Report any poaching, trading of protected wildlife, says Sabah Wildlife director

KOTA KINABALU: The public are urged to report any poaching or trading of protected wildlife instead of taking matters into their own hands, says Sabah Wildlife director Augustine Tuuga.

He was referring to a recent news article where a restaurateur had purchased a live pangolin for RM200 to rescue it.

Tuuga said the intention of the restaurateur might be noble but it would not deter poachers from carrying out their illegal activities.

The man had alerted wildlife officials of his purchase and handed over the pangolin to them.

“Instead of paying for the pangolin, he could have alerted us immediately so that action could be taken against the perpetrator,” he said.

“It is also an offence to buy any totally protected species of wildlife or plants in Sabah,” Tuuga warned.

He said in this case, they received a call from someone saying that he had purchased the pangolin for RM200 as he wanted to rescue it.

The caller said he came across the seller on the street and did not know where he went after that.

“The intention may have been noble but it is better to alert the authorities immediately to deter poachers from catching and selling protected wildlife,” Tuuga said.

Nevertheless, he said the action of this person showed there was an increased awareness of wildlife possession in Sabah.

He said some of the common protected wildlife and plants being poached were pangolin, tembadau (wild buffaloes) and slipper orchids.

Those found having any parts of any fully protected species such as the pangolin can be fined at least RM50,000 up to RM250,000, or jailed between one and five years upon conviction.