Wildlife Dept's'war' on illegal trade and poaching pays off

KOTA KINABALU: About 160kg of bush meat were seized from rural markets in Sabah over the past few months.

Sabah Wildlife Department deputy director Augustine Tunga said the seizures were made following the start of its “war” on the illegal wildlife trade and poaching in Decem­ber.

“Since we launched the war against the illegal wildlife meat trade and poaching, 160kg of sambar deer and barking deer meat have been seized in the interior district of Nabawan,” he said during the World Wildlife Day event at Gaya Street here yesterday.

Augustine said the department was working hard to protect wildlife in Sabah and hoped that there would be more crackdowns on poaching and the illegal trade with the public’s participation in the programme.

In this respect, head of Conservation Unit for the World Wildlife Fund for Nature Sabah, Bernard Tai, said the World Wildlife Day was an opportunity for people to appreciate the beautiful and diverse forms of protected animals and to learn more about the seriousness of wildlife crime.

Sabah bush meat is highly sought-after not only by international syndicates for its supposed medicinal properties, but also by local buyers for its exotic taste.