Malaysia: Sun bear carcass and snares found

Isabelle Lai The Star 30 Jan 14;

PETALING JAYA: A Malayan sun bear carcass and several snares were found near the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex (BTFC).

Experts have described the find as clear proof that poaching there continues unabated.

The discovery was made last Thursday by a WWF-Malaysia researcher, who stumbled upon the carcass and snares after checking the jungle trail close to the Gerik-Jeli Highway.

In a joint statement, WWF-Malaysia and Traffic South-East Asia said the carcass was found with a limb still caught in a snare and the animal died “a slow and agonising death”.

Traffic South-East Asia regional director Dr Chris R. Shepherd said poaching for trade was the most chronic threat to Malaysia’s wildlife and questioned the effectiveness of the Belum-Temengor Joint Enforcement Task Force set up in 2010.

The wildlife-rich forest complex has long posed an enforcement challenge as it is a magnet for poachers and wildlife traffickers.

“The rising incidences close to the highway should be warning enough that poachers enjoy easy access to the animals,” he said.

Dr Shepherd called for more frequent joint enforcement patrols which alone could have an impact on the poaching rate.

He called upon the Perak Mentri Besar and state officials to address the problem.

The latest discovery is the third involving sun bears in recent years.

WWF-Malaysia executive director and chief executive officer Datuk Dr Dionysius Sharma said snares do not discriminate the choice of victim.

“This time it was a sun bear. Next, it could be a tiger.

“This does not bode well for the BTFC, which is one of three priority sites for tigers in Malaysia,” he said.

Dr Sharma said this was why WWF-Malaysia was strongly advocating a National Tiger Task Force that would ensure better coordinated enforcement.

Between 2008 and 2010, 142 snares were discovered and deactivated in the BTFC by a WWF-Malaysia monitoring unit working with the authorities.

In the same period, Traffic South-East Asia recorded the loss of over 400 animals, including tigers.

Sun Bear carcass and snare find point to relentless poaching in Belum-Temengor Forest Complex.
WWF 28 Jan 14;

28 January 2014, Gerik: The carcass of a Malayan Sun Bear and several snares have been found in jungles near the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex (BTFC) underscoring poaching’s incessant pressure on endangered species in the area.

On Thursday a WWF-Malaysia researcher in the area stumbled upon the Sun Bear carcass and snares after checking the jungle trail close to the Gerik-Jeli Highway, from which several men on motorcycles had been seen emerging earlier.

The rotting Sun Bear carcass was found with a limb still caught in a snare (see photo), where it would have died a slow and agonising death. Four other snares were also found nearby.

WWF-Malaysia and TRAFFIC Southeast Asia reported the matter to authorities for further investigation and action.

This is the third discovery involving Sun Bears in recent years. Four weeks ago, researchers found another Sun Bear in a snare just 250 meters off the Gerik-Jeli highway and it was freed in a two-hour operation by Perhilitan. In 2011, a camera trap in the area captured the image of a Sun Bear without a forelimb, likely lost to a snare.

The wildlife rich forest complex has long been a magnet for poachers and wildlife traffickers and a challenge for enforcement authorities.

From 2008 to 2010, 142 snares were discovered and de-activated in the BTFC by a WWF-Malaysia wildlife monitoring unit working with authorities. In the same period TRAFFIC recorded the loss of over 400 animals including tigers; one of which was famously rescued after several days in a snare in 2009, but later died from its injuries. WWF-Malaysia and TRAFFIC have continued to make such finds in the area including one case in August 2011 involving a dozen snares targeted at large mammals.

The most recent discovery is clear proof that the poaching and illegal wildlife trade in the BTFC has not abated and demands a stronger, more consistent and better co-ordinated response from all authorities in the area.

“A snare does not discriminate in its choice of victim. This time it was a sun bear. Next, it could be a tiger. This does not bode well for BTFC which is one of three priority sites for tigers in Malaysia. It is why we strongly advocate for a National Tiger Task Force that will ensure better coordinated enforcement nationwide. If no urgency is shown in this matter, we will soon have empty forests,” said WWF-Malaysia's Executive Director/CEO, Dato' Dr Dionysius Sharma.

“Poaching for trade is clearly the most chronic threat to Malaysia’s wildlife. The rising incidences close to the highway should be warning enough that poachers enjoy easy access to the animals,” said Regional Director for TRAFFIC in Southeast Asia, Dr Chris R. Shepherd.

“The effectiveness of the Belum-Temengor Joint Enforcement Task Force, set-up in 2010 to tackle poaching and trafficking here, has been questionable. More frequent joint enforcement patrols alone could have an impact on the poaching rate, yet this has not been put in place. We urge the Perak Menteri Besar and other state officials to address the problem,” Shepherd said.