FWD: Protect more wildlife from illegal trade

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This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)

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http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/4/4/nation/10586470 & sec=nation

 

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Monday April 4, 2005

Protect more wildlife from illegal trade

 

 

PETALING JAYA: Efforts to protect more wildlife from illegal trading should be

speeded up before it is too late.

 

Conservationists are also calling on the authorities to shed the widespread

assumption among the public that carrying away beetles, spiders and other

wildlife was acceptable by law.

 

WWF-Malaysia executive director Datuk Dr Mikaail Kavanagh Abdullah said people

should stop going into protected areas to catch wildlife, either for trade or to

keep at home.

 

“We have 12 species of tarantulas in the country, one of which is the second

biggest spider in the world. It is appalling that people are destroying their

habitats or carting them away,” he said.

 

Dr Kavanagh said many of the small creatures like beetles and spiders played an

important role in the ecosystem, more so when they were only found in the

country and nowhere else in the world.

 

“The Department of Wildlife and National Parks should include these into the

protected list, making them not permissible to be sold.

 

“We protect big cats and mammals. Surely we can accord the same to these

smaller species,” he said.

 

Traffic South-East Asia director James Compton said it was worrying to find

more than 500 species of Malaysian wildlife available for sale on the Internet.

 

“No priority seems to be given to protect the country’s rich biodiversity.

Authorities seem to be allowing the setting up of more animal displays and

wildlife exhibits than doing anything to protect them,” he added.

 

Traffic monitors the trade in wildlife and plants in the region.

 

Compton said the freshwater turtle, for example, was highly endangered but had

yet to be included as a protected species under the country’s laws.

 

Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) chief executive officer Dr Loh Chi Leong said

the authorities should step up enforcement of environmental laws protecting such

endangered species under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

 

“We support the updating of the list of species to be added in the Act, but

they should also try to involve the Customs Department to stop the trade in

these species,” he said when contacted yesterday.

 

He said he had received feedback that collectors of rare species were offering

substantial bounties to those who could find the rarest species of spiders.

 

He said those catching the spiders knew little of the species and were just

“rounding up any kind of spider in the hope of finding something.”

 

“With the removal of these spiders, there will be an increase of pests and

insects which will affect the growth of agricultural crops,” he added.

 

Sahabat Alam Malaysia said it was distressed to learn about the sale of the

rare tarantula found in Fraser’s Hill and how it is becoming endangered.

 

It president, S.M. Mohamed Idris called for the Wildlife Department to expedite

efforts in updating the list of species for protection.

 

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