Wildlife Syndicate Using Oil Palm Plantations As Cover For Illegal Trade
July 24, 2007 19:29 PM
By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa
JOHOR BAHARU, July 24 (Bernama) — Stores or what syndicate members refer to as “terminals” come equipped with cages and freezers to keep live animals and fresh meat.
The stores located deep in oil palm plantations to avoid detection were set up by a syndicate behind the wildlife illegal trade, said a researcher with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) here today.
“The stores act as temporary holding centres until the protected animals and meat are smuggled out of the country or ordered by restaurants serving exotic dishes,” the researcher who declined to be identified told Bernama.
The researcher who feared for his safety said the stores supply restaurants which put exotic dishes on the menu including the much sought after tiger meat.
The syndicate members also conduct regular patrols to protect the stores from intruders.
“I wanted to snap photographs of the stores but was prevented by a colleague who said it was too risky as the members carry firearms,” said the researcher.
Assistant director (Enforcement) of the Wildlife Protection and National Parks (Perhilitan) Wildlife Crime Unit, Celescoriano Razond admitted the stores’ existence.
“The stores are located in remote oil palm plantations and Orang Asli settlements making detection difficult.”
He refused to reveal their locations as it would disrupt investigation by his department.
Rezond said exotic dish restaurants rarely keep wildlife meat at their premises.
“The meat is taken from the stores after orders are received,” he added.
When contacted, Johor Perhilitan director Abdul Razak Majid said the department would investigate the researcher’s claim.
Recently, Perhilitan’s Wildlife Crime Unit seized some 950 monkeys destined for China and Holland from a rambutan orchard in Pontian.
Perhilitan had also raided several stores in oil palm plantations used to keep protected animals and fresh meat.
Source: BERNAMA
