WWF-Malaysia: Create wildlife crime unit in police force

KUALA LUMPUR: WWF-Malaysia is calling for the establishment of a wildlife crime unit within the police force in order to effectively combat poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking.

It said the unit could function to gather intelligence on poaching syndicates which are part of a larger illegal wildlife trade network.

"This will ensure that legal action is followed through, right from the evidence collection stage to the prosecution process," it said in a statement today.

In most reported cases, WWF-Malaysia said those who were prosecuted for hunting endangered species could have been working for foreign syndicates.

"Putting a stop to these syndicates should be made a priority, apart from penalising those who are guilty of committing wildlife crimes."

It warned that illegal wildlife trafficking is also on the rise, and is the most immediate threat to wildlife in Malaysia.

The Op Khazanah force, jointly led by the police and the Wildlife and National Parks Department, arrested a number of suspected poachers in Perak, Pahang, Terengganu, Johor and Kelantan since its launch in September.

It was reported that 64 poachers were caught since early this year.