Guest guest Posted April 14, 2007 Report Share Posted April 14, 2007 2007/04/14-New Straits Times Let us sell slipper orchids, growers plead E-mail : news By : Siti Nurbaiyah Nadzmi There are more than 100 types of slipper orchids or paphiopedilum growing in the tropical highlands of Malaysia and Borneo.They are classified as endangered species. There are more than 100 types of slipper orchids or paphiopedilum growing in the tropical highlands of Malaysia and Borneo.They are classified as endangered species. JOHOR BARU: Local orchid growers are losing millions to their European competitors. While the sale of the rare slipper orchid, a Malaysian horticultural treasure, is banned here, European growers have commercially produced the species from plants smuggled out of Borneo and Malaysia. In view of this, the Commercial Orchid Growers of Malaysia is urging the authorities to lift the ban on the sale of slipper orchids to enable local growers to tap the lucrative market. " It is possible to propagate slipper orchids in the laboratory. All we need is the right technique and know-how, " said its president Wong Kiang Ho. Wong said by lifting the ban, the wild species could continue to thrive in their natural habitat and the illegal trade could be curbed. " The foreigners are making tonnes of money propagating slipper orchid, which comes from our forests, but we, the local growers, are deprived from selling what is rightly ours. " There are more than 100 types of slipper orchids or paphiopedilum growing in the tropical highlands of Malaysia and Borneo. They are classified as endangered species. Among the most popular are the Paphiopedilum sanderianum from the Mulu National Park, Sarawak; Paphiopedilum rothschildianum from Kota Kinabalu Park; and Paphiopdilum barbatum from Gunung Ledang National Park, Johor. Wild slipper orchids are sold illegally online for between RM3,800 and RM5,000, depending on their origin. Wong said the illegal trade was carried out by individuals and not syndicates. " It is not easy to look for and collect wild slipper orchids. The species also do not survive the humidity of the lowlands. " It is better for the government to legalise the sale of commercially grown slipper orchids and brand them as ours. " Last year, scientist Dr Lim Sian Tiong was jailed 50 months after he attempted to smuggle 126 rare and protected slipper orchids into Britain. Lim was caught by British customs officers after he flew to London's Heathrow Airport from Kuala Lumpur. The plants were hidden in the luggage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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