It’s time to protect, not destroy

Sad sight: Turtle carcasses on a beach at Semporna.

IN conjunction with Earth Day today, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) would like to highlight the fact that at least one-fifth of mammals found in Malaysia is facing extinction. That is according to data provided by the World Bank in 2015, which revealed that in 2014 as many as 70 species out of 336 mammals were in danger. This special classification ranks Malaysia seventh in the world for the most animals in danger of extinction, while in South-East Asia it is second only to Indonesia, which counts 184 species at risk.

Malaysia is the most dangerous country in the world for species already at risk. The continuous emergence of wildlife crime news in the media warrants serious attention from the government and relevant authorities. From tigers being snared by poachers and elephants becoming roadkill, from primates and sun bears being killed and illegally traded to turtles threatened by the consumption of eggs – the list of problems our wildlife face just goes on and on.