KOTA KINABALU: A sun bear cub was found being kept at a public attraction in Kota Marudu following a complaint over a
Facebook video, said Sabah Wildlife director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar on Thursday.
He said the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) received the complaint on Wednesday and conducted an enforcement operation the following day under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
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The raid found a sun bear cub being kept at the premises for public viewing purposes, and a man suspected to be the owner or manager was detained to assist investigations.
In a separate operation, a man was also detained at a food premises in Lahad Datu for allegedly possessing three sun bear fangs used as decorative items, and the exhibits were seized.
Soffian said the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is listed as Totally Protected under Schedule 1 of the Enactment, with no licence or permit issued to the public to hunt, possess, keep or display the species, and upon conviction, offenders face a fine of not less than RM50,000 and not more than RM250,000, and imprisonment of between one and five years.
