Source: The Star
Published on 17th June, 2015 by Yuen Meikeng
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 26 cases of illegal wildlife hunting were recorded between 2011 and April this year, according to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.
Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit said five cases were brought to court, four of which were being handed down sentences for the crime.
“No cases of illegal hunting for tigers were brought to court,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during question time.
Dawos was replying to a supplementary question by Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali (BN – Bagan Serai) who asked about the extent of illegal hunting on tigers in the country.
The MP also asked whether the government had done any specific studies on the reproduction of tigers.
Dawos said there were between 250 and 340 tigers left in the wild in Malaysia based on a 2014 survey done in three main forests in the country.
He said the overall population of tigers would be known after the national tiger survey is done under the 11th Malaysia Plan.
“Research has been done by installing cameras in forests to see if the tiger bred in different habitats.Poaching
“Perhilitan has done research and will continue such efforts to see how the tiger population can be increased,” Dawos said.
He pointed out that the natural habitat for wildlife, including tigers, needed to be expanded.
“The total area of gazetted habitat including permanent forest reserves is not enough. We need at least five million hectares,” he said.
He added that the Government had gazetted 35 protected areas covering 714,267 hectares while 1.95 million hectares of permanent forest reserves were classified as protected forests.
Dawos said tigers were totally protected animals and could not be exported for commercial purposes.
“However, they can be placed in overseas zoos for conservation purposes. Since the 1980s, a total of 20 tigers have been sent to overseas zoos.
“Currently, there are 70 tigers in zoos in Malaysia,” he said.
The Green Reporter 