In many mangrove tours in Langkawi, boats stop midway near a small cave where the boatman tosses chicken entrails and skin into the water. Within minutes, dozens of Brahminy Kites and several White-bellied Sea Eagles appear, screeching and swooping down to grab the food. While this spectacle may seem thrilling to visitors, this misplaced kindness is causing serious harm to these magnificent raptors.
Raptors require a natural diet rich in protein and calcium, which they obtain by preying on fish and sea snakes. These nutrients are essential for strong muscles, healthy bones, and proper feather development. In contrast, commercially farmed chicken entrails and skin are high in fat and may contain antibiotics and synthetic hormones. Regular consumption of such food can severely impact the birds’ health and disrupt the delicate balance of the ecosystem they depend on. Over time, artificial feeding may lead to an increase in sea snake populations and a decline in fish quality and numbers, further affecting the food chain. This imbalance will inevitably disturb the entire mangrove ecosystem. For the sake of wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability, this practice should be replaced with responsible eagle watching. Eagle watching allows visitors to observe raptors displaying their natural hunting behaviors without human interference. It offers a more authentic wildlife experience while helping to preserve the birds’ health and the integrity of their habitat. Do not let our passion for wildlife become the cause of its destruction. Let us not love them to death. Allow these birds to survive and thrive in their natural way. Don’t feed wildlife. Keep them wild.