The first day of the event also saw the opening of the Nature Trade Fair and Exhibition hosted by Langkawi Fair. This event saw the coming together of 9 organizations form NGOS, government bodies and nature businesses both from Malaysia & Singapore to promote themes related to nature and its conservation as well as associated products & services.
LANGKAWI NATURE FESTIVAL 2012 PROGRAM
Day 1 – Friday 23 November 2012
07:00 AM – Eco Walk –Keeping Langkawi Wild at Gunung Raya
11:30 AM – Conclusion
10:30 AM – Onwards Nature Trade & Exhibition Fair at Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall
03:00 PM – 07:00 PM : Talks and workshops at Andaman Hotel
– Butterfly Talk by Dr. Laurence G Kirton
– Langkawi Wildlife Photography Workshop by Graeme Guy
08.30pm : Dinner
10.00pm : Onwards Owling (part of BBBC) at Gunung Raya
Day 2 – Saturday 24 November 2012
08:00 AM – 07:00 PM : Langkawi Bird & Butterfly Count Opening Ceremony & Flag Off at G.Raya & Lubuk Semilang
10.30 AM – Onwards Nature Trade & Exhibition Fair
09:00 AM – 05:00 PM : Langkawi Wildlife Photography (practical) : by Graeme Guy : Outdoor at Andaman
08:00 PM – 10:30 PM : Gala Dinner- Sai Baba Centre/Children Cultural Dance Troupe: Andaman Hotel
Day 3 – Sunday 25 November 2012
08:00 AM – 11:00 AM : Langkawi Bird & Butterfly Count Conclusion at Andaman Hotel
11:00 AM – 01:00 PM : Panel discussion & Media Conference at Andaman Hotel
Dr. Louisa Shobhini Ponnampalam is a Malaysian cetacean (whales, dolphins, porpoises) ecologist who began her education in marine science at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hawaii. She then went on to pursue her Ph.D. on a prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship at the University Marine Biological Station in Millport, Scotland, researching small dolphins in the Sea…
Ms. Chooi-Khim Phon LNF 2012 Personality Profile Butterfly Researcher & Scientist Chooi-Khim Phon is a researcher at the Entomology Branch of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia where she has been working on butterfly diversity and conservation. She has a Masters degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia and is currently pursuing her PhD with the University of…
Graeme Guy LNF 2012 Personality Profile Wildlife Photographer Graeme Guy was born in Wellington, New Zealand and educated in the Hutt Valley. He practised as a pharmacist in Dunedin, Napier and Hamilton after obtaining a degree in pharmacy. He later obtained a BSc and MSc(Hons) from Waikato University in Hamilton before completing a PhD in…
Laurence Kirton is an entomologist by profession, and Head of the Biodiversity and Conservation of Fauna Programme in the Forest Research Institute Malaysia. His interest in butterflies began in his childhood and has continued into his professional career as a researcher. He holds a PhD in entomology and ecology from Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, London, and has authored many scientific and popular articles on Malaysian butterflies.
Eco Walk a key event of the Langkawi Nature Festival is to be an exciting and meaningful walk for anyone wanting to participate in the conservation of Langkawi’s natural heritage and to ‘Keep Langkawi Wild”. This Eco Walk is open to anyone both local and foreign guests who are keen to get their walking shoes on and hike for conservation of Langkawi’s Natural Heritage.
The Wildlife Photography workshop featured world renowned Wildlife Photographer Graeme Guy who conducted both an indoor and an outdoor practical photography session with nature photographers based mainly in Langkawi.
The Instructor touched on his previous photography expeditions as well as gave an overview of the different technical aspects of photography. An outdoor session at the Andaman was also conducted to further enhance the skills of the participants of the workshop.
The Bird Count was headed by renowned amateur Ornithologist Irshad Mobarak and covered choice locations like Gunung Raya, Bon Ton and other habitats on Langkawi . A total of 74 species of birds were counted on that day. The count was certainly significant to boost further interest in birding and hopefully it will spur on further interest on the subject.
The nature talks were hosted by The Andaman A Luxury Collection Resort in the afternoon of the first day. Participants of the nature talks were very privileged to have butterfly expert and scientist Dr. Laurence G Kirton from FRIM and Marine Mammals expert Dr. Louisa S. Ponnampalam representing MareCet speak on various issues pertaining to the science and conservation of butterflies and marine mammals on Langkawi.
