Protected wildlife still being sold openly at Sunday market
MIRI: A few traders at a Sunday market in Centre Point here are still illegally selling protected animals in spite of the law.
A random check yesterday saw several traders plying barbequed civets, tortoises, birds and terrapins, or ‘labi-labi’, openly.
In November last year, over 100 protected animals were seized and a local trader was arrested by a team of enforcement officers from the Forest Department, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), police and Miri City Council (MCC) after numerous news reports on the sale of protected species at the market.
A visitor to the market who wished to be known only as Jenny, in her 40s, said she is a frequent visitor to the Sunday market and often comes across traders selling endangered animals such as tortoises and birds.
“I come to the Sunday market here twice or three times a month because there is a lot of jungle produce sold here from as far as Bekenu and Bakong.
“There are a lot of choices but there are also those who flout the law by selling protected species,” she said.
She urged the authorities concerned to do regular checks at the market and put a stop to the sale of protected animals by taking stern action against those who do not abide by the law.
“Thousands of people from all walks of life throng the Sunday market every weekend.
“Concerned citizens should also do their part by not fueling the demand for wildlife simply by not buying, instead of just depending on the long arm of the law,” she said.