Malaysia has the honour to be the habitat of many unique animals, including several endangered species that are well known all over the world, including the asian elephant, the malayan tiger, the orang utan, the sumatran rhinoceros and the sun bear. These animals are the nation’s treasures, especially the malayan tiger, which occupies a place of pride in the country’s psyche, and is routinely used to embody the country’s fighting spirit, particularly in sports.

No one can deny that these ivory carvings are beautiful, but is it worth sacrificing an animal?

Unfortunately, it would seem that Malaysia, due to its strategic location, and perhaps its reputation as a lawful country, is being targetted by smugglers who use the country as a means to avoid detection by anti-smuggling authorities worldwide. Hopefully, the efforts shown by the Malaysian authorities continue to frustrate smuggling efforts, especially in animal parts.

Question, would you buy a ivory product knowing that an elephant had to die for it? How about a tiger? Tell us what YOU think.

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Barely two weeks after a seizure of elephant tusks worth RM2.3mil in Penang, the Customs Department here found two containers filled with 695 elephant tusks valued at RM3mil.

“The shipment was declared as recycle crush plastic’ (sic) and was on transit from the Dar es Salaam port to China,” Customs assistant director-general Datuk Zainul Abidin Taib said.

Zainul said the tusks, hidden among the recycled plastic in the 20-foot containers, weighed about 2,000kg and were seized on Friday.

On Aug 19, 664 elephant tusks weighing 1,586kg were seized in Penang.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Zainul said both shipments were from Tanzania, and had stopped for transhipment in Malaysia, with China being its final destination.

On the Port Klang seizure, he said they had sent a team to “escort” the two containers, after being tipped off by Customs officers in Penang, to the department’s marine enforcement store.

A Customs team checked through the two containers and found 92 plastic bags of tusks amidst the recycled plastics.

Zainul said there was a possibility that the same syndicate was behind the Penang and Port Klang cases due to the same modus operandi.

“Investigations are ongoing. So far, no arrest has been made in both cases,” he said.

Zainul said they wanted to find out why the smugglers had chosen to transit in Malaysia instead of sailing directly to their final destination.

“Logically, it is not cost-efficient to stop for transit,” he said.

He added that the perpetrators had violated the International Trade in Endangered Species Act, which carries a fine of up to RM100,000 per animal, or a maximum of RM1mil in total.

Zainul said those with more information on smuggling activities should contact the Customs Department at 1800-88-8855.

“We want to prevent Malaysia from becoming a transit hub for illegal goods,” he said.

Last week, wildlife monitoring trade network Traffic regional director Dr William Schaedla said Malaysia had emerged as a major hub for illegal ivory trade in the past few years.

News reports have stated that at least 20 tonnes of illegal ivory have passed through Malaysian ports since 2003.

Just a week ago, 794 African ivory tusks were confiscated by Hong Kong authorities after they arrived by sea from Malaysia.

The tusks, estimated to be worth HK3mil (RM4.97mil), were concealed in a consignment declared as non-ferrous products for factory use.

The seizure came after another report that about 1,000 elephant tusks hidden in a container of anchovies, bound for Malaysia late last month, were seized by Tanzanian authorities.

Source: The Star

Photos (c) greyloch

Regional networking
The highlight of the conference was a networking session with the Malaysian Medical Association (Sarawak) members where a local consultant briefed the group on the medical developments in Sarawak to improve services in rural areas.

Dr Robyn Napier, medical secretary and medical director of the Australian Medical Association (NSW), says: “Our colleagues in Sarawak come from first-hand experience and I am looking forward to incorporating that knowledge into our practices back home. For me, the real highlight is what I have learnt. Groups must come to Sarawak.”

Rewarding interactions
The group was energised by a day spent with some of Sarawak’s most cherished residents. Delegates spent the morning experiencing the ‘Heart-to-Heart with Orangutans’ activity at the Matang Wildlife Centre, where the apes undergo rehabilitation before being returned to the wild.

The programme was developed by the Sarawak Convention Bureau and Sarawak Forestry as an interactive CSR programme that builds awareness of the endangered animal as well as giving delegates an opportunity to connect with the destination.

Rangers briefed the group on the conservation programme before leading a tour through the centre. Delegates were then assigned tasks such as painting the walls, cleaning cages or assisting with the Orangutan Enrichment Programme. After lunch, the group transferred to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre to see semi-wild orangutans in their natural habitat. The group then spent two nights at Borneo Highland Resort, which offers one of the region’s top golf courses and a jungle spa.

Organiser David Broit of Platinum International Travel, says: “The success of bringing my first two groups into Sarawak means that it is a definite inclusion in my tour programme for future groups.”

Source: cei