SFC, GOF join forces to tackle illegal wildlife trade

KUCHING: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) enforcement team in collaboration with the General Operation Force (GOF) continues the crackdown on illegal trade of wildlife.

SFC, in a statement issued yesterday, said the operation from March 14 to 16 at the wet market in Serian seized illegal wildlife meat which included 8.1 kg of monitor lizard, two kg of freshwater softshelled turtle and 6.2 kg of python meat, as well as 13 live pythons. No suspect was apprehended as the culprit(s) apparently absconded in time.

All monitor lizards, freshwater soft-shelled turtles and pythons are protected under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998. Anyone in possession of any protected animals without a licence issued under this ordinance is liable to imprisonment for one year and a fine of RM10,000.

Apart from the one in Serian, raids were also conducted at Pasar Kota Samarahan and Pasar MJC Batu Kawa where one live turtle and nine kg of deer meat were confiscated respectively. Further up in Miri, no sales of wildlife were found at Tamu Center Point, Tamu Lutong and Tamu Emart during similar operations.

“SFC acknowledges that wildlife enforcement is a challenging and arduous task due to large segments of the society viewing the sale or consumption of wildlife meat as ‘nothing wrong'. Therefore, we are on the continuous mode to educate and instil awareness via programmes at wet markets, schools, longhouses and villages,” said chief executive officer Zolkipli Mohamad Aton.