(MY) snakes for sale

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Thursday March 8, 2007- The Star

 

2,400 snakes for sale

 

By PRISCILLA DIELENBERG

 

PENANG: The 2,400 banded rat snakes seized by the state Wildlife and

National Parks Department are up for sale.

 

State Wildlife and National Parks Department director Hasnan Yusop,

however, said only licensed exporters and importers of wild animals

would be allowed to bid for the reptiles.

 

He said the snakes could not be released into the wild here because

that would disrupt the ecosystem.

 

" We cannot simply release such a great number of snakes into the

natural habitat in Penang or anywhere else in the country.

 

Keeping them cool: A Wildlife Department officer hosing down the live

snakes to keep them cool.

" If the snakes are released into the wild, they might die or breed and

become a pest.

 

" We also cannot keep the snakes for long, as we would have problems

feeding them. Plus, wild animals in captivity suffer from stress, " he

said, adding that the snakes were believed to have been brought in

from Thailand.

 

Wildlife officers seized the snakes from 86 crates bound for Hong

Kong, when they conducted a raid at the Second Air Cargo Complex in

Batu Maung here on Tuesday.

 

The meat and blood of the banded rat snake is a highly-prized delicacy

in certain Asian countries. The snake is protected under the

Protection of Wild Life Act 1972 and the Convention on International

Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) but is not

scheduled as a totally protected animal.

 

Hasnan said no arrests had been made yet but a Penang-based forwarding

agent had provided information about the owner of the snakes.

 

" We are checking the owner's particulars and once investigations are

completed, we will send the papers to the public prosecutor's office

for further action, " he added.