ALOR STAR: The Wildlife and National Parks Department have seized 12 protected eagles from a man in Bukit Jenun, Pendang.
Its state director Inche Ali @ Muhammad Ali Che Aman said the birds of different species including crested goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus), bat hawk (Macheiramphus alcinus) and collared falconet (Microhietax caerulescens).
He said a team of eight state Wildlife staff seized the birds after the man failed to produce a permit to keep the eagles.
“The birds are protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and the 41-year-old man is being investigated for keeping the birds without proper permit,” he said in a statement today.
He added that keeping protected birds without licence is an offence under Section 68(2(a) of the Act which carries a maximum fine of RM100,000 or imprisonment up to three years’ or both, upon conviction.
He said the man has been released after he had his statement recorded.