PUTRAJAYA: An attempt to smuggle six live gibbons aboard an airplane has been foiled at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1.
The exotic animals, stuffed into small carriers and stashed in a suitcase, were spotted during routine baggage screening, KLIA said on its official Facebook page on Tuesday (June 9).
"A routine process brought this cruel attempt to the ground when our aviation security team detected a suspicious image on the scanner.
"Working swiftly alongside the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) and our airline partners, the team located the passenger and intercepted the smuggling attempt before the aircraft departed," the post read.
The airport said the gibbons' rescue proved that a united airport community can make a difference in the global fight against wildlife trafficking.
"Snatched from their natural habitats, these vulnerable creatures have no voice to protect themselves, which is why our frontline team must always be their shield.
"We can all play a part by refusing to support the exotic pet trade by staying vigilant when we travel and reporting any suspicious wildlife activities to airport security or the Perhilitan hotline immediately," it added.
The public can report any wildlife-related matters to the Perhilitan hotline at 1-800-88-5151.
