(MY) letter on exotic pets

[Guest guest]

Sunday July 8, 2007-The Star

 

 

Discourage sale of exotic pets

 

SAHABAT Alam Malaysia (SAM) is heartened to learn of the safe return

of the Indian star tortoises that were seized at the KL International

Airport to their native homeland after being kept in Malaysia for

nearly two months.

 

What remains of the fate of the 76 leopard tortoises labelled as " clay

pots " which caught the attention of a vigilant Pos Malaysia staff at

the Sepang Low-Cost Carrier Terminal is yet to be seen.

 

While Malaysia is getting tough on human trafficking, arms and drug

smuggling, little attention is being paid to the more lucrative trade

of exotic and endangered wildlife.

 

With smugglers using Malaysia as a key transit route for illicit

international wildlife trade smuggling, there is a need for heightened

vigilance to keep track of the entry and exit points for attempted

smuggling.

 

There is an ever growing market for exotic pets as pet shops and

aquariums across the country enjoy brisk business selling exotic

species by the thousands daily.

 

It is a global problem with South-East Asia being a major hotspot for

the thousands of live reptiles that are captured and traded each year

for the collector industry.

 

It is high time the authorities address the current state of the

exotic pet trade and discourage sale of exotic reptiles, amphibians

and foreign species through a nationwide crackdown on pet shops and

aquariums.

 

 

 

S M MOHD IDRIS,

President,

Sahabat Alam, Selangor.