Latest news with #SabahWildlifeDepartment
The Star
2 days ago
- General
- The Star
Snare traps remain a threat to Sabah wildlife
Bath time: A WRU ranger caring for Taburi at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. KOTA KINABALU: It has been almost three years but Taburi the elephant is still bearing the scar from a leg wound she suffered after getting tangled in a wire snare. Taburi was a calf of just about 1.2m in height when she was discovered by estate workers who heard her cries at an oil palm estate in Lahad Datu. They found the calf, scared and injured, and called the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) which sent a team from the Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU). The calf was brought to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre where round-the-clock attention was given by WRU rangers. Given the name Taburi, the elephant has since been thriving in the wildlife sanctuary it now calls home. WRU, in a Facebook post yesterday to highlight the dangers of snares, said Taburi was one of the 'lucky' ones as many other animals did not survive. 'Snare traps are cruel and indiscriminate. It takes only a single wire to destroy a life. Most victims are never seen. They die hidden, alone, and in pain,' it said. The rescue unit said Taburi's story is a call to action. 'Say no to snare traps. Support wildlife conservation and protection efforts. Let's make our forests safe again. Every life matters. Every trap removed saves a future,' said WRU. SWD director Soffian Abu Bakar said snare traps remain a threat to wildlife in Sabah. Throughout the years of operations against these traps, he said community rangers have found that there are a number of active traps in the jungles. 'We have also found traps set up for birds,' he said when contacted. Soffian said the department would continue to deal with issues linked to poaching through initiatives such as hiring community rangers and collaborating with other agencies to fight against wildlife crime. 'We have community rangers employed under the Biodiversity Protection and Patrolling Programme (BP3) working with our department officials and rangers,' he added.
The Star
27-05-2025
- The Star
Filipinos jailed for having green turtle parts
Crime against fauna: The three men were found to be in possession of 865kg of critically endangered green sea turtle parts. KOTA KINABALU: Three foreigners have been sentenced to a year in prison and fined a total of RM660,000 at the Kota Marudu Sessions Court for possessing 865kg of critically endangered green sea turtle parts in Sabah's northern waters off Kudat. The Filipinos – skipper Erwin Monares Comendo, 39, and crew members Rudyzon Darel Infante, 37, and 52-year-old Amel Meniona – pleaded guilty before Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court judge A. Akhiruddin Acho, during a sitting at the Kota Marudu Court yesterday. They were charged under Section 41(1) of the state's Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for five years' jail and a maximum of RM250,000 fine. The judge sentenced each of them to one year imprisonment and a fine of RM220,000 each. If they fail to pay the fine, they would be subjected to an additional eight months' jail term. The three men were arrested on Sept 27, 2023, by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), which found the suspects with green turtle body parts packed inside 39 sacks and 14 boxes on their boat in waters off Simpang Mengayau. The case was investigated by the Sabah Wildlife Department and the accused were charged on Dec 9, 2024. Disclosing the court decision, Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said the arrest was a result of strategic cooperation between enforcement agencies. 'The Sabah Wildlife Department greatly appreciates the cooperation and swift action of the MMEA in Kudat district, which successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle turtle parts in Sabah waters. 'This reflects our continued commitment to protecting endangered marine species, especially green turtles,' Mohd Soffian said in a statement.
Daily Express
26-05-2025
- Daily Express
Green Turtle parts: Three Filipinos jailed and fined
Published on: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 27, 2025 Text Size: KOTA MARUDU: Three Filipinos were jailed one year and fined RM220,000 each after being found guilty of possessing approximately 865kg of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) parts stored in 39 sacks and 14 boxes. They were arrested by Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers on Sept 27, 2023, in Sabah waters near Simpang Mengayau, Kudat. The case was handed over to the Sabah Wildlife Department for further investigation and prosecution. They were charged under Section 41(1) of the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional eight months of imprisonment. 'This success reflects the strong inter-agency cooperation and our continued commitment to protect endangered marine species, especially the green turtle,' said Sabah Wildlife Department Director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar, who commended the swift action of the Kudat MMEA enforcement team. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Three Filipinos jailed, fined for possessing green turtle parts
KOTA MARUDU: Three Filipinos have each been sentenced to one year in jail and fined RM220,000 for possessing green turtle derivatives, with an additional eight months of imprisonment in default of payment. Sessions Court judge Akhiruddin Acho handed down the sentence after the trio pleaded guilty to possessing an estimated 865kg of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) derivatives, stored in 39 sacks and 14 boxes. On Sept 27, 2023, enforcement officers from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) apprehended them in Sabah waters near Simpang Mengayau, Kudat. The case was then referred to the Sabah Wildlife Department for further investigation and prosecution. The trio were identified as Erwin Monares Comendo, 39; Rudyzon Darol Infante, 37; and Arnel Meniano Getes, 52. They were charged under Section 41(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for heavier penalties for possession of fully protected wildlife derivatives. Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said the successful prosecution was the result of strategic collaboration between enforcement agencies. "The Sabah Wildlife Department highly appreciates the cooperation and swift action of the Kudat Malaysian Maritime Enforcement officers in thwarting the attempt to smuggle turtle derivatives in Sabah waters. "This success reflects our continued commitment to protecting endangered marine species, particularly the green turtle."
The Star
26-05-2025
- The Star
Three Filipinos sentenced for smuggling green turtle parts in Sabah waters
KOTA KINABALU: Three foreigners were sentenced to a year in prison and fined a total of RM660,000 for possessing 865kg of critically endangered green sea turtle parts in the northern waters of Sabah, off Kudat. The three Filipino nationals, skipper Erwin Monares Comendo, 39, crew Rudyzon Darel Infante, 37, and Amel Meniona, 52, pleaded guilty to possessing the turtle body parts before Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court judge A. Akhiruddin Acho, sitting at Kota Marudu Courthouse on Monday (May 26). The trio were charged under Section 41(1) of the state's Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for a five-year jail term and a maximum RM250,000 fine. The Sessions court judge sentenced each to one year imprisonment and a fine of RM220,000 each. If they fail to pay the fine, they would be subjected to an additional eight months' jail term The three were arrested on Sept 27, 2023, by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), who found the suspects with the green turtle parts packed inside 39 sacks and 14 boxes on their boat in waters off Simpang Mengayau The case was investigated by the Sabah Wildlife Department, and they were charged on Dec 9, 2024. Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd disclosed the court decision in a statement on Monday. Soffian Abu Bakar said the success resulted from the cooperation between enforcement agencies. 'The Sabah Wildlife Department greatly appreciates the cooperation and swift action of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in Kudat District, who successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle turtle products in Sabah waters,' Soffian said.
