Ong Han Sean The Star 22 Sep 11;
KUANTAN: The living conditions of several animals seized by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) has sparked a debate between the department and a non-governmental organisation.
It was learnt that three seized tigers were all kept in a cage of about 6m long while a sun bear confiscated from a villager here was left in a small cage in the garage of the Temerloh Perhilitan office.
The animals were apparently held there as evidence pending the disposal of court cases.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president S.M. Mohd Idris said seized animals were usually sent to the Malacca Zoo until the court cases were settled.
However, the zoo is currently full and there is a lack of facilities, so there is no proper place to put them, he said.
Mohd Idris also raised the question of what Perhilitan would do with the animals once the cases were disposed of.
“Will they be rehabilitated or released into the wild? If they cannot be rehabilitated, what are they going to do with the animals?”
Mohd Idris suggested that closed-down zoos be turned into wildlife sanctuaries where the animals could have a proper place to stay.
WWF-Malaysia and the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers declined to comment on the matter.
Pahang Perhilitan director Khairiah Mohd Shariff said seized animals were only kept temporarily at the Temerloh Perhilitan office which served as a rescue centre.
“We still make sure that the animals' basic needs are fulfilled, especially their food. Each Perhilitan office also has veterinarians to make sure the seized animals are healthy,” she said here yesterday.
Khairiah added that the temporary enclosures were also cleaned daily by staff members.
“Most of these animals come from places where they had been mistreated. We are supposed to be their guardians. If we cannot do better, then what is the point?
“We made the rules so of course we also have to abide by them,” she said.
