Article about wildlife

[Guest guest]

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2003 & dt=0516 & pub=Utusan_Express & se\

c=Home_News & pg=hn_02.htm

Perhilitan seizes eight honey bear legs in Kelantan

ABDUL Jalal Kasim (L) and Ranger Mohd Fuzi Mohd Zin show the severed leg

of a honey bear and steel snares, which were some of the items seized from a

store in Gua Musang, May 15. - Bernamapix.

--------

 

 

 

KUALA LUMPUR May 15 - The Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department

(Perhilitan) seized eight honey bear legs in Gua Musang, Kelantan, early

Thursday.

 

The legs, believed to be severed from two bears, were discovered in a freezer

and meant for exotic restaurants, Perhilitan's enforcement chief Abdul Jalal

Kasim said.

 

He said a 52-year-old man was detained in the 1.30 am raid, which also seized

six steel snares and three feathers of the " Kuang Raya " (Great Argus) bird.

 

Abdul Jalal said the bear legs were in great demand and could be expected to

reach high prices in the exotic food market.

 

" The market price for the raw (bear) meat is from RM500 to RM600 (a kg) and it

can triple once it is cooked, " he told reporters here.

 

Abdul Jalal said the suspect was believed to be the middleman in the sale of

animal parts to restaurants in Kuala Lumpur and elsewhere.

 

He said the bears were believed to have been caught using steel snares in the

Gua Musang forest near Cameron Highlands.

 

" The snares are commonly used by the Orang Asli to trap wild boars for food, " he

said.

 

The suspect, who will be charged at the Gua Musang Magistrate's Court on May 27,

was released on RM2,000 bail.

 

Meanwhile in KUALA TERENGGANU, the Terengganu Perhilitan will carry out checks

to ensure that the public have special permits before they are allowed to keep

protected wild animals.

 

Deputy Director Ghazali Omar said this was in the wake of an incident where a

monkey attacked a three year-old boy in Kampung Serada here Wednesday.

 

In the 9 am incident, Shauki Abdullah was bitten on his hands, thighs and body

by the wild macaque who had earlier escaped from the house of a person who kept

the animal.

 

" We have been informed that there are many people keeping wildlife like monkeys

without being issued any special permit by the department, " he said when

contacted.

 

Ghazali said the offenders will be charged under Section 68 of the Wildlife

Protection Act which carries a RM3,000 fine or two years imprisonment or both.

 

" They can also be charged under Section 97 of the same Act (for endangering

public safety) which carries a RM1,000 fine or one year imprisonment or both.