The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) rescued over 600 wild animals from illegal traders in three raids over the past 10 days.

The animals estimated at more than RM200,000 were rescued under the department’s operation, dubbed ‘Ops Taring VI’.

Perhilitan director-general Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the seizure of the wildlife was carried out to curb their illegal trade via online, which had been ongoing since 2013.

He said the first raid was conducted on May 28 at the residence of a man, in his 30s, who was an online wildlife trader, in Kampung Baru Bukit Merah, Ipoh.

“A total of 243 animals of various species, including tortoises and geckos were confiscated. Also seized were 20 boxes containing various parts of wildlife,” he told reporters in a press conference at the Perhilitan headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

On June 4, a 65-year-old man was picked up in a raid at Taman Kesuma, Ampang and 385 wildlife animals, as well as 30 wildlife eggs were seized.

In another case, a 32-year-old man was nabbed at a rest area off the Seremban Highway, Negeri Sembilan, for illegally keeping a white-handed gibbon.

The suspect was also believed to have been involved in online trade of wildlife. Following his arrest, two palm civets were seized from the man’s house in Ampangan, Seremban.

- Bernama