Elephant Poachers in Gerik Forest Taken Down

After being pursued for over nine years, an illegal wildlife poaching and trading syndicate was finally dismantled after four men, including a contract worker from the Forest Research Institute Malaysia, were arrested by police on March 11, 2018.

Director of the Internal Security and Public Order Department (KDNKA), Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah, stated that the suspects confessed to selling a pair of elephant tusks for RM12,000. He added that the ivory was sold at prices ranging from RM200 to RM400 per gram, depending on current market rates. This information was obtained from the suspects, who have been active since 2009. Preliminary investigations led to the discovery of several firearms of various types at a house belonging to one of the suspects in Kampung Padang Jeri, Gerik, during 'Ops Gading,' which involved 40 police officers and Perhilitan. The most recent location where an elephant was shot dead was in the Hutan Piah area, Gerik, approximately 15 kilometers from the main road. Police also discovered the carcass of an adult male elephant, estimated to be around 30 years old, at the site.

Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah, Director of the Internal Security and Public Order Department (KDNKA), described the syndicate as extremely cruel for killing over 20 wild elephants since 2009 and profiting approximately RM800,000 from the sale of the wild animals' ivory. He added that a post-mortem confirmed the cause of death for the elephant in Hutan Piah was gunshot wounds to the head from two shots and one shot to the animal's right hindquarters.

The suspects arrested are aged between 40 and 49, and one of them has two prior criminal records. Another has one prior record, while the other two have no previous criminal records. Urine tests showed that all suspects were negative for drugs. Seized items include RM10,500 in cash, four firearms of various types, and 255 rounds of ammunition used to shoot wild animals.

Also seized were a chainsaw believed to have been used to cut off the elephants' heads, as well as a deer antler and seven wildlife bones believed to be tiger bones. All suspects have been remanded for seven days from March 12, 2018, to March 18, 2018, for further investigation.

According to data collected over the past three years, since 2015, the population of wild elephants remaining in Peninsular Malaysia is only around 1,200 to 1,500, while the number of tigers is estimated to be only between 250 and 340.