(MY) Wildlife Dept comes down hard on poachers

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Wildlife Dept comes down hard on poachers - The Malay Mail

 

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19:

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The Department of Wildlife and National Parks has taken action against

26 offenders within the first half of this year.

 

They were compounded between RM60 and RM2,500 for various offences.

 

Some were also charged in court and fined between RM400 and RM15,000.

There are five pending cases.

 

The offender who was fined RM15,000 was caught having three young

pangolins, 60 female pangolins, 37 male pangolins and three dead ones

in Teluk Intan last July.

 

Most of the offences took place in Pahang, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Johor.

 

Last year, the department handled 55 cases and collected a total of

RM89,400 in compounds and fines.

 

Its director-general, Da- tuk Musa Nordin, said the public must not

support the illegal trade in tigers in any way.

 

" Do not buy tiger parts, or products claiming to contain tiger derivatives.

 

" Do not patronise restaurants that serve tiger meat, as this too is a

punishable offence, " Musa said.

 

" Among our many wards is the endangered Malayan tiger, which is

protected under the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972.

 

" There are about 500 tigers left in the wild. They are threatened by

habitat loss, loss of prey and poaching, " he said.