Let’s be intolerant of wildlife crimes

congratulates the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) on its efforts in Op Taring VI.

Raids conducted between May 28 and June 6 saw arrests linked to an online illegal wildlife trade syndicate, operating through social media.

In what is seen as one of the biggest wildlife cybercrime seizures in Malaysia this year, wildlife and wildlife parts amounting to about RM200,000 were confiscated.

A total of 631 wild animals, 20 wildlife parts and 30 wildlife eggs were seized.

This includes 28 Indian star tortoises, 10 dusky langurs, 6 leopard cats, three civets and two hill mynas.

All suspects are being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.

In a separate incident, on May 27, Terengganu Perhilitan arrested two foreign poachers in Taman Negara suspected to be part of a larger team that may be in the forest complex.

The two men had with them more than RM50,000 worth of wildlife and parts of bears and wild boar, as well as agarwood, to be sold to the perfume industry.

Although efforts to stop poaching and trade have increased, the demand for wildlife and wildlife parts has also increased, if not more.

If culprits are not brought to justice, we will find ourselves living in a country that has empty forests.

This will result in the extinction of wild species and the reduction of biodiversity.

The illegal wildlife trade remains one of the greatest threats to wildlife conservation in Malaysia, including the Malayan tiger.

WWF-Malaysia has advocated the need to have more intelligence-based teams to support operations, and this operation is an example of how targeted information can enable the authorities to fight poaching.

But there is a need to increase the coverage and intensity of operations as poaching remains rampant.

We urge Malaysians to be more vigilant and practise intolerance of wildlife crimes, as well as play an active role in the protection and conservation of wildlife.

You can report wildlife crimes to the Perhilitan hotline at 1-80088-5151 or the wildlife crime hotline at 019-3564194.

DEPARTMENT PIC COURTESY OF SABAH WILDLIFE Wildlife carcasses seized by the Tawau Anti-Poaching Task Force.