KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — The carcass of a Malayan tiger was discovered in a car carrying three individuals at Felda Tenggaroh, Mersing, Johor, and is believed to have been intended for sale on the black market.
Director-general of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, said the animal’s value was estimated at between RM250,000 and RM300,000, according to Berita Harian.
He said Perhilitan was working with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to identify the syndicate network involved following the arrest of the three suspects.
“We believe this activity involves a wildlife trafficking syndicate. Every part of the species’ body has value in the black market.
Combating illegal hunting remains a key focus in our efforts to protect the Malayan tiger and other endangered wildlife,” he said when contacted.
He added that the Malayan tiger population is now only recorded in forest reserves and protected areas located across eight states identified as key roaming grounds for the species — Perak, Pahang, Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
“This shows that the tiger’s natural habitat is now very limited and confined to protected areas that still have suitable forest ecosystems for the species’ survival,” he said.
On Tuesday, an attempt by three men to store the carcass of a tiger was foiled in the Khazanah Integrated Operation at Felda Tenggaroh, Mersing, carried out by the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) Bukit Aman intelligence team together with Johor Perhilitan.
Federal Reserve Unit Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner Rosli Md Yusof, said a search of a Perodua Alza uncovered the tiger’s carcass, believed to have been illegally hunted.
As a result, three men aged between 28 and 49 were arrested after failing to produce any special permit to possess or keep the fully protected species.
