Malaysian Customs Stop a Dark‑Night Shipping of 400 Wild Animals
In a bold move to keep endangered creatures out of the pet market, Malaysian officials scooped up a smuggler’s vessel on a quiet Friday night off Langkawi. The cargo? A mix of young primates, newborn reptiles and other rare birds—all slated for delivery to Thailand.
What Went On
- Three Indonesians on the ship were nabbed on purely illegal wildlife smuggling charges.
- The criminals had been planning to sail from Sumatra through the Malacca Strait, hoping to keep the shipment hidden under the cover of darkness.
- Customs lead T. Subromaniam said the team was tipped off and intercepted the boat in time.
The Animal Lineup
Encounters in the containers revealed an unusual and alarming blend:
- Two shy orangutans, crying “I wish I could find my jungle home again.”
- Dozens of baby saltwater crocodiles, apparently looking for a warmer pond.
- About 350 sugar gliders – those tiny marsupial “travel companions.”
- A toss-up of cockatoos, parrots, and parakeets, possibly looking for a vibrant party in the cage.
Legal Consequences
The arrested foreigners face criminal charges that could bring up to ten years behind bars, according to Mohamad Zaki Rahim, the Malaysian wildlife official on the case. They’re expected to stand trial soon.
Why This Matters
Wildlife trade watchdog Traffic notes that the number and variety of animals seized highlight the relentless1 demand for exotic pets. The cling of endangered species to cheap ownership continues to form a beastly problem that authorities are determined to fight.
Although Malaysia routinely intercepts smugglers, grabbing over 400 animals in one haul is a daunting milestone. In June 2017, Thai authorities cracked down on a Malaysian trying to smuggle two juvenile orangutans and 60 other creatures via a border taxi—another reminder that these trafficking plots never die.
1 “Tremendous pressure” on wildlife, says Traffic spokeswoman Elizabeth John.
