Malaysia: protests against soldiers posing with dead Great Hornbill

NGOs lodge reports over picture
Sean Augustin New Straits Times 27 Feb 11;

PUTRAJAYA: Two environmental non-governmental organisations have lodged police reports over a picture of soldiers posing with a dead Great Hornbill on Friday.

Traffic Southeast Asia National Trade Policy officer Shenaaz Khan lodged the report at the Dangi Wangi police station at 11.25am, hoping the police will investigate the matter or refer the case to the proper authorities such as the Wildlife and National Parks Department and the Defence Ministry.

She also hoped it would create greater awareness.

"There are laws out there that need to be adhered to, irrespective of their background," she told the New Sunday Times.

She added that the matter could be investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and the Armed Forces Act 1972, which prohibited soldiers from hunting.

Later on Friday, a second report was lodged by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia Conservation manager Han Kwai Hin at Taman Tun police station.

Han said the organisation was ready to assist the police with the investigation.

On Thursday, the NST reported that environmental NGOs were up in arms after a picture of soldiers, believed to be from the Malaysian Armed forces, posing with the dead bird surfaced on a social networking site.

The bird seemed to have its throat slit. The picture has since been removed.

The Great Hornbill is the larger of the hornbill species in Malaysia and is found only in the peninsula.

It is also protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act.

See also Photo: slaughtered great hornbill by soldiers raises ire [warning: graphic image] by Jeremy Hance mongabay.com 27 Feb 11