Malaysia: Porcupines saved from the cooking pot

Embun Majid The Star 26 Sep 11;

ALOR SETAR: Seven porcupines destined for the cooking pot were rescued from a farm at Padang Terap here.

A team from the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) from the Federal Territory and Kedah raided the farm and detained two men in their 30s. Federal Territory Perhilitan officer Celescoriano Razond, who led the raid, said the two men tried to flee when the team raided the farm at about 9.15am yesterday.

He said the protected animals were believed to be heading to restaurants selling exotic dishes.

“We believe the animals had been kept in the farm during the past six months,” he said.

Razond said initial investigations showed that the porcupines were caught by illegal hunters in the state.

“We believe the animals were to be sold to restaurant operators either in Kedah or elsewhere,” he said.

He added that the animals would be sent to the department headquarters in Putrajaya to determine their gender.

Razond said if the porcupines were males, the men could be charged under Section 60(1)(a) of the Wildlife Protection Act 2010, which carries a fine up to RM50,000 or jail up to two years or both.

He said if the animals were female, the duo could be charged under Section 62 of the same act which carries a fine up to RM100,000 or jail up to five years or both.