THE STAR (Petaling Jaya, Malaysia) 26 May 05 Wildlife department may stop issuing licences for exotic pets
Petaling Jaya: Exotic pet owners, especially those who like to keep venomous and dangerous wild animals, will soon have to give up their hobby.
To ensure public safety and keep wildlife trade in check, the Depart-ment of Wildlife and National Parks wants to terminate all private licences to keep pets such as cobras, vipers and rattlesnakes.
Wildlife department enforcement director Misliah Mohamed Basir said the department has proposed to stop issuing the licences to individuals.
“At present, licences are issued to individuals who apply to keep such pets.
“Our plan is to weed out those who keep such pets which may endanger the lives of people around them,” she said, adding that it could help to monitor the activities of exotic pet dealers.
The department's crime unit, acting on a tip-off from The Star, raided a pet shop in Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya, yesterday and confiscated eight species of protected animals – pythons, cobras, iguanas, monitor lizards and the South American Tegu lizard.
A total of 27 animals were seized in the raid.
The owner, who lives in Damansara Heights, would be charged under Section 83(1) of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 with carrying out business without a permit and under Section 97 with violating the licence which only allows the keeping of the animals as pets.
The charge carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or three years' jail or both for each species confiscated.
“We will take action as the permit is to keep the animals as pets but the owner has displayed and offered some of the animals for sale,” she said.
Some of the baby Burmese pythons were offered for between RM500 and RM1,550 each, depending on their size.
Those with information on exotic wildlife trade can call the department at 03-9075 2872.
Wildlife department may stop issuing licences for exotic pets