Malaysia: Perhilitan seizes more than 600 wildlife species in two raids

FARIS FUAD New Straits Times 8 Jun 18;

CHERAS: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) confiscated 628 animals of various wildlife species, 20 units of wildlife parts and 30 wildlife eggs via two Ops Taring VI raids on June 4 and May 28.

Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said of the figures, 385 animals and 30 eggs were seized earlier this month.

243 animals and 20 units of wildlife parts were seized at the end of last month.

"On June 4, a 65-year-old man was arrested by Perhilitan enforcement officers in a raid at a premise in Taman Kesuma, Ampang, Selangor.

"There, we uncovered and seized various wildlife eggs and species. The man is now under arrest for further investigation under the Wildlife Conservation Act (Act 716) for keeping wildlife without the permission of Perhilitan.

"End of last month, we detained a man after tracking down an operation selling wildlife online at a premise in Kampung Baru Bukit Merah, Ipoh.

"The man is being investigated under the same Act," he said at a press conference, here, today.

In a separate raid recently, Abdul Kadir said Perhilitan seized a white-handed gibbon and two Asian palm civets.

"These animals were seized after we arrested a 32-year-old man at the parking lot of Seremban Gateway in Negri Sembilan.

"He is suspected of selling wildlife online. Following that, Negri Sembilan Perhilitan checked the suspect's house and found two more wild animals kept without Perhilitan's permission," he said, adding that the suspect is charged at the Seremban court today.

The suspect, according to Abdul Kadir, was handed a three-year jail term and a fine of RM20,000.

"If he fails to pay the fine, 10 months will be added to his jail term," he added.