"No study has been done to show just how much Malaysia is really losing, in ringgit terms, based on the amount of wildlife seized over the years," said Azrina Abdullah, Southeast Asia regional director for wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC — whose objective is to ensure such trade is not a threat to the conservation of nature.
"What is the real value of losing a pangolin, a tiger or a Sambar Deer?"
Commending agencies such as the Anti-Smuggling Unit, Marine Police, and Quarantine departments for making important seizures, Azrina said conservationists were "heartened by the fact that a combined effective effort has the potential to ensure the reduction of illegal wildlife trade" and expressed hopes for better enforcement efforts.
However, Azrina lamented the lack of the "big picture" enforcement, even though it is provided for in the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Act 2007. "There are some very good provisions in the Act but these will come to nothing if the enforcement authorities are not using them."
She also wondered about the "over-emphasis" still being placed on the National Parks and Wildlife Department (Perhilitan) to conduct wildlife trade enforcement activities when the CITES Act also accords similar powers to the police and customs.
Malaysia is also a member of the Asean Wildlife Enforcement Network (or ASEAN-WEN) which provides an excellent platform for agencies in Southeast Asia to combat the organised trans-boundary criminal activities of wildlife trafficking and trade and effectively enforce the CITES agreement.
Azrina said that the longer the government took to change the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972 (PWA), the more Malaysia’s wildlife will suffer.
"Penalties imposed (under the Act for wildlife offences) are usually very low and do not pose enough of a deterrent to illegal traders. This is one of the main barriers in wildlife management," she explained.
As part of the coalition that has started an online petition for the PWA 1972 to be "overhauled", TRAFFIC — together with the Malaysian Nature Society, Wildlife Conservation Society and WWF-Malaysia – hopes that the public will support this important campaign and sign up at www.petitioonline.com/MYLaw/petition.html.
This article was taken from: the Malay mail: news 10 november 2008
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