(MY) - Concern over wildlife

[Guest guest]

Thursday March 22, 2007-New Straits Times

 

Concern over wildlife

 

THERE has been a lot of talk lately about the fate of confiscated

wildlife and what concerned authorities should do to help ensure the

long-term safety and well being of such animals.

 

The recent news on the 2,400 Banded Rat Snakes that were confiscated

by the state Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) in

the Batu Maung Cargo Complex and sold to licensed snake traders

highlights the importance of Malaysia having proper protocols and

guidelines in handling such problems.

 

WWF-Malaysia and Traffic South-East Asia are of the position that the

selling of the snakes by the state wildlife office to licensed snake

traders was not done with the welfare of the animals in mind.

 

The selling could be publicly perceived as an endorsement of illegal

animal trapping, smuggling and/or sale, and this is a great concern,

especially so when it involves partially and/or totally protected

species.

 

WWF-Malaysia and Traffic South-East Asia fear that these 2,400 snakes

may now end up being killed for their skins, and culinary or medicinal

purposes, and this would simply be similar to what might have happened

to them had they been taken out of the country.

 

What could and should have been better was for the Malaysian

authorities to send the snakes back to the relevant authorities from

where they originated for possible release into the environment.

 

There ought to be better procedures in place for our Wildlife and

Customs officials to easily repatriate animals seized on either side

of the common border.

 

If survival of these animals are the primary concern, then going

beyond that simplistic " feel good factor " of having released animals

back to the wild is crucial.

 

The species' natural origins, food source, further threats from humans

are just some of the many issues that have to be considered when it

comes to releasing confiscated wildlife, especially those seized in

large numbers.

 

Banded Rat Snakes are a non-poisonous species found in many parts of

South and South-East Asia, and are geographically distributed to as

many as 18 countries, including Malaysia. It would have proven useful

for concerned authorities to perform a scientific check before making

any management decisions on what to do with these animals.

 

The sad part is that this problem is not exclusive to snakes but a

whole gamut of other wildlife.

 

The above situation only highlights the need for environmental

organisations, universities, and scientific institutions and even

interested members of the public to work closely with the Natural

Resources and Environment Ministry, through its various agencies, to

pool resources and expertise in coming up with workable guidelines on

the proper management of confiscated wildlife.

 

WWF-Malaysia and Traffic South-East Asia are willing to assist and

help in the developing of proper protocols and guidelines in handling

confiscated wildlife in Malaysia, and are always ready to facilitate

the getting of and/or providing the required resources and skills

needed to ensure the proper handling of confiscated wildlife.

 

DR DIONYSIUS S.K. SHARMA,

Executive Director/CEO

WWF-Malaysia,

DR MARK AULIYA,

Traffic South-East Asia