Cruel business for status and money

Killing trade: Some of the 1,000 songbirds rescued by Perhilitan Johor in April 2021 that were going to be smuggled out of the country.

WHILE the reopening of international borders is much welcomed, there are also downsides to it. For one, it will provide opportunities to poachers from countries nearby to return to the Malaysian jungles and help themselves to our wildlife. This will spell doom for Malaysia’s many endangered wildlife, especially our coveted songbirds.

The common hill myna has seriously declined in numbers in South-East Asia, particularly Indonesia. Other species at risk are oriental magpie robins, which are heavily targeted for the pet trade, and the straw-headed bulbul. Many of these birds are in high demand in Indonesia where the native bird species are disappearing from their home range.

The trafficking of birds in sheer numbers highlights the rampant bird trade in Indonesia. It was stated in a Mongabay (non-profit conservation and environmental science news platform based in the United States) report in July 2020 that “smugglers managed to ship more than 7,000 birds, including wild-caught songbirds by air from Sumatra to Java, proving the country’s weak enforcement against the deeply entrenched bird trade.”

In Indonesia, people buy rare birds, including raptors, for status. Pictures of them posturing with the birds make them look good on Facebook. For the bird catchers, usually poor village folk, the activity brings in much needed income, and there is practically zero risk of being arrested. As for the traders, the income they make from their illegal business is lucrative enough to impress their friends.

Only a small number of songbirds are legally protected in their countries, and fewer still are protected internationally. Meanwhile, enforcement of laws is sorely lacking for legally protected species. Cases often take a long time to investigate, and prosecutors often ignore them.

Punishments are usually lenient, and the conviction rate for environmental crimes is still very low.

Of greater concern is the cruel fate meted out to the birds, which are captured from their natural habitats and tossed into crowded cages. Many will eventually die from the extreme distress they suffered while in captivity.

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) calls on the Malaysian authorities to beef up enforcement against poachers and traders of all wildlife. The amended Wildlife Conservation Act may allow the department to mete out harsher punishments, but without enforcement, poachers will still escape.

The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) must be provided with sufficient resources to enable them to stop poaching activities.

Existing regulations must also be improved and a regulatory framework formulated for registered bird breeders, who should be monitored to prevent them from selling wild-caught bird species. Some form of deterrent, such as mandatory jail sentence, must be imposed on all bird trappers as well.

CAP has noted that bird trapping is occurring daily and is not limited to prized birds but any avian species that can fetch a price nationwide. A nationwide hotline should be set up to receive reports of trapping activities.

Unfortunately, there are no easy solutions as regulatory policies are either difficult to implement or poorly understood by policymakers themselves. Nonetheless, we urge the relevant authorities to overcome these hurdles and work with non-governmental organisations for better outcomes.

People should also be educated about respecting other lives, including birds, and their right to be free. The benefits of birds in pest control should also be shared with rural folk.

MOHIDEEN ABDUL KADER

President

Consumers’ Association of Penang