An 18-year-old teenager has been arrested after authorities discovered several protected wildlife species, including a red hawk eagle, a barn owl and two Asian palm civets, allegedly being kept without a valid permit at a house in Kampung Bunuhan on Sunday.
The raid, carried out at around 3.15pm, involved the Intelligence and Task Force Unit of the 8th Battalion General Operations Force (GOF) based in Pengkalan Chepa, together with the Kelantan Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) under Op Taring Wawasan.
Southeast Brigade Commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said officers requested the suspect to produce a valid licence or permit for the protected animals. However, he failed to do so and was immediately detained, while all of the wildlife was seized for further action.
The total value of the confiscated animals is estimated at RM48,500, with the red hawk eagle alone valued at approximately RM20,000. Authorities described the seizure as a significant effort to curb the illegal possession of protected wildlife.
According to Ahmad Radzi, the teenager, who has no previous criminal record, claimed that the animals belonged to his father. He told investigators that he was only responsible for feeding, caring for and treating the animals, which he said had been kept for about four years after his father allegedly obtained them from the Gua Musang area.
At the time of the raid, the suspect’s father was reportedly working as a construction labourer in Gua Musang and could not be contacted by enforcement officers.
The case is being investigated under Section 60 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716). All seized animals and the suspect have since been handed over to Perhilitan Kelantan for further investigation and follow-up action.
Authorities said intelligence gathering and enforcement operations will continue to be intensified to combat the illegal ownership, breeding and trade of protected wildlife. They stressed that stronger enforcement is essential to safeguard endangered species from exploitation and ensure Malaysia’s wildlife remains protected for future generations.
