The Star 29 May 12;
ALOR SETAR: An attempt to smuggle 46 pangolins out of the country by hiding them inside a car boot was foiled by the Kedah Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan).
The pangolins worth RM43,000 were found in a car in Simpang Empat, Changlun, said its director Rahim Ahmad.
Authorities released the animals in a protected area in Kedah.
“A Kedah Perhilitan team, assisted by our counterparts from Penang, trailed the car for about 30km from the North-South Expressway Hutan Kampung toll plaza until Simpang Empat,” Rahim said.
“We stopped the car but the driver escaped,” he said yesterday.
Saved from the cooking pot
New Straits Times 29 May 12;
ALOR STAR: Forty-six pangolins, worth RM43,000, were saved from the cooking pot yesterday.
The animals, which were bound for exotic food restaurants in a neighbouring country, were found in the boot of a Toyota Camry at a traffic light in Changlun near here at 8.30am.
Kedah and Penang Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) officers had trailed the car for about 30km from the Hutan Kampung Toll Plaza near here.
The car driver pushed the officers away and fled the scene on foot when the Perhilitan team approached his vehicle.
State Perhilitan director Rahim Ahmad said four of the pangolins were juveniles.
Rahim said he believed that the pangolins were to be supplied to Thailand.
"Prior to the discovery, we conducted an investigation to locate the poacher following a tip-off from the public."
Rahim said the department had lodged a report to seek the police's help in locating the suspect.
Pangolins are much sought after as exotic meat and it is believed the consignment was being smuggled to Thailand.
Rahim said the pangolins would be released in the forest reserves of Pedu, Padang Terap and Ulu Muda.
