TAWAU: A "mini zoo" at a primary school that kept 50 animals was shutdown by the State Wildlife department here.
The department's Wildlife Rescue Unit turned up at the Yuk Chin Mini Zoo where they found the animals kept in squalid conditions.
The operation followed an article published by the UK Daily Mail two days ago about the poor conditions the animals were kept in.
State Wildlife director William Baya said; "Yuk Chin Primary school has been operating this mini Zoo for more than 20 years now.
"Though its main purpose is to educate its pupils about wildlife awareness, there is no excuse for not keeping the animals correctly and humanely.
"Besides that I have directed all my Wildlife Officers throughout the state to freeze issuance of all new mini zoo license and to immediately conduct inspection on all present mini zoo license holders to make sure that the animals that they are keeping are housed and fed correctly” he added.
“A total of more than 50 animals has been confiscated from the mini Zoo , including Estuarine Crocodiles , Wild Boars, Long tail Macaques, a Binturong, other small mammals and bird species .
"It will probably take the rescue unit at least two days to rescue and translocate these animals from this site. All of the animals will be assessed medically and wherever possible, will be released back into the wild.” concluded William.