No room for wildlife crime

MALAYSIANS were greeted by devastating news of yet another wildlife crime recently, when reports streamed in of a 30-year-old elephant shot dead in Gerik, Perak.
Swift action by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and police resulted in the prompt arrest of four armed poachers.
While we mourn the loss of wildlife, WWF-Malaysia wishes to commend the collaborative efforts by the Wildlife Department and police in resolving this incident with prompt arrests.
Protecting our wildlife is a joint effort, which requires collaboration across NGOs, government, corporate stakeholders and in some cases, local communities.
During the Royal Belum-WWF Conservation Summit in November 2017, Perak reiterated its commitment to achieving zero poaching by 2020. This echoes the outcome of the High-Level Dialogue on Enhancing Tiger Conservation Efforts in Perak held in July 2017.
The arrest of the four poachers is testimony to the commitment of the Wildlife Department and the police in combating wildlife crime.
Poaching for the illegal wildlife trade remains one of the greatest threats to wildlife conservation in Malaysia, including the critically endangered Malayan tiger.
This trade operates globally.
WWF-Malaysia has always advocated the need to have more intelligence-based and collaborative teams to support special operations, and this operation is a successful example of how working together can enable the authorities in effectively crippling wildlife poaching.
We urge all Malaysians to be more vigilant, aware and practise intolerance towards wildlife crime, and play an active role in the conservation of wildlife. Call the Wildlife Crime Hotline 0193564194 to report such crimes.

Datuk Dr Dionysius Sharma
Executive Director/CEO
WWF-Malaysia