Authorities from the Sabah Wildlife Department and local police conducted a raid on a resort here after receiving tips that exotic animals, including totally protected species, were being served to guests.
Director of the Sabah Wildlife Department, Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar, confirmed that the Integrated Khazanah Operation uncovered and seized a live pangolin, a species classified as totally protected under Schedule I of the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
Officers also discovered several dishes believed to contain protected wildlife. Several individuals were called in to assist with investigations under the same enactment, which prohibits possession, sale, or preparation of such species without a licence.
Under the law, offenders face fines ranging from RM50,000 to RM250,000 and imprisonment from one to five years if convicted.
Soffian emphasised that the department treats such offences very seriously, warning that these activities not only break the law but also risk tarnishing Sabah’s reputation as a responsible nature tourism destination.
