KUALA LUMPUR: A man believed to be a former forest ranger was arrested for allegedly possessing various parts of protected wildlife with an estimated value of nearly RM590,000 in Tuaran, Sabah, this morning.
The 61-year-old man was arrested at about 7.15am, said Bukit Aman wildlife bureau commander Zaki Ashar.
There were 55 pairs of antlers believed to be deer antlers, three rhinoceros horns, 330 pangolin scales, as well as the carcasses and skins of pythons, hornbill skulls, elephant bones and teeth, sambar deer antlers, bear skulls, and several other parts of wild animals.
Zaki said the preliminary investigation found that the man obtained the animal parts by purchasing them from villagers in the interior of Sabah.
He said the man is believed to have started collecting parts of wild animals since serving as a forest ranger in 1986 before taking voluntary retirement in 2019 for health reasons.