Duo arrested over illegal wildlife possession, animal parts seized

Sandakan Wildlife officers display the seized meat and protected animals. -Starpic

BELURAN: Wildlife officials arrested two men and seized a cooler containing severed limbs of protected animals during a roadblock along Jalan Paitan near here on Sunday (Aug 5).

The duo were travelling in a four-wheel drive when their vehicle was stopped at 6.54am.

Sandakan Wildlife officer Hussien Muin said the local men, aged 33 and 34, were arrested for illegal possession of protected animals under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.

"The team, comprising Wildlife Department personnel and honorary wildlife wardens, carried out the operation after receiving a tip-off from the public.

"They confiscated wild boar meat, a deer, two foxes and a python, all stored inside the cooler," he said.

Hussien said a report has been lodged at the Beluran police headquarters.