BY: CHA HUI YEE

Smugglers of wildlife and exotic animals are having a field day due to poor monitoring and surveillance by the authorities and this is why the illegal trading of wildlife is on the rise all over the country.

Traffic, a wildlife trade monitoring network, suggests that intensive investigations be conducted to apprehend smugglers, and not just the middlemen, but to go after the main culprits or masterminds.

Traffic, a non governmental organization, stated that investigating the smugglers is key as they could be part of a larger cross border smuggling ring that is sourcing, transporting and trading in wildlife.

Also being asked to play a key role by Traffic is the transport and logistics sector as wildlife is moved across borders using these facilities as the live animals are trafficked using the fastest methods including flights or even postal services.

This is why Traffic urges airport authorities to conduct rigorous screening of luggage, while their staff should be on the lookout for suspicious baggage containing wildlife through training, capacity building and using the right tools.

But the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia or Perhilitan stated that illegal breeding of exotic pets and wildlife in the country remains contained and is not widespread as alleged by Traffic.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher