Malaysia seizes elephant tusks, tiger bones, and other trafficked animal parts worth $18 million
- 2 years ago
Malaysian authorities recovered a significant collection of trafficked animal parts valued around 80 million ringgit ($17.9 million), including elephant tusks, rhino horns, pangolin scales, and tiger bones.
Authorities recovered almost six tonnes of ivory tusks and other animal parts at Selangor's western port.
It is thought that the animal parts were shipped from Africa. General Director Zazuli Johan of Malaysian Customs
Malaysian customs posted photographs of a pile of tusks and other animal parts, including an animal skull and ivory-looking jewelry.
Conservationists have identified Malaysia as one of several Southeast Asian countries as a major transit hub for illegally trafficked endangered species en route to other Asian countries, especially China.
Many of these animal parts are used in traditional medicine, such as lion bones.
Pangolins are scale-covered insectivores approximately the size of a house cat that are highly coveted for their flesh and scales, which are considered a delicacy and beneficial in traditional medicine – and have been hunted to extinction.
The Chinese government withdrew pangolin scales from its list of permitted substances used in traditional Chinese medicine in 2020, which advocates called a crucial step toward preserving the world's most trafficked species.
Authorities recovered almost six tonnes of ivory tusks and other animal parts at Selangor's western port.
It is thought that the animal parts were shipped from Africa. General Director Zazuli Johan of Malaysian Customs
Malaysian customs posted photographs of a pile of tusks and other animal parts, including an animal skull and ivory-looking jewelry.
Conservationists have identified Malaysia as one of several Southeast Asian countries as a major transit hub for illegally trafficked endangered species en route to other Asian countries, especially China.
Many of these animal parts are used in traditional medicine, such as lion bones.
Pangolins are scale-covered insectivores approximately the size of a house cat that are highly coveted for their flesh and scales, which are considered a delicacy and beneficial in traditional medicine – and have been hunted to extinction.
The Chinese government withdrew pangolin scales from its list of permitted substances used in traditional Chinese medicine in 2020, which advocates called a crucial step toward preserving the world's most trafficked species.