(MY) Fw: primfocus: Dept seizes 117 protected animals

August 30, 2001

nation

Thursday, August 30, 2001

KUCHING: The Forestry Department seized 117 protected live mammals and birds

in a major crackdown on the illegal trade of wildlife in Serikin, a village

in Bau district on the border with west Kalimantan, last Saturday.

It acted following recent news reports that several protected species, like

Borneo gibbons, western tarsiers and flat headed cats, were traded there.

The department's public relations officer Yakop Jalel said the seized

animals and birds, including a black eagle, were now being kept at the

Matang Wildlife Centre near here.

He said Indonesian traders abandoned the animals and birds in the bushes

near to the pasar tamu and fled when the department's enforcement officers

approached them.

Yakop said the operation was carried out early on Saturday, and would

continue.

Saying that it was an offence to trade in protected wildlife, he warned that

an offender faced a fine of up to RM50,000 and up to five years' jail if

convicted.

Managed by I.STAR Sdn Bhd (Co No 422871-T).

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