New Wild Life Law
New Wild Life Law
SKULLS, BONES, TEETH & HORNS OF WILD LIFE
are exotic, mystical and ILLEGAL
A new law in Sarawak bans all commercial trade in animals taken from the wild. This includes all wild meat and animal parts such as bones, skulls, teeth, antlers, claws, feathers, turtle shells and animal skins.
A New Wild Life Law....
Under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998:
IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL OR BUY ANY WILD LIFE OR WILD LIFE PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN HUNTED FROM THE WILD. THIS INCLUDES LIVE WILD ANIMALS, WILD MEAT, AND ANIMAL PARTS SUCH AS BONES, SKULLS, TEETH, ANTLERS, OR ANY PART OF A WILD ANIMAL.
WHY HAVE A TRADE BAN?
- The commercial trade in wildlife and wildlife products is a A VERY MAJOR CAUSE OF DECREASING WILDLIFE POPULATIONS IN SARAWAK.
- The current wildlife trade is not sustainable. Many species of wild animals are becoming locally extinct because of this trade. This affects species that are not traded as well. As traded species (e.g. pigs and deer) decline, rural communities are forced to hunt greater numbers of smaller species for food. This means that the numbers of many other species decline as well.
- This will have a detrimental effect on the ecological balance of the rainforest as animals which pollinate flowers and disperse seeds disappear.
- Healthy wildlife populations are vital to the well-being of Sarawak's forests. People in rural areas depend on wildlife for their protein needs. Wildlife is also part of Sarawak's unique heritage. Tourism in Sarawak is based on "Culture Adventure, Nature". If we allow our wildlife to disappear, we will eventually lose our forests and our culture; and tourists who come will see nothing but forests depleted of wildlife.
- So, stopping wildlife trade is CRUCIAL to maintaining Sarawak's wildlife populations.
TO PROTECT OUR WILDLIFE WE MUST STOP SELLING AND BUYING ANIMAL PRODUCTS WHICH HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE WILD!
ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS?
- Only wildlife that has been captive bred is allowed to be bought or sold, BUT ONLY IF:
- The breeder has a licence to breed wild animals in his premises;
- The breeder displays his licence in a prominent area, where it can be clearly seen by potential buyers.
- Souvenir shops may only sell wildlife trophies, IF:
- They obtain a licence to sell wildlife trophies from the Forest Department;
- They display their licence in a prominent area in their premises.
- Please be aware that there are not many licensed wildlife farms in Sarawak. These farms are also being strictly regulated. So, illegal wildlife products can be easily intercepted by the authorities.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?
As a shop owner, YOU must apply for a license from the Forest Department to trade in wildlife. After this, you have to ensure that your supply of wildlife trophies comes from a licensed farm.
- The penalty for selling wildlife trophies without a licence is RM5,000.00. The penalty is higher if the trophy sold is from a Totally Protected or Protected species.
As a buyer, you should check that the trader has a licence to sell wildlife trophies. Then you should check that the trophies come from a licensed farm.
- The penalty for buying unlicensed wildlife trophies is RM2,000.00
BY STOPPING THE TRADE OF ALL
ANIMALS TAKEN FROM THE WILD,
SARAWAK WILL BECOME A WORLD
LEADER IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
If you see any of these items on sale, please report to:
Enforcement Division
Forest Department Headquarters
Wisma Sumber Alam
Jalan Stadium, Petra Jaya
93660 KUCHING
SARAWAK
Information will be kept strictly confidential. Call us today at telephone No. 082-319119 or 319139 or 446426 or hand phone No. 011221724.
This law became effective from 1 January 1999.
For further enquiries, please contact us
