Article: Wildlife dept hard at work

Tuesday August 25, 2009

THE Department of Wildlife and National Parks appreciates the concern highlighted in the letter "Nurture this natural treasure" by Mohd Hanipah Salleh (The Star, Aug 20).

We are committed to wildlife conservation and to stopping illegal activities in the Panti Forest Reserve.

The department is tracking wildlife inventories and conducting patrols.

From 2007 up to this year, we have held 38 operations to dispose of snares set up by poachers.

During the period, we caught seven poachers who were hunting wild boars and birds.

The Johor Wildlife Conservation Project has been in operation since 2007 to stop illegal wildlife harvesting from protected areas in the state. The project is jointly held with the police, the state forestry department, the Johor National Parks Corporation, Kulim Malaysia Bhd and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Our wildlife enforcement officers are on hand round the clock to act on information from non-government organisations and the public.

The public can offer tip-offs by calling wildlife officers through the telephone numbers listed at www.wildlife.gov.my.

With everybody working together, we can ensure our wildlife continue to be protected.

MOHD HAIZUL HOD,

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment,

Putrajaya.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Opinion 25 August 2009