(MY) letter to editor on exotic food trade

[Guest guest]

Wednesday August 24, 2005 - The Star

 

 

Authorities need to crack down on exotic food trade

 

THE noteworthy action by Malaysian Trade Commissioner to Papua New Guinea

Datuk Dr S.H. Foo in saving a tiger cub from the cooking pot is highly

commendable.

 

If not for him, the cub will not be alive today.

 

It would have ended up in the stomach of exotic food lovers, a practice that

should be condemned.

 

Sahabat Alam Malaysia has made several calls to the Department of Wildlife

and National Parks to be more vigilant, particularly in the monitoring of

restaurants serving exotic wildlife dishes.

 

We have constantly expressed concern over the mushrooming restaurant trade,

which is ever ready to cater to the gastronomic demands of exotic food

lovers.

 

Failure to address the root of the problem – the demand and profitability of

the exotic food trade – will result in the demise of our endangered species.

The rarer the species the more they are in demand.

 

This situation must be tackled immediately. The department should take a

firm stand against the restaurant and the villagers involved in the poaching

of the cub.

 

Periodic checks should be conducted at all exotic food restaurants leading

to seizures and arrests, revocation of licences and closure of the shops.

 

Consumers of exotic meat, too, should be fined or imprisoned.

 

Tough new penalties should be imposed on those convicted of trading in

endangered species with deterrent jail sentences or an unlimited fine.

 

Those in the supply chain, and restaurant operators selling wildlife meat,

should also be severely punished.

 

Another measure is the setting up of a hotline for quick and easy reporting

of illegal trade in wildlife.

 

If the situation is not tackled immediately by government agencies, the

future of our wildlife will look bleak.

 

 

 

S.M. MOHD IDRIS,

President,

Sahabat Alam Malaysia,

Penang.

(via e-mail)

 

_______________

Find love online with MSN Personals.

http://match.msn.com.my/match/mt.cfm?pg=channel