(MY) middleman in tiger trade

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Tuesday October 18, 2005 - The Star

 

 

Dad and son may be middlemen in the trade

 

BY IAN MCINTYRE

 

KOTA BARU: The 22-year-old man detained in connection with the killing

of a Malayan Tiger in Kelantan last week is believed to be a middleman

in the smuggling of tiger parts.

 

It is learnt that the suspect worked with his father, who is in his

late 50s, to take tiger carcasses into Thailand.

 

Both men are helping the state Wildlife and National Parks Department

in the case.

 

The tiger was found cut up in four parts and stored in a refrigerator

when forest rangers raided a house at Kampung Mertua, Pengkalan Kubor,

in Kelantan.

 

The head, body and internal organs of the animal had been preserved to

show prospective buyers it was indeed a tiger.

 

Initial investigations showed that the tiger was either killed by

poachers or villagers who were paid a commission.

 

The middleman bought the tiger for between RM20,000 and RM30,000.

 

Tiger parts fetched a good price in Thailand for its meat and medicinal value.

 

Certain restaurants prepare the meat as their specialty.

 

Forest rangers are trying to determine if the tiger was caught in

Kelantan, or in other states like Pahang, Terengganu or Perak before

it was brought to the suspect's house.

 

State Wildlife and National Parks Department deputy director Wan Azali

Wan Alwi said the suspect would be produced in a magistrate's court in

Tumpat tomorrow.

 

From March this year, there had been a drop in notifications on

sightings of tiger paw prints in Jeli, Gua Musang and Kuala Krai.

 

In August, a tiger attacked and killed a rubber tapper in Jeli.

 

Wan Azali said rangers were trying to convince the villagers not to

hunt tigers or provide information to poachers on a tiger's

whereabouts.

 

Tigers are usually lured to traps laid on jungle fringes before they

are killed.

 

At times, poachers will shoot the tigers.

 

A wounded tiger is likely to attack villagers near its habitat.

 

Wan Azali said this could stop if villagers did not co-operate with

poachers but worked with forest rangers in tracking down the animals.