plantations as natural pest control agents.
Borg, spearheaded by Associate Professor in Pest Management Hasber Salim, has successfully introduced thousands of artificial nest boxes to attract barn owls to oil palm plantations and farms nationwide since then.
Recently, 20 artificial nest boxes were installed in padi farms in Kepala Batas to reduce pesticide costs and increase yield — a collaborative effort by Borg, Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas), Global Giving Grant and Corteva Agriscience.
But what do you actually know about this local species?
Associate Professor Hasber Salim displays a pellet that a barn owls regurgitated after consuming rats. — Picture by Opalyn Mok
Here are some facts about the barn owls:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
21 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Malaysia Techlympics 2025 aims for 1.7 million participants nationwide
PUTRAJAYA, June 6 — Malaysia Techlympics 2025 has officially kicked off, aiming to engage 1.7 million participations nationwide and will extend its reach to international participants in a Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) competition. This enculturation programme organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) through the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (Bioeconomy Corporation), an agency under MOSTI and as strategic partner, focuses to promote interest, instil a strong STI culture among students and youth, and helping to shape a future-ready generation. Open to participants aged seven to 30, the competition will be carried out in phases, starting at the school level, continuing with zonal screenings across six main regions and progressing to the National Finals, which is scheduled to take place in November. The competition format combines practical challenges, real-world technology exposure and experiential learning. The initiative also includes inclusivity, an effort on widening access and equity by reaching underserved communities and remote areas through targeted outreach initiatives. Additionally, teacher training sessions will also be conducted to equip educators with knowledge of current technologies to integrate and can be embedded into daily education to help bridge the educational gap nationwide. The launch of Malaysia Techlympics 2025 marks a pivotal step in nurturing future-ready talent and driving a culture of innovation that will shape the nation's STI landscape for generations to come. Recognising the crucial role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the future economy, Malaysia Techlympics 2025 will introduce more AI-focused competitions and activities, encouraging future generations to explore and develop expertise in this critical field. Additionally, several selected competitions offer opportunities and exposure for students to gain global exposure and represent Malaysia on the world stage. Aligned with national and global priorities through support for the National STI Policy 2021–2030 and the Malaysia MADANI vision, Malaysia Techlympics aims to build high-impact local technological capacity. To learn more about Malaysia Techlympics 2025, visit or follow Malaysia Techlympics on social media @mytechlympics.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Sarawak reaffirms position as SE Asia's clean energy hub at UK conference, eyes global partnerships, says state deputy minister
KUCHING, June 6 — Sarawak has reaffirmed its position as Southeast Asia's clean energy leader, sharing the state's vision for its energy plans at the Energy Export Conference (EEC) 2025 in Aberdeen, United Kingdom (UK). In his keynote address, Sarawak Deputy Energy and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni emphasised strong policy commitment, sustained innovation investment and robust regional cooperation as the state's foundation for energy transition. 'Sarawak is proud to be a pioneer in Asean when it comes to clean energy development. Our participation at EEC 2025 reflects our readiness to forge new global partnerships and export low-carbon energy solutions to the world,' he said in a statement issued by his ministry on Thursday night. He said Sarawak's integrated strategy revolves around four strategic hubs – renewable energy, natural gas, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and hydrogen – each designed to foster regional resilience and sustainable growth. 'With over 70 per cent of the electricity already derived from hydropower, Sarawak is on track to further expand its renewable energy capacity by 2030 and 2035,' he said. He said Sarawak solidified its role as the 'Battery of Asean' by actively pursuing regional power exports to West Kalimantan, Brunei, Sabah and soon, Singapore. Furthermore, Sarawak leads Malaysia in natural gas reserves and CCS potential. It is also pioneering hydrogen development with flagship projects and dedicated legislation to attract global investors. Meanwhile, Sarawak Deputy State Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Datuk Seri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel said global platforms like EEC play a crucial role in establishing resilient energy ecosystems. 'Our presence here in Aberdeen is a statement of intent. Sarawak is open for business, open for innovation, and ready to lead in clean energy exports,' he said. At the conference, Sarawak Energy Bhd shared its long-term sustainability agenda and cross-border grid integration plans while Sarawak Economic Development Corporation's subsidiary, SEDC Energy, highlighted ongoing collaborations with Japanese and South Korean partners to develop hydrogen and ammonia export capabilities. 'These initiatives underscore Sarawak's commitment to innovation and international partnerships. Supported by comprehensive policies and strategic roadmaps, Sarawak's clean energy initiatives are unlocking new investment opportunities and creating high-value jobs for a sustainable future. 'With international recognition from the World Economic Forum and upcoming events such as International Energy Week 2025 and the Sustainable & Renewable Energy Forum (SAREF) 4.0, Sarawak is actively inviting global partners to join its journey toward a sustainable and inclusive energy future,' the statement added. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
India coal-fired power output falls at fastest pace in five years in May
Renewable energy output surged to a record high of 24.7 billion kWh in May. (Wiki pic) SINGAPORE : India's coal-fired electricity generation in May fell at the fastest pace in five years, as overall power demand declined for the first time since August and renewable energy generation rose to a record high, a Reuters analysis of government data showed. Increased generation from less polluting power sources including hydro and nuclear also led to a decline in natural gas-fired power output, which fell at the steepest rate in nearly three years, a review of data from the federal power grid regulator Grid India showed. The decline in demand for fossil fuels for electricity generation in India – the second largest importer of coal and the fourth biggest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) – comes at a time when benchmark prices of the fuels are under pressure. 'Demand from the power sector – typically strong during peak season – remained limited. Additionally, economic headwinds have weighed on non-power industries,' Indian coal trader I-Energy said in a note this week. Asian spot LNG prices LNG-AS have declined more than 15% this year, while benchmark prices of thermal coal have plunged to more than 4-year lows due to weak demand from China and India – the top coal importing countries. India's coal-fired power generation fell 9.5% in May on an annual basis to 113.3 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), a review of data from the federal power grid regulator Grid India showed, marking the sharpest year-on-year decline since June 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic led to a nationwide lockdown. A sustained slowdown in demand for fossil fuels for power generation could help the world's third largest emitter of greenhouse gases slash emissions after it previously boosted its reliance on coal to power a post-pandemic economic recovery. India has repeatedly cited lower per capita emissions compared with richer nations to defend its high coal use. Utilities in China and India have cut dependence on coal and LNG imports this year also due to record coal stocks and slower growth in power demand. India had forced gas-based power plants to operate last year to meet high power demand as temperatures soared. As power demand is lower and prices are high for gas-fired power to be competitive with other sources such as solar this year, utilities will buy fewer volumes, said Prashant Vashisth, vice president at Moody's affiliate ICRA. Total electricity generation in May fell 5.3% year-on-year to 160.4 billion kWh, the data showed, with the highest peak demand about 8% lower on-year at 231 GW, mainly due to milder temperatures, government officials said. Peak demand – a measure of the maximum electricity requirement over any given time – reached 250 GW during a heatwave in May 2024. Meanwhile, renewable energy output surged to a record high of 24.7 billion kWh in May, up 17.2% from a year earlier, with its share in the overall power mix rising to 15.4% – the highest since records began in 2018. The share of coal in India's power mix dropped to 70.7% in May, down from 74.0% a year earlier and the lowest level since June 2022, according to the Grid India data. Hydropower generation jumped 8.3% to 14.5 billion kWh, accounting for 9.0% of total generation compared to 7.9% in May 2024, the data showed. Natural gas-fired power generation fell 46.5% annually to 2.78 billion kWh in May, the steepest decline since October 2022.
