Post by : Meena Ariff

Malaysia’s national parks and forest reserves are facing a serious problem. Foreign poachers are entering these areas to hunt rare animals. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) shared this warning recently.

Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, the director-general of Perhilitan, said that poachers also target logging sites and plantations near forests. These poachers mainly hunt animals like the Malayan tiger, leopard, sun bear, and elephant.

He explained that most of these poachers come from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar. “We know this from our arrest records and the information we have collected,” he said.

There is also a fear that these poachers might start using advanced technology like drones and digital maps to find and hunt animals easily. “So far, we have not seen them use such tools, but we are keeping a close watch in case they start using them,” he added.

To stop these illegal activities, Perhilitan has formed a special team called Sparta. This is an elite group of highly trained officers who carry weapons and are ready to operate deep in the jungle.

“These poachers often carry guns and explosives, so the Sparta team is trained to handle such dangerous situations,” Abdul Kadir explained. The team works closely with the police and army to make sure the poachers are caught.

Recently, patrols in the forests have been increased, especially in areas where poachers from Vietnam are known to hunt. Abdul Kadir said that the Sparta team is still new but they have been given strong tactical training to keep Malaysia’s wildlife safe from these threats.