On this episode of Nature Reads, we speak to guest Ir. Dr. Kribanandan G Naidu, Immediate Past President of Friends of Bukit Kiara (FOBK), together with co-host Dylan Jefri Ong, co-founder of Sunda Shelves. We discuss the books, experiences, and ideas that inspired Dr Kriban’s connection to nature and conservation, the history and importance of urban green spaces like Bukit Kiara, and the newly updated edition of the thoughtfully crafted guidebook, Bukit Kiara: A Sanctuary in the City. 

Nature Reads on Earth Matters is a monthly show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us, done in collaboration with independent bookstore Sunda Shelves.

On this episode of Nature Reads, we speak to guest Ir. Dr. Kribanandan G Naidu, Immediate Past President of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://fobk.org/">Friends of Bukit Kiara</a> (FOBK), together with co-host Dylan Jefri Ong, co-founder of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://linktr.ee/sundashelves">Sunda Shelves</a>. We discuss the books, experiences, and ideas that inspired Dr Kriban’s connection to nature and conservation, the history and importance of urban green spaces like Bukit Kiara, and the newly updated edition of the thoughtfully crafted guidebook, Bukit Kiara: A Sanctuary in the City.&nbsp;Nature Reads on Earth Matters is a monthly show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us, done in collaboration with independent bookstore Sunda Shelves.

Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.

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Nature Reads: The People & Stories Behind Bukit Kiara

The transfer of three Malaysian elephants to Japan has sparked widespread debate over the past few months. While the move was described as a conservation partnership between two zoos, campaigners have questioned whether the transfer complied with Malaysian law, raised concerns about the elephants' welfare, and called for greater transparency over how the decision was made. In this conversation, we unpack the key issues surrounding the case, from the legal questions and ongoing investigations, to what experts say about the elephants' condition and why many believe this matters beyond just these three animals. Joining us to do that are Rajesh Nagarajan, animal rights lawyer and President of Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (PEKA Malaysia); Vimala Raghavan, Secretary-General of PEKA Malaysia; Datin Shereen Yunos, animal rights activist and member of Kembalikan DAK and representing the Selamatkan DAK coalition; and Dr William Keith Lindsay, a wildlife ecologist and conservation biologist. 

The transfer of three Malaysian elephants to Japan has sparked widespread debate over the past few months. While the move was described as a conservation partnership between two zoos, campaigners have questioned whether the transfer complied with Malaysian law, raised concerns about the elephants' welfare, and called for greater transparency over how the decision was made. In this conversation, we unpack the key issues surrounding the case, from the legal questions and ongoing investigations, to what experts say about the elephants' condition and why many believe this matters beyond just these three animals. Joining us to do that are Rajesh Nagarajan, animal rights lawyer and President of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/pekamalaysia">Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia</a> (PEKA Malaysia); Vimala Raghavan, Secretary-General of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/PEKAMALAYSIA/">PEKA Malaysia</a>; Datin Shereen Yunos, animal rights activist and member of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574388474578">Kembalikan DAK</a> and representing the Selamatkan DAK coalition; and Dr William Keith Lindsay, a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/William-Lindsay-2">wildlife ecologist</a> and conservation biologist.&nbsp;

Examining Malaysia's Elephant Transfer to Japan

The more successful a tourist island becomes, the more waste it often has to manage. That's one of the central ideas behind a new report titled Pathways Towards Circularity: The Zero Waste Islands Framework, from GAIA Asia Pacific, which argues that many island destinations are trapped in an extractive cycle. Products are imported, consumed, and discarded, while local communities are left to deal with the environmental and financial costs. The report proposes a different path, one built around zero waste principles, local resource management, and community-led solutions, with many solutions for Malaysia too. We discuss this with Ambily Adithyan, Regional Zero Waste Cities Officer with GAIA Asia Pacific, who also shares successful case studies from around the world, where communities significantly reduced waste and improved resource management, and without the use of expensive “fixes” like waste-to-energy incineration projects.


Image Credit: Zero Waste Asia Facebook

The more successful a tourist island becomes, the more waste it often has to manage. That's one of the central ideas behind a new report titled <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.no-burn.org/zero-waste-island-framework-publication-launch/">Pathways Towards Circularity: The Zero Waste Islands Framework</a>, from GAIA Asia Pacific, which argues that many island destinations are trapped in an extractive cycle. Products are imported, consumed, and discarded, while local communities are left to deal with the environmental and financial costs. The report proposes a different path, one built around zero waste principles, local resource management, and community-led solutions, with many solutions for Malaysia too. We discuss this with Ambily Adithyan, Regional Zero Waste Cities Officer with GAIA Asia Pacific, who also shares successful case studies from around the world, where communities significantly reduced waste and improved resource management, and without the use of expensive “fixes” like waste-to-energy incineration projects. Image Credit: Zero Waste Asia Facebook

Why Tourist Islands Are Drowning in Waste & How To Fix It

For July 2026's episode of Nature Reads, we speak to Rahayu Zulkifli, Chief Executive Officer of Marine Conservation and Research Organisation Malaysia (PULIHARA), together with co-host Dylan Jefri Ong, co-founder of Sunda Shelves. We explore the books that sparked Rahayu's love of nature and conservation, before diving into Tigers of Terengganu by A. Locke, a vivid account of a Malaysia where tigers still roamed the forests and people lived much closer to the wild. Along the way, we reflect on what the book reveals about our changing relationship with wildlife and why it continues to resonate today.

Nature Reads on Earth Matters is a monthly show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us, in collaboration with independent bookstore Sunda Shelves.


Image Credit: Phoenix Books NZ

For July 2026's episode of Nature Reads, we speak to Rahayu Zulkifli, Chief Executive Officer of Marine Conservation and Research Organisation Malaysia (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://puliharamalaysia.org/">PULIHARA</a>), together with co-host Dylan Jefri Ong, co-founder of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://linktr.ee/sundashelves">Sunda Shelves</a>. We explore the books that sparked Rahayu's love of nature and conservation, before diving into Tigers of Terengganu by A. Locke, a vivid account of a Malaysia where tigers still roamed the forests and people lived much closer to the wild. Along the way, we reflect on what the book reveals about our changing relationship with wildlife and why it continues to resonate today.Nature Reads on Earth Matters is a monthly show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us, in collaboration with independent bookstore Sunda Shelves. Image Credit: Phoenix Books NZ

Nature Reads: The People & Stories Behind Bukit Kiara

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