Exotic meat demand on the rise despite crackdown and stiff punishment
MOHD JAMILUL ANBIA MD DENIN
New Straits Times17 February 2018
KUALA LUMPUR: Demand for exotic meat appears to be rising despite crackdown and stiff punishment, Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) said today.
Its director general, Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the trend is likely to continue, especially during festive season, because such activity offers lucrative returns. “Foodies seeking culinary experience are willing to pay thousands of ringgit to savour 'hard-to-get' cuisines and anything deemed as exotic,
“Most of the time, these restaurants only serve regular customers. However, we believe there is a strong possibility that exotic food demand surges during festive season," he said.
In the latest case last Sunday, he said Johor Perhilitan arrested a 60-year-old man in Bukit Senang near Senai for possessing frozen exotic meat.
“The 7am raid was conducted following the success of our intelligence gathering effort.
“The team seized wild boar, python and turtle meats at the premises.
“Also seized was a pick-up truck believed to have been used to transport the meat,” he said.
Kadir said the man was suspected of supplying frozen exotic meats to restaurants nearby.
In a separate operation last Monday, Perhilitan personnel nabbed a motorcyclist at Jalan Jeram Talang, Tanjung Ipoh in Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan at 6.30am.
Kadir said upon checking, the team found two napuh (greater mouse deer) carcasses and a napuh head wrapped in plastic. “The 30-year-old man did not possess any valid Perhilitan licences to sell the wildlife meat," he said, adding that both cases are being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010. “If both of them are convicted, they can be fined not more than RM50,000 or jailed for not less than two years or both,” he said.
Johor Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) officer nabbed a 60-year old man in Senai for possessing frozen exotic meat. NSTP pic.
Kadir said the second arrest came following an operation on Feb 5.
During the raid, the team stormed a house in Jalan Tampin Dioh, Kuala Pilah where they found a leaf monkey, two macaques and two frozen packets of wild boar meat.
He urged the public to work with the department in ensuring the sustainability of Malaysian wildlife. Any information on poaching and wildlife trading can be channeled via Perhilitan’s hotline at 1-800-88-5151 or through e-complaint to the department's website: www.wildlife.gov.my. © New Straits Times Press
