SHAH ALAM: In its biggest raid this year, the Selangor Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) arrested two brothers who were selling exotic animals online, rescuing close to 30 animals.
Based on public tip offs, the department managed to nab the two men, aged 20 and 29, at a highway toll plaza on Friday.
They were caught red-handed ferrying a Malayan sun bear, four barn owls and a common palm civet in a multi-purpose vehicle at the Ayer Hitam toll plaza on the South Klang Valley Expressway at 2.30am.
Selangor Perhilitan director Rahim Ahmad said the department believed the two were selling the wild animals through the Internet
to customers who either wanted to rear the animals or sample them as food.
After interrogation, he said, the department’s officers raided the brothers’ house in Bandar Seri Sendayan in Seremban at 2.30pm.
Another 20 barn owls were discovered together with two Sunda flying lemurs, a leopard cat and a Malayan porcupine.
“The animals we recovered will be released in Perhilitan’s reserve areas. We are investigating how the suspects obtained the animals and whether they are part of a bigger syndicate,” he said at the Selangor Perhilitan office here yesterday.
Rahim added that under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, the Malayan sun bear, leopard cat, barn owl and Sunda flying lemur were fully protected species while the common palm civet and Malayan porcupine were protected species.
The seized animals were worth up to RM30,000, according to the prices provided by the brothers.
A Malayan sun bear’s asking price could reach RM10,000, the leopard cat and Sunda flying lemurs RM2,000, Malayan porcupine (RM1,000), barn owl (RM600) and common palm civet (RM200).
Under section 60(1)(a) of the act, keeping a protected wildlife species without a licence could land offenders in jail for not more than two years or a fine of not more than RM50,000 or both.
If found guilty under section 68(1)(a) of the act for keeping a fully protected species, the culprits are liable to a fine of not more than RM100,000 or jailed not more than three years or both.
To report illegal wildlife activity, the public can contact the Perhilitan Hotline (1-800-88-5151) or Careline (1-300-80-1010).