STI News: Outcry over Kelantan plan to kill all tigers

[Guest guest]

This message was forwarded to you from Straits Times Interactive

(http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg) by yitzeling

 

Comments from sender:

 

 

Outcry over Kelantan plan to kill all tigers

 

 

 

KUALA LUMPUR - Kelantan Mentri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat has provoked an outcry

from conservationists when he announced plans to use the army to hunt and kill

all tigers in the state after a rash of attacks on humans.

 

Datuk Nik Aziz, who is also Parti Islam SeMalaysia spiritual leader, issued the

shoot-on-sight order after three rubber tappers were mauled this year in the

Jeli district.

 

'Rubber tappers and fruit collectors are afraid to enter their estates now. The

welfare of tigers cannot be above that of humans,' he said. 'Malaysia already

has far too many tigers...they are better off dead.'

 

An operation involving the army would be carried out, he said, adding that the

state government would be footing the bill.

 

'I am all for the shooting of the animals rather than using tranquillisers or

traps as these methods will not solve the problem,' he said.

 

Tigers caught and sent to zoos would cost the government a lot of money to

keep, he added. -- AFP, New Straits Times

IP Address:203.106.154.123