{"id":26626,"date":"2011-11-22T15:02:51","date_gmt":"2011-11-22T20:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/planetsave.com\/?p=26626"},"modified":"2011-11-22T15:02:51","modified_gmt":"2011-11-22T20:02:51","slug":"no-excuses-wildlife-protection-billboards-installed-in-malaysia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planetsave.com\/articles\/no-excuses-wildlife-protection-billboards-installed-in-malaysia\/","title":{"rendered":"No Excuses: Wildlife Protection Billboards Installed in Malaysia"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Malaysia, wildlife criminals can no longer claim ignorance as an excuse for their destructive activities, thanks to the installation of billboards in the heart of illegal wildlife trafficking hotspots.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo © WWF-Malaysia<\/em><\/p>\n

The huge signs are located near the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex, one of the world’s oldest rainforests, located in northern Peninsular Malaysia.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe billboards are part of WWF-Malaysia\u2019s overall efforts to support the enforcement authorities in addressing the poaching crisis which we are now facing at Belum-Temengor,\u201d said Dato\u2019 Dr. Dionysius Sharma, Executive Director\/CEO of WWF-Malaysia.<\/p>\n

Wildlife crime crisis<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, Belum-Temengor’s wildlife is being plundered<\/a> at an alarming rate.<\/p>\n

During the last three years, more than 400 animals, including pangolins, tigers, elephants, gaur, and Sambar deer have been killed in Belum-Temengor.<\/p>\n

In addition, 142 snares have been removed and “numerous foreign poacher camps” were discovered inside a protected area.<\/p>\n

Last month, two wildlife smugglers were caught<\/a> with 12 pangolins in an area near the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo © WWF-Malaysia<\/em><\/p>\n

Enforcement needed<\/strong><\/p>\n

The billboards clearly state the penalties under Malaysia’s new Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.<\/p>\n

Dr. William Schaedla, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia<\/a>‘s Regional Director, explained that Malaysia has enacted some of the region’s strongest wildlife protection legislation.<\/p>\n

With the inception of the new Wildlife Act, Malaysia now has some of the strongest anti poaching and wildlife protection laws in the region. It\u2019s time to get the message out that this country is serious.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However, he cautioned that the billboards alone would not solve the problem: Authorities must enforce the laws.<\/p>\n

The billboards are a great start, but after they go up the authorities will need resources to follow through on the message with action.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Indeed, with Malaysia’s wildlife protection laws clearly posted for all to see, there are no excuses left for criminals – or for the authorities.<\/p>\n