KUCHING, Aug 7: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) is putting a lot of efforts to protect turtles and other marine life in Sarawak by deploying reef balls, said Controller of Wild Life Zolkipli Mohamad Aton.
Referring to the case involving two women who were fined RM5,000 each by the Sessions Court here yesterday for illegally possessing 240 turtle eggs, he said a concerted effort was required to stop the illegal trade.
“We don’t want to see ‘bad apples’ here. Let’s all work together to stop the trade and consumption of turtle eggs,” he urged in a media release today.
Turtle eggs are classified as totally protected species under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance, 1998.
Any person who hunts, kills, captures, sells, offers for sale or claims to be offering for sale, imports, exports, or is in possession of any totally protected animal or any recognisable part shall be guilty of the offence.
SFC said that its enforcement officers arrested the two local women, aged 37 and 48 years, in front of SK Gersik in Petra Jaya here.
Both of them were charged under Section 29(1), punishable under Section 29(1)(c) of the Ordinance.
The offence carries a maximum punishment of RM25,000 fine or two years’ imprisonment upon conviction.—DayakDaily
