THE government should introduce a more stringent law to stop wildlife poaching as many of the culprits are not deterred by the punishments provided under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
The act should be amended to include a mandatory minimum jail term for those found guilty of poaching, including those who keep the carcasses of wild animals.
Recent reports showed that many poachers are using more brutal techniques to catch protected animals, including laying wire snares that could inflict a slow but painful death on the animals.
A group of foreign poachers detained in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, on July 4 was described as “hardcore”.
The group targeted all types of wildlife, gaining lucrative returns in the black market.
A Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) source said the group, which had been active for several years, used a premises near a sawmill to kill and harvest the animals before selling them to middlemen.
Although the Wildlife Conservation Act, which was passed in 2010 to replace the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, is tough on lawbreakers, some quarters claimed that it is not deterrent enough.
It is learnt that Perhilitan had proposed the amendment of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 so that poachers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
It will provide harsher punishment, including a minimum period of imprisonment, as there’s no such provision now.
We must also be more proactive in curbing the sale and purchase of endangered animals and their parts through more effective national and international legislation and enforcement.
I hope enforcement agencies can strengthen their cooperation to cripple poaching syndicates.
The agencies must use technology, including drones, remote sensing and camera trapping, to prevent poaching and smuggling.
Greater public awareness, better law enforcement and stronger political will are needed to not only prevent illegal wildlife trade, but also to avoid over-exploitation of natural resources.
Protecting wildlife also requires collaboration from non-governmental organisations, the government, corporate stakeholders and communities.
Malaysians should report wildlife crimes to the Perhilitan hotline (1-800-88-5151, office hours) or the wildlife crime hotline at 019-3564194
Animal cruelty must never be tolerated. Animals have a right to live and share this planet.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE
Animal activist, Kuala Lumpur
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