Asean-Wildlife Enforcement Network (Asean-Wen) and the United States are establishing information-sharing channels in order to stop East-West wildlife crime.
In Sarawak and Sabah, where the two states are well known for its natural beauty and exotic wildlifes, the endangered animals are being slaughtered by poaching and illegal hunting. Their meats destined to cooking pots in restaurants in Kota Kinabalu or Kuching as well as overseas cities.
And to make matter worst, black market for exotic meats in East Malaysia even thrive due to absence of enforcement from the local authorities such as the National Park departments, Forestry departments, Custom and Immigrations and the Police.
It was also reported that some rich taukay in the states kept endangered animals as pet in their backyard. Some rich man even have a mini zoo. These goes on without the authority taking any action.
And it also a fact that crime rates in major towns in East Malaysia is up even when the Police forces headcount were increased but they also could not contain the crime. So it become worst for the animal in the jungle where they are protected by law but not from merciless hunters and poachers.
Related posts:
* Crimes in Sabah jungle
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Source: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/5/nation/21148116&sec=nation (May 05, 2008)
Cooperation on wildlife crime
By STEPHEN THEN
MIRI: Asean-Wildlife Enforcement Network (Asean-Wen) and the United States are establishing information-sharing channels in order to stop East-West wildlife crime.
In addition to fostering better regional and international cooperation for this, the Asean-US Wildlife Crime Forensics Exchange aims to increase the capacity of scientists to support the fight against wildlife crime.
Forensic science is often used to identify seized animals and plants and connect suspects with crime scenes and contraband.
As such, internationally-renowned forensic experts from the US Federal Law Enforcement Laboratory conducted a two-week-long special course for a group of scientists in the United States.
“These scientists from Asean, Africa, Europe and South America were taught how to track criminals involved in wildlife poaching and smuggling, crime scene investigation, DNA extraction, genetic analysis, identification of ivory, fur and leather, how to analyse blood and bile and how to evaluate the circumstances causing the death of wildlife,” said Asean-Wildlife Enforcement Network (Asean-Wen) coordinating committee liaison officer Klairoong Poonpon.
“The comprehensive training that ended last Friday was carried out at the US Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Laboratory in Oregon which houses the most advanced wildlife forensic laboratory in the world,” he said in an e-mail interview.
“The centre is already involved in investigating and prosecuting those involved in the smuggling of endangered Tibetan antelope products in the India-China-Thailand region.”
Last month, The Star had published a series of articles on the poaching and smuggling of endangered wildlife from the jungles of northern Sarawak following the discovery of abused trophy animals in the private farm of a rich towkay here.
Poonpon said wildlife poaching and smuggling had become one of the most lucrative black market businesses in the world.
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