A bucket hat, binoculars and a remarkable Malaysian conservation legacy
I FIRST met Lim Kim Chye when I was a relatively young rookie still finding my feet in the conservation world, a lifetime ago.
Lim Kim Chye, affectionately known as "KC," first crossed paths with the reporter during the annual Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) event, called Raptor Watch, at Tanjung Tuan in Melaka. The reporter, a young conservationist at the time, was overwhelmed by the questions posed to him by seasoned journalists. KC, dressed in a bucket hat and looking like a birdwatcher who stumbled upon the scene, patiently answered the questions and guided the reporter through the spectacle of migratory birds of prey at Tanjung Tuan.
KC's involvement in Raptor Watch began after attending a BirdLife International conference in Taiwan in 2000. He was inspired to create a similar raptor-watching event at Tanjung Tuan, and along with fellow MNS members Lim Aun Tiah and volunteers from Perak and Selangor branches, he launched Raptor Watch Week with limited resources but great conviction.
KC's early fascination with nature began in his school days when he devoured the Malayan Nature Journal and became a Boy Scout. His family's financial struggles led him to work instead of pursuing university, but he eventually joined the Mines Research Institute in Ipoh. Through the Malayan Nature Journal, he connected with the MNS Perak branch and became one of four core birders. Their passion for birdwatching grew, and they learned to identify birds through a combination of books, binoculars, and practice.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
