Perhilitan monitoring online wildlife trade

PUTRAJAYA: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) is keeping an eye on 138 social media accounts involved in trade of endangered wildlife animals.

Perhilitan’s monitoring of social media accounts has led to the rescue of about 30 endangered animals, including a tiger cub, in five raids under Op Taring 4 on Wednesday.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said five people were arrested during the raids in Kedah, Selangor and Kelantan.

The animals seized, worth more than RM500,000, include Dwarf Caiman (small crocodilian), Moluccan Cockatoo and bearcat (binturong).

“These animals are endangered and they have a crucial role in keeping the ecosystem balanced.

“We will consider imposing a mandatory jail sentence for those caught with (all) endangered species by amending the relevant laws,” he said when announcing the success of Op Taring 4 here yesterday.

Perhilitan conducted three months of surveillance before carrying out five raids in Op Taring 4.

Wan Junaidi said most of those caught could easily cough up the money to pay fines, even up to RM500,000.

The minister said a mandatory jail sentence could be an effective deterrent.

“Wild animals should not be caged. I believe the perpetrators will not like it (to be jailed) too.”

Wan Junaidi vowed that more would be done, including amending the laws to protect the country’s flora and fauna.

Wan Junaidi said a 6-month-old female tiger cub that was rescued during a raid at a private residence in Hulu Langat could fetch between RM150,000 and RM200,000.

Meanwhile, a foreigner was detained at Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday for allegedly trying to smuggle body parts of protected species, believed to be a tiger.

Perhilitan director-general Abdul Kadir Abu Hassan said the seized animals would be placed at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Sungkai, Perak.