Thieves of Songbirds are now Jailbirds

Thieves of Songbirds are now Jailbirds

For many Indonesians, songbirds aren’t just pretty little things that gladden the heart with their joyful chirps. They are invaluable parts of their culture and very identity. Many of these hobbyists will go to great lengths to acquire prized birds. Those lengths include poaching rare songbirds relentlessly from forests. And…

Hundreds of rare Tortoises from Madagascar are Discovered at KLIA

Hundreds of rare Tortoises from Madagascar are Discovered at KLIA

Another day, another seizure of exotic animals smuggled surreptitiously into Malaysia. This time alert customs officials seized 330 tortoises flown into Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), which has been serving as a favored destination for international smuggling syndicates. Acting on a tip-off, Malaysian officials discovered 325 Indian radiated tortoises and five ploughshare tortoises packed into…

WJC: Facebook is home to ‘Industrial-scale’ Wildlife Trafficking

WJC: Facebook is home to ‘Industrial-scale’ Wildlife Trafficking

Recently the international anti-wildlife trafficking organization TRAFFIC revealed that Facebook, the hugely popular social media platform, has become a hot bed in Malaysia for the illegal trade of protected species as part of a booming exotic pet trade conducted online. After a five-month investigation, TRAFFIC’s researchers discovered that more than…

Helmeted Hornbills are ‘on the verge of Extinction’

Helmeted Hornbills are ‘on the verge of Extinction’

Helmeted hornbills – time to brace yourself – may be on the way to extinction in the wild. They are near-extinct in Indonesian Sumatra and may soon face a similar fate in Malaysian Borneo as well. Unceasing demand for their casques, as their helmet-like appendages are known, has been driving the…

We Must Stop the Exotic Pet Trade … and You Can Do Your Part

We Must Stop the Exotic Pet Trade … and You Can Do Your Part

People often do the wrong things for the right reasons. They may seek the companionship of pets, yet rather than settle for domesticated animals like cats and dogs, they may decide to own members of more exotic species –especially “cute” creatures like slow lorises and binturongs. Wishing to have pets…

Undermanned and Underequipped, Wildlife Rangers Soldier On

Undermanned and Underequipped, Wildlife Rangers Soldier On

The only thing that frequently stands between endangered animals and unscrupulous poachers out to snare or kill them is the wildlife ranger. Given that fact, you might reasonably assume that wildlife rangers are treated as prized assets in countries like Malaysia, whose unique ecosystems are facing grave threats to their…

A Haul of African Ivory is Seized at KLIA

A Haul of African Ivory is Seized at KLIA

One hundred fifty-nine kilograms. That’s the weight of ivory that Malaysian customs officials intercepted during a single day at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. They arrested two Vietnamese men who were found to have 101kg of ivory inside their luggage. “A scan on four of their bags aroused the suspicion of…