Halting the trade in wildlife

OUR local media often display images of seizures of pangolin, ivory, rhino horn, tiger parts and testudines with headlines hailing the success of wildlife operations conducted by the Malaysian authorities. While these pictures depict the success of law enforcement against wildlife trafficking, it can be alarming due to the sheer quantity of wildlife products seized not only in Malaysia but also those en route to or re-exported from Malaysia.

Wildlife trafficking is thought to be the third most valuable illicit commerce in the world after drugs and weapons. Discussions on combating wildlife trafficking have focused mainly on elephants, rhinos and tigers in Africa and Asia.