Mailbox: Add terrapins to the list

February 20, 2009 Categories: Mailbox

WWF Malaysia is heartened by the statement made by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks deputy director-general Misliah Mohamad Basir that turtles and terrapins must be protected under Federal Law.

The Protection of Wildlife Act 1972, which is the principal Federal legislation purporting to protect
wildlife in Peninsular Malaysia, has never attempted to include turtles or terrapins within its purview.

Specifically, with regard to the southern river terrapin, the “Batagur affinis” (previously “Batagur baska”)
has been classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being critically endangered
and listed as an Appendix I species by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Efforts must be undertaken expeditiously to protect this species under the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972.

In light of the fact that the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972 is being reviewed by Perhilitan, it is the
most opportune time to add river terrapins under its scheduled list of protected species’.

Datuk Dr Dionysius S. K. Sharma
WWF Malaysia executive director
and CEO

This article was taken from:The Malay Mail: Mailbox 20 February 2009