MIRI – Sarawak marine police and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) have arrested a 68-year-old man believed to be trapping rare wildlife in the Bintulu-Miri region in northern Sarawak.
A number of protected bird species, including parrots and parakeets, and rare tortoises that were kept in cages at his house were rescued by authorities.
Bintulu marine police chief Shamsul Kassim today told reporters that the two agencies carried out a raid yesterday afternoon on the house at KM6 of the Bintulu-Miri Highway.
“Acting on information received, teams from the two agencies carried out a raid. Among the wildlife species found were parrots, parakeets, rare tortoises and giant banning (a type of bird).
“These animals are worth RM130,000 in the illegal wildlife trading markets,” he said.
Shamsul added that the rescued animals have been placed in the SFC wildlife sanctuary.
The suspect has been handed to the police, and is being investigated for illegally capturing wildlife for trade.
Anyone found capturing, keeping, selling, buying, hunting, abusing or killing protected wildlife can be fined up to RM50,000, jailed up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
The public is encouraged to share any information on the illegal wildlife trade with SFC – 019-885-9996 (Kuching), 019-888-3569 (Sibu), 019-833-2737 (Bintulu), and 019-829-0994 (Miri). – The Vibes, January 27, 2021
