LIMBANG: Public tip-offs and the social media have contributed to the success of numerous enforcement operations of the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC)
On Sept 27, a male Black Hornbill was surrendered to SFC at Kampung Sayung here.
After a public tip-off and viral images on the social media, SFC’s enforcement team in Miri sprang into action on Saturday to rescue the hornbill.
The bird, which was in good health, was immediately released in the Bukit Hitam Nature Reserve here.
According to the owner, he has kept the hornbill ever since it was young.
All hornbills are protected under the Sarawak Wild Life Protection Ordinance (1998); any person who hunts, kills, captures, sells or is in possession of any totally protected animal (and protected animal) is guilty of an offence.
For totally protected animals, the penalty is five years’ jail and a fine up to RM50,000, while for protected animals, the offender is liable to two years’ jail and a RM25,000 fine.
“This successful rescue shows SFC is seriously committed in tackling illegal wildlife trade and wildlife crime.
“We will continuously take actions to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna in Sarawak,” said CEO of SFCSB Zolkipli Mohamad Aton.
SFC is also grateful to the public who have assisted authorities in curtailing illegal wildlife trading as well as illegal logging in Sarawak.
The public can lodge reports with SFC or the Forest Department if they find anyone keeping or selling totally protected animals. They can call SFC hotlines at 016-8565564/019-8859996 (Kuching), 019-8883561 (Sibu), 019-8223449/019-8332737 (Bintulu) and 019-8290994/018-9799778 (Miri).
