Perhilitan seizes animal parts worth RM500,000

Big success after special raid at sawmill in Kuala Lipis

KUALA LUMPUR: The Pahang Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) seized about RM500,000 worth of protected wildlife animal parts during a raid.

Perhilitan director- general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the raid took place on Wednesday in a special operation at a sawmill in Kuala Lipis, Pahang.

He said officers seized 60 animal parts and three wire snares following a public tip-off.

Among the most valuable animal parts seized were two full pieces of suspected dried Malayan Tiger skin, which could fetch up to RM200,000 per piece in the black market.

The haul also included 10 smaller pieces of suspected dried Malayan Tiger skin, a piece of suspected clouded leopard skin, seven bear canine teeth, 20 bear nails, four suspected Sumatran Serow horns, a package containing suspected Sumatran Serow tails, 12 suspected wild boar tusks, 39kg of unspecified wildlife animal ivory, a piece of unspecified wildlife dried skin, and a suspected python skin.

“During the raid, six Vietnamese nationals were arrested and remanded for investigations,” Abdul Kadir told a press conference at the Perhilitan headquarters here yesterday.

He said the suspects were being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).

Abdul Kadir believed that the suspects were part of a group of illegal poachers who mainly targeted tigers.

He said it was believed that the items were sold to a middleman before being smuggled out of the country.

“The illegal poachers used wire snares to trap and kill these protected animals,” he said.

Abdul Kadir urged the public to provide tip-offs to Perhilitan at its hotline 1-800-88-5151 during weekdays (8am to 6pm), or via e-aduan at www.wildlife.gov.my.