Harsher punishments await poachers using snares
KUALA LUMPUR: Poachers who install and own snares will face more severe penalties when the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) is reviewed, said Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) directorgeneral Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim.
He said Act 716 would be amended to ensure that more severe penalties were imposed on poachers who used snares to kill or capture wildlife for profit.
“This is a proposal to improve legal provisions and enforce punishments for offenders. The use of snares is a serious crime that can cause injuries and deaths of animals and permanent disability,” he said recently.
At present, individuals convicted of using snares could be fined between RM50,000 and RM100,000, and imprisoned not more than two years.
Kadir said the punishments were nothing compared with the deaths and fates of wildlife that was threatened by extinction due to the greed of hunters.
“We recommend that amendments to this act impose a longer jail term and a heavier penalty.”
He said the proposal would be presented to Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar to be discussed before it was proposed in Parliament.
Kadir said from January to July, 26 wildlife species, such as tapir, sun bear, serow, sambar deer and deer, were found dead after being caught in snares.
He said to date, 653 wire and nylon snares and bird nets had been destroyed, while 79 forest sites had been identified as hotspots for poachers.