It’s so easy to buy and sell wildlife

It took just two days and fewer than 20 exchanges over WhatsApp for a Brahminy Kite (pic above) hatchling, a protected species in Malaysia, to be delivered to a buyer. The bird was priced at RM600 and was paid for upon delivery at, of all places, a hair salon.

EXCLUSIVE: KLANG: Despite all the efforts by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), it is still easy to buy and sell wildlife in Malaysia, especially with the social media being used as the platform for transactions.

The Star’s reporter set out to buy a Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus), a totally protected species, and was able to get a bird in just two days after fewer than 20 WhatsApp messages.