Wildlife Dept Seizes Over 900 Protected Animals

SUNGAI PETANI (Kedah, Malaysia), Nov 18 (Bernama) -- The Department of Wildlife and National Parks seized over 900 protected animals valued at about RM35,000 (US$11,024) in a raid on a cowshed in Jalan Lama Riverside, Bedong, here on Thursday. Northern state of Kedah Wildlife and National Parks director Rahim Ahmad said on Thursday monitor lizards and snakes were found in a cage that was hidden in a container while tortoises were found in plastic baskets near the cowshed. He said the raid was conducted at 2 pm after the cowshed was placed under surveillance for several days following a tip-off that wild animals were being kept for sale at the premises. "Among the animals seized were 287 monitor lizards, 189 snakes, 30 tortoises, 272 coura amboinesis tortoises and 124 big tortoises," he told reporters. Members of the public with information on crimes related to protected animals can contact the Kedah Wildlife and National Parks Department at 04-7312200, he said. -- BERNAMA Malaysia