Ignorance lands snake trader in hot soup - Malay Press Item

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on March 01, 2000 at 21:49:13:

NEW STRAITS TIMES (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) 01 March 00 Ignorance lands snake trader in hot soup
Alor Star: What's the difference between a common rat snake and a keeled rat snake?
Aside from the fact that both are non-poisonous, have the same olive- brown skin, share the same habitat and enjoy the same food - namely rats, one is more `lethal' than the other.
This is because those who try to cash in by trading in the common rat snake can end up paying a RM3,000 fine or spend up to three years behind bars.
This is what a licenced snake trader here now faces ... all because he did not know the difference between both species.
The trader was shocked when Wildlife Department experts decided to check every single one of some 2,000 live snakes he had just bought in Thailand and Laos.
In the end, the experts found the trader was in possession of 54 common rat snakes (Ptyas mucosus), a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act.
State National Parks and Wildlife Protection Department director Azmi Johor said the trader would be charged under the Wildlife Protection Act.
The offence carries RM3,000 fine and three years' jail or both.
Azmi said the trader's problems started when Wildlife Department officers stopped his lorry along the highway near Jitra last night.
"He was transporting 180 boxes filled with sacks of between seven and 12 snakes each.
"We detained the lorry and called in our snake experts to see if there were any protected species among the snakes," he said, adding it took officers all this morning to check every single reptile and confiscate the common rat snake.
Once they had completed the task, the keeled rat snakes were returned to the trader.
The trader claimed he did not know the consignment of snakes he imported this time contained those from the protected species list.
"How am I going to look through each snake to see if there are those from the protected species list.
"It is just impossible ... the sellers just bring me the snakes in sacks filled with about 10 snakes each and I pay them according to the weight of the sack, I don't check what snake he sells me."

Ignorance lands snake trader in hot soup

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: NEW STRAITS TIMES (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) 01 March 00 Ignorance lands snake trader in hot soup : Alor Star: What's the difference between a common rat snake and a keeled rat snake? : Aside from the fact that both are non-poisonous, have the same olive- brown skin, share the same habitat and enjoy the same food - namely rats, one is more `lethal' than the other. : This is because those who try to cash in by trading in the common rat snake can end up paying a RM3,000 fine or spend up to three years behind bars. : This is what a licenced snake trader here now faces ... all because he did not know the difference between both species. : The trader was shocked when Wildlife Department experts decided to check every single one of some 2,000 live snakes he had just bought in Thailand and Laos. : In the end, the experts found the trader was in possession of 54 common rat snakes (Ptyas mucosus), a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act. : State National Parks and Wildlife Protection Department director Azmi Johor said the trader would be charged under the Wildlife Protection Act. : The offence carries RM3,000 fine and three years' jail or both. : Azmi said the trader's problems started when Wildlife Department officers stopped his lorry along the highway near Jitra last night. : "He was transporting 180 boxes filled with sacks of between seven and 12 snakes each. : "We detained the lorry and called in our snake experts to see if there were any protected species among the snakes," he said, adding it took officers all this morning to check every single reptile and confiscate the common rat snake. : Once they had completed the task, the keeled rat snakes were returned to the trader. : The trader claimed he did not know the consignment of snakes he imported this time contained those from the protected species list. : "How am I going to look through each snake to see if there are those from the protected species list. : "It is just impossible ... the sellers just bring me the snakes in sacks filled with about 10 snakes each and I pay them according to the weight of the sack, I don't check what snake he sells me."

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