Metro

Saturday November 7, 2009

Smuggling bid foiled

By CHRISTINA CHIN, Photos by GOH GAIK LEE


Rescued: Wildlife officers swooped down on a house in Kepala Batas, Penang, and found some 380 birds of protected species worth about RM30,000 bound for sale to pet stores and individual buyers.

THE Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) swooped in on a suspected bird smuggler and seized 385 birds worth RM30,000 in Kepala Batas.

Department director Noor Alif Wira Osman said the birds, believed to have been smuggled from neighbouring countries, were seized by the department’s enforcement unit on Wednesday.

Protected birds: Perhilitan officers taking the cages containing the birds out from the department's office on Jalan Gurdwara in Penang.

“We raided a house in Kampung Selamat at about 6.30pm and found several species of birds kept hidden in a secret storeroom in the premises.

Terrified: The Common Hill Myna huddling together inside one of the cages.

“The premises owner, who is in his 30s, was detained and released after his statement was recorded,” he said, adding that the species seized were the Red-whiskered Bulbul, Common Hill Myna, Sun Parakeet and Blue Crowned Hanging Parrot.

He said the man was believed to have smuggled the birds into the country by land and selling them to pet store owners and individuals in the state.

All birds seized are protected under the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972.

If found guilty, the premises owner could be fined a maximum of RM12,000 or spend 12 years in prison, or both, for the offence.

“The birds will be sent to the Malacca Zoo as soon as possible,” he said.

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