Police, Perhilitan score big hit against poachers over the weekend
Police and wildlife authorities recovered scores of wildlife animal parts when they recently arrested several poachers, including tiger's testicles and elephant's semen.
According to a press conference held by Bukit Aman and the Wildlife and National Parks Department this morning, the joint task-force under Operation Khazanah arrested eight poachers, five locals and three foreigners over the past weekend...
Police and wildlife authorities recovered scores of wildlife animal parts when they recently arrested several poachers, including tiger's testicles and elephant's semen.
According to a press conference held by Bukit Aman and the Wildlife and National Parks Department this morning, the joint task-force under Operation Khazanah arrested eight poachers, five locals and three foreigners over the past weekend.
The arrests were made in Gua Musang, Kelantan; Labis Forest Reserve in Johor; Ulu Muda Forest Reserve in Kedah; and in the Endau Rompin National Park Reserve.
Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department deputy director Zainal Abidin Kasim said the first arrest was made in Johor when a team of personnel from the police's General Operations Force Senoi Praaq Battalion and the Wildlife Department carried out a raid at the Labis Forest Reserve on Saturday and nabbed a local man.
They seized wild orchids and Kacip Fatimah (Labisia Pumila) from the man.
"About 8pm on the same day, another team carried out an operation near the Medan Selera Gua Musang, where they arrested two Indonesian men.
"Checks by the authorities found tiger claws, testicles and fangs, as well as (bottles containing) elephant semen and deer hides," he said.
Also on Saturday, authorities arrested four local men at the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve and seized a chainsaw and four parangs, which authorities believed were used by the suspected poachers to cut down trees from the forest reserve.
The fifth suspect, according to Zainal, was nabbed at Endau Rompin about 10am on Sunday. He had 20 animal snares and an axe, which authorities believe is meant for cutting down Agarwood trees.
Many wildlife parts sold off as aphrodisiacs
Wildlife Department deputy director-general Fakhrul Hatta Musa told the press conference that the suspected wildlife poachers are being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, which carries a maximum punishment of RM100,000 fine, or three years jail, or both.
According to him, information gathered by the department all these while revealed that wildlife parts like the elephant' semen were popular in the black market as there are buyers who believe it can help increase their fertility.
"Like the elephant's semen, it is more towards the belief that it can help its user to be more fertile.
"This is the belief, although there is no scientific evidence to suggest so," Fakhrul told reporters when queried for further clarification.
According to another Wildlife Department officer who was present, elephant semen is usually mixed with some water before being drunk by those who feel that they need to either increase their fertility or sexual libido.
Checks online also showed that other wildlife parts, like tiger's testicles, were touted as being able to give an aphrodisiac effect to the users.
During the press conference, the authorities also revealed that since Operation Khazanah was launched in September, they have arrested a total of 46 men and one woman suspected of being involved in illegal wildlife trading.
Fakhrul said an investigation revealed that the foreigners involved in poaching Malaysian wildlife could be connected to an international syndicate.
There were also locals who acted as hosts to these foreigners, he added.
"There are also foreigners who come to Malaysia legally and have weekday jobs, like working in plantations or industries. During the weekends, they do these poaching activities to earn extra income."
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