The clouded leopard that was being sold by the perpetrator.
The social webpage used by some of the members to promote their illicit trade.
William at the press conference yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU: Illegal wildlife traders in Sabah have turned to the social media such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to promote their activities.
“They are carrying out illegal wildlife trade, selling various protected wildlife species including reptiles, birds and mammals mainly for pets,” said Sabah Wildlife Department director William Baya during a press conference at the SWD headquarters yesterday.
“They carry out this trading through their closed network. However, among the thousands of their members, there are also thousands of wildlife sympathisers who alert and provide information to the Wildlife Department.
“It is through these members that the department was able to arrest members of the group who were trying to sell protected animals,” he said.
Following the tip-off from the public, SWD apprehended a local 24-year-old man who was brought to court on July 30 for marketing and selling wild animals via Facebook.
William explained that the man was charged in court for possessing a live Clouded Leopard (Neofelis Nebulosa) which is totally protected under Part 1 Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
He warned those trying to sell protected species are liable to be jailed up to five years and fined up to RM50,000, or both, if found guilty.
“The modus operandi in the sale of wildlife is carried out via a closed group on Facebook that has a total of 21,000 members … nevertheless, some of the members have acted by informing the department, leading to the arrest of the individual who was trying to sell the protected species,” he said.
William then urged all parties that were still in possession of protected wildlife to surrender them at the department or face the consequences.
Among the wildlife species that were marketed via the social media domain were the honeybears, anteaters, wild cats and hornbills.
William said for the last six months of this year, there had already been 23 recorded cases involving 35 individuals who were apprehended for various offences, including hunting, selling and transporting protected animals.