LETTERS: Consumers Association of Penang is as equally concerned as the National Task Force agencies about the reopening of Malaysia's international borders.
The reopening will encourage poachers to return to Malaysian jungles and help themselves to our wildlife.
This may spell doom for the country's many endangered species, particularly our songbirds that are in high demand.
The population of the Common hill myna, a species found throughout much of Asia, has seriously declined in Southeast Asia and in particular Indonesia. Other species at risk are the Oriental magpie-robin that is heavily targeted for the pet trade, and the straw-headed bulbul.
Many of these birds are in high demand in Indonesia. Its own bird species are disappearing, thus the need to continue poaching the songbirds in Malaysia.
The Mongabay report in July 2020 said that the trafficking in thousands of songbirds highlights the fact that the trade is rampant in Indonesia. Smugglers managed to ship more than 7,000 birds, including wild-caught songbirds, by air from Sumatra to Java. This exposed the country's weak action against the deeply entrenched bird trade.
In Indonesia this trade is all about money and status. People who buy rare birds and most raptors do so for status. Catching and selling wildlife produces huge profits for poor folk.
It is good income for them. There is practically zero risk of being arrested. It makes them look significant to others on Facebook. As for the well-off traders, they trade in wildlife because of the good income as well as to impress friends.
Only a small number of songbirds are legally protected in range countries and fewer still are protected at the international level. Enforcement of laws is often totally lacking.
Of greater concern is the cruel fate of the songbirds. The birds are taken from natural habitats and bound to live a life in captivity.
They suffer physically and mentally and often die shortly after being captured as a result of stress. Birds that survive the capture are crammed together into cages.
CAP calls on the authorities to boost action against poachers and traders. The amended Wildlife Act may come into force later this year to allow the authorities to mete out harsher punishment but without enforcement, poachers will still escape.
The Wildlife and National Parks Department must be provided with sufficient resources to enable it to detect poaching.
Regulations must be improved and a regulatory framework should be formulated for registered breeders. They should be monitored to prevent them from laundering wild-caught bird species. Some form of deterrent punishment such as a mandatory jail sentence must be imposed on bird trappers as well.
Patrol units can work with the local community to identify hotspots for bird capture. We have noted that the trapping of birds is occurring daily and is not limited to prized birds.
A hotline should be set up to allow people to report such activities.
We urge the relevant authorities to work with non-governmental organisations to curb the illegal activities.
Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers Association of Penang
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times