Olivia Miwil New Straits Times 23 Feb 19;
SABAH has prosecuted 23 cases related to pangolins since 2002, said state Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga.
Five cases were from Keningau, four in Lahad Datu, Tawau and Sandakan (three in each district), Papar and Kinabatangan (two in each district), and one each in Sipitang, Telupid, Beaufort and Luyang.
In recent years, an amendment was made to the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, in which the world’s most trafficked animal had been upgraded as a “totally protected species”.
Those found hunting, consuming, possessing or selling pangolins or their parts could face a minimum fine of RM50,000 and a maximum fine of RM250,000 or a minimum prison term of one year and up to a maximum term of five years or both.
“Some of the cases were prosecuted under the new amendment, where heavier penalties were handed down to offenders and some are still serving their sentence.
“However, crimes against pangolins continue despite the state Wildlife Department trying its best to combat illegal poaching,” he said, adding there was a need for public cooperation in preventing pangolins from being poached and becoming extinct.
Augustine was referring to a recent bust of a pangolin smuggling syndicate with the arrest of a man and seizures of 23 live pangolins worth RM8.4 million which were brought into Sabah from Lawas, Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the ministry was finalising the establishment of the Sabah Pangolin Sanctuary and Research Institute to conserve the species with Penang-born philanthropist Peter Chan.
Chan, an engineer, said he was optimistic that research and technology could boost the chances of protecting pangolins.
In terms of research, he said, the institute would come up with an algorithm for the authorities to track down poaching activities.
Sabah Wildlife prosecuted 23 cases related to pangolins
Olivia Miwil New Straits Times 22 Feb 19;
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has prosecuted 23 cases related to pangolins since 2002, said State Wildlife director Augustine Tuuga.
Five cases were from Keningau, four in Lahad Datu, Tawau and Sandakan (3), Papar and Tawau (2), and one each in Sipitang, Telupid, Beaufort and Luyang.
In recent years, amendment has been made to the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997,
in which the world’s most trafficked animal is now being upgraded as a totally protected species.
Those found hunting, consuming, possessing or selling pangolins or their parts could face a minimum fine of RM50,000 up to a maximum fine of RM250,000 or a minimum imprisonment term of one year up to a maximum term of five years or both.
“Some of the mentioned cases are prosecuted under the new amendment, which heavier penalties are being handed down to offenders and some of them are still serving their imprisonment sentence.
"However, crimes against pangolins continue to this day although the Sabah Wildlife Department is trying its best to combat illegal poaching,” he said, adding there is a need for everyone to be involved in preventing pangolins from getting poached and from going extinct.
Augustine was referring to a recent bust of a pangolin smuggling syndicate with seizures worth RM8.4 million and the arrest of a man found with 23 live pangolins brought into Sabah from Lawas, Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Christina Liew said they are in the midst of finalising the establishment of the Sabah Pangolin Sanctuary and Research Institute to conserve the species with a Penang-born philanthropist Peter Chan.
Chan, who is also an engineer, had said that he is optimistic that research and technology could increase the chances of protecting pangolins.
“What we are doing in the research part is to set up an algorithm to track these kinds of things which can also be used for law enforcement.”
