(MY) wildlife eaten

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2007/11/14-New Straits Times

 

Nabbed at 'kancil' barbeque

By : Shahrum Sayuthi

 

 

 

State Perhilitan director Ady Ermanty Haniff Mohamed Hanif (left) and

Rompin Perhilitan chief Abd Aziz Mohd with the weapons and roasted

mousedeers seized from the illegal hunters last week.

 

 

KUANTAN: A day after two poachers were caught roasting a mousedeer in

the Simpan Lesong Forest Reserve, Rompin, last week, four more were

nabbed at the same spot having a kancil barbecue.

 

A Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) team

stumbled on two poachers roasting three mousedeers in an abandoned

logging camp at 10am on Nov 9.

 

" Both admitted they did not have a permit to kill the animals, which

is a protected species, " said state Perhilitan director Ady Ermanty

Haniff Mohamed Hanif, adding that the three mousedeer were seized

along with a Baretta shotgun, 24 cartridges, an ammunition belt, two

torchlights and a parang.

 

The team went back to the same spot at 11am the next day and found

another four poachers roasting six mousedeer. Two tried to flee into

the jungle but were caught.

 

Officers seized the roasted mousedeers, a Stevens shotgun, 29

cartridges, an ammunition belt, three torchlights and three parang.

 

Ady Ermanty said the six men were believed to have killed the animals

for their own consumption, adding that they had no permits to hunt

mousedeer.

 

Hunting permits are only issued from May to August because the animals

mate during the rest of the year.

 

The poachers were released after their statements were recorded.

 

They face a maximum fine of RM3,000 or three years' jail if found

guilty of illegally killing or being in possession of protected

species under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.