(MY) cockatoos shrieking

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2007/06/01-NST

These bus 'passengers' had not paid, and were shrieking

By : Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah

 

 

KOTA BARU: Seven cockatoos and a long-tailed macaque were screaming

and shrieking when Wildlife Department rangers opened the luggage

compartment of an express bus at a roadblock near Rantau Panjang early

yesterday.

A few of the birds were weak after travelling for more than 10 hours

from Johor Baru, considering the dark and suffocating condition in the

compartment.

 

All were alive.

 

The protected animals were being smuggled into Thailand by a 34-year

old Thai, who was detained by the rangers.

 

Kelantan Wildlife Department director Pazil Abdul Patah said three

rangers stopped the bus at the Chabang Empat Salam roadblock about

6.30am after receiving information.

" They opened the compartment and found three cages measuring 0.75m by

0.5m containing the birds, identified as sulphur-crested cockatoos and

the macaque.

 

" The man was then detained, " he said.

 

Pazil said the suspect, originally from Songkhla, had planned to cross

the border via the many illegal jetties at the border and then head

for Bangkok to sell them.

 

The birds and macaque, valued at RM5,000 each, were bought from

several traders in Johor.

 

The cockatoos (scientific name cacatua galerita), commonly found in

Australia and the macaque (macaca fascicularis), commonly found in the

region, are protected under the Wildlife Act.

 

Pazil said this was the first seizure by the department on an express

bus this year.

 

The department will send the animals to the Malacca Zoo.

 

He said the Thai, who had a valid passport, was being held for investigation.