Sylvia Looi New Straits Times 11 Feb 14;
ON THE RUN: Man faces fines of RM1 million for trapping birds
IPOH: A FELDA settler has been earning a lucrative income by trapping and selling protected birds to local collectors for six months.
His venture ended when officers from the Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) seized 17 protected birds at his home in Felda Lawin Selatan, Gerik, on Saturday. Its director, Fakhrul Hatta Musa, said his officers had been monitoring the man, in his 40s, following a tip-off.
"We had to camouflage civilian vehicles to monitor his house. When the raid was conducted at 11am, the man was nowhere to be found."
Fakhrul Hatta said of the 17 birds seized, four were totally protected species, while the rest were protected species. Among the species seized were white-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus), blue-winged leafbird (Chloropsis cochinchinensis) and lesser green leafbird (Chloropsis Cyanopogon).
"We believe he caught the birds from the Royal Belum or Temenggor area. The seized birds are worth RM50,000. The man faces more than RM1 million in fines for his offences."
Fakhrul Hatta said the man was being investigated for keeping protected species, where he can be fined up to RM50,000 or two years jail, or both.
"He is also being investigated for keeping totally protected species, where he can be fined up to RM700,000 or seven years jail, or both."
He said the department was working with police to track down the man.
17 protected birds seized during raid
The Star 11 Feb 14;
IPOH: Seventeen birds of several protected species were seized from a Felda settler’s house in Grik.
The settler, from Felda Lawin Selatan, had been earning side income for the past six months by trapping the birds and selling them to local collectors, said Perak Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director Fakhrul Hatta Musa.
The birds were seized on Saturday.
During the raid at 11am, the man was nowhere to be seen.
Among the bird species captured by the man were murai (shama) and daun kecil (lesser green leafbird).
“We believe that the man, in his 40s, trapped the birds from the Royal Belum or Temenggor rainforest.
“The total value of the birds seized is about RM50,000,” Fakhrul told reporters at his office here yesterday.
He added that the department was working with police to locate the man.
The case has been classified under Section 60 (1) (a) and Section 68 (1) (a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 for possession of protected or totally protected species without a licence.
If found guilty, the man could face a maximum fine of RM50,000 or two years’ jail or both under Section 60 (1) (a) and a maximum fine of RM700,000 or seven years’ jail or both under Section 68 (1) (a).
