KUCHING: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) has offered grounds for its stance on the prevention of the sale of wild boar meat.
“This is to ensure that rural communities continue to have the food that they need. Studies show that wildlife trade in town is the single cause of the decline of wildlife and depriving the rural communities of their source of protein.”
SFC said this in a statement on Tuesday (Nov 24) in response to Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Jemut Masing.
Masing had urged SFC to consider the rural folk who wanted to earn extra income during the Covid-19 economic slowdown by selling wild boar meat.
SFC reiterated that native folk were permitted to hunt wild boars for their own consumption but not for sale or trade.
The Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1998 does not permit any sale of wildlife, including non-protected species.
“It’s an offence punishable under the ordinances to sell or to buy wild animal meat.”
SFC mentioned that in its course of duty in Mujong, Kapit recently, SFC together with the PGA conducted an awareness programme to cut off wildlife supply to other parts of Sarawak.
“On Nov 13, we came across two persons from Julau and one from Sibu Jaya in possession of 31kg of deer (Payau) meat, 6.9kg of internal Payau organs, 4.4kg of meat and parts and 5.5kg of Binturong parts.
“Another person was caught in possession of 7kg of porcupine. Also caught was a man from Kapit, who had in his possession 37kg of wild boar meat and cuts.
“They are suspected of transporting the items with the intention of selling outside Kapit.”
