Tigers in serious trouble around the world.

© Wild Aid Thailand

 

It is estimated that tiger populations have declined by 97% over the past hundred years. Loss of habitat and poaching of both tigers and their prey have brought this iconic species to the brink of extinction.

Today the remaining 3,200 tigers are scattered in around 70 pockets of forests across 14 countries - some of these populations are too small to survive in the long run.

In Malaysia and the other countries where tigers occur, habitat loss, forest fragmentation, poaching, illegal trade of tiger parts and derivatives, depletion of prey species and the conflict with people are the main threats to tigers.

Indirect threats include retaliatory killing or removal by the authorities after conflict, killings from snares set for other wildlife, poor livestock and plantation management and a lack of public awareness and support.

Poaching for consumption is an increasing threat in Malaysia and elsewhere. Almost every body part of the tiger is thought by some to have curative or ‘magical’ powers. Its meat is served as a delicacy in exotic meat restaurants and other body parts such as the teeth, claws and skin are also sought after. Monitoring the number of tigers which are killed each year is very difficult.

8 tiger skins, 9 tusks seized in raid

The tiger skins that were seized by Kedah Wildlife and National Parks Department officers at a house in Kota Sarang Semut, Kota Star, early yesterday. Pic courtesy of Wildlife and National Parks Department

The department said they managed to confiscate eight tiger skins, nine elephant tusks, 22 plastic bags containing what is believed to be animal bones and a horn, suspected to be from a deer. The raid was conducted at two  locations in Mukim Tokai, Pendang, and in Kota Sarang Semut, Kota Star, at 3.15am yesterday.

The items were found in a house in Kota Setar and a 29-year-old man was detained for investigations. In an immediate reaction, wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic Southeast Asia congratulated the department for its vigilance in making the seizure.

Its senior programme officer, Kanitha Krishnasamy, said the organisation viewed it as "a very serious crime" to hunt endangered animals for trade. "It is shocking to learn he has in his possession all these parts from totally-protected animals. Further investigation to determine where these items were obtained  and who else was involved is crucial."

Kavitha called for those involved in such activities to be penalised to the full extent of the law.  "Let us not repeat the mistake we made in 2007 when a man, who chopped a tiger into four parts, was fined only RM7,000 which he paid  instantly and walked out of the court smiling. We have to get tough with these criminals."

Kavitha said it was also important to determine the source of the tiger skins and elephant tusks. "DNA testing must be conducted for all items -- skins, bones, ivory and horns -- to determine the origins of these animals.

"Malaysia has seized more than six tonnes of ivory in the last seven months. "Although most were transshipments, the last seizure listed Malaysia as the end destination. "The arrest of this individual indicates that there are parties involved in ivory trade in Malaysia.

 "The arrest  is an excellent opportunity for the authorities  to crack down on the illegal trade chain and nab those involved," she said in a statement.

Source: nst.com.my

Malaysians caught smuggling pangolins

 

Two Malaysian men were arrested in southern Thailand on Monday for smuggling pangolins—an endangered anteater species– while passing through the inbound immigration border checkpoint in the Sadao district.

Forty-five pangolins, weighing over 100kg, were found in 24 net bags hidden under the back seat of the suspects’ vehicle.

The two men were identified as Mr Ahmad Ikram Bin Anuar and Muhamad Shaifol Bin Abidin.

The suspects were detained for questioning and told authorities that they had brought the wild animals from Malaysia in order to deliver them to customers in Thailand’s Sadao district.

Smuggling pangolins is against the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Source:  thailandtimes