| Pythons Rescued From Becoming Exotic Luggage Overseas |
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KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- Fifty-nine pythons were rescued from being skinned for exotic leather luggage for the international market.
Thanks to swift action by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), the regal pythons (python retuculatus species) were found at a store in Sungai Pelek, Sepang when its wildlife crime unit mounted a raid last Monday.
Initial investigations revealed that the pythons were in the midst of being exported to the leather markets of Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore.
Also seized at the store were 65 python and lizard skins worth about RM30,000.
Perhilitan (law and enforcement) division director Saharudin Anan said the wildlife crime unit officers found that the pythons were bought by an unlicensed party.
"We found the pythons, together with python and lizard skins, in a store," he said Wednesday, adding that they were protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
He said that the owner of the premises, in his 40s, had misused his licence in buying snakes from unlicensed wildlife catchers.
"A licenced wildlife buyer can only buy species from wildlife catchers licenced by Perhilitan," said Saharudin, adding that besides being a delicacy, the pythons were also used for leather goods.
They were usually exported to countries such as Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong, he noted.
Saharudin said python meat was sold for RM30 per kilogramme, while its skin was valued at between RM30 to RM50 ringgit a metre.
Lizard skin was sold for between RM40 to RM50 a piece, he said.
-- BERNAMA
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