In one of the largest-ever wildlife trafficking seizures in Malaysia, authorities seized six tonnes of illegal animal parts, valued at close to $18 million.
Elephant tusks, rhino horns, pangolin scales, tiger bones, and rhino horns are among the haul of trafficking parts. The pieces originated in Africa, according to Malaysia’s director of customs, General Zazuli Johan.
They were probably en route to China, which is the largest market for illegal wildlife items worldwide. Malaysia is one of the major transit hubs for the illegal trade, along with other nations in Southeast Asia.
No arrests have been made as of yet, but inquiries into the seizure are still ongoing.
A Commendable Feat
Such seizures are significant. Kanitha Krishnasamy, the director of the wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic, believes that more work needs to be done to put an end to the illicit wildlife trade.
“Not a day goes by without a wildlife seizure taking place in Southeast Asia, and all too often in volumes that are jaw-dropping,” said Krishnasamy to New Straits Times in 2020.
“Seizures are certainly commendable, but what must be eradicated are the many basic enabling factors that drive and fuel illegal trade.”
100 kilograms of pangolin scales, which are utilized in traditional Chinese medicine, were found in the recently intercepted consignment. The most illegally trafficked mammals in the world are the ones mentioned.
The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation estimates that one million animals have been stolen from the wild in the past ten years, and some have been hunted close to extinction.
The stolen animal parts also resulted in Malaysia’s largest-ever elephant tusk seizure, with 6,000 kg taken.
The existence of their species is in danger due to the annual poaching of over 20,000 African elephants for their tusks.
Learn more about what you can do to assist Traffic and put an end to illicit wildlife trafficking by visiting this page.
Source: “Malaysian Authorities Just Seized $18 Million Worth Of Illegal Animal Parts” by Plant Based News
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