Guest guest Posted December 19, 2002 Report Share Posted December 19, 2002 http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/12/19/nation/mrexo & sec=n ation Thursday, December 19, 2002 Animals pay the price for exotic tastes By STEPHEN THEN MIRI: Already under serious threat from land development, protected animals in the state are further endangered by the unhealthy appetite for exotic meat. Sarawak National Parks and Wildlife deputy controller Dr Lee Hua Seng said rare and protected species of animals, including terrapins and deer, were facing human threat even in national parks. He believed these animals were being hunted so rampantly because of the ready market for their meat. “Those hunting these animals could be supplying the meat to traders outside. Locals living in the park might be employed by other people to kill these animals for them. “We must stop the sale of these animals or else the hunting will not stop,” he said on Tuesday. He was responding to concerns that the population of rare animals as well as valuable trees and plants has seriously dwindled in the Lambir National Park near Miri. During a dialogue with native community leaders on Monday, Miri MP Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui had said that widespread hunting and extraction of natural resources in Lambir was jeopardising the image of one of the most diverse tropical forests in the world. The 7,000ha national park is home to over 1,000 species of rare trees and plants and some 400 species of rare and protected animals. Dr Lee said the state Forestry Department had formed a team to deal with encroachment and resource exploitation at the park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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