Our national animal, the Malayan tiger, is fast becoming extinct from habitat fragmentation due to development projects and illegal poaching, said the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
But the worst has got to be poaching activities, driven by high demand for tiger body parts for traditional Chinese medicine and other uses, have even drawn hunters from Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia into our forests.
Photo via Astro AWANI
So far, 20 hunters were arrested in separate raids from 2011 to last year.
According to Astro AWANI, director-general of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said with the arrest of 20 locals, they also confiscated parts of the animals that were killed, with various limbs believed to be sold on the black market.
After investigations, the items amounted to RM2.21 million.
“We at PERHILITAN, managed to seize a Malayan tiger and parts of the animal such as meat, bones, skin, nails and fangs.
“The hunter is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) which provides for a maximum fine of RM500,000 and imprisonment not exceeding five years if convicted,” he said.
He also explained that enforcement programs and initiatives have been and are being implemented by PERHILITAN in collaboration with various enforcement agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in an effort to curb this wildlife hunting activity.
He hoped that this arrest could send a clear message to all parties that the government is very firm and committed to protecting this invaluable national treasure.
Abdul Kadir added that the latest recorded number of the Malayan tigers in the national forest was less than 200 and it recorded a significant decrease since then.
There is no denying that locals are also involved, consisting of informants and poachers in the hunting activities of these animals.
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