Tuesday September 21, 2010
Officers rescue 16 birds following reports of exotic meat
KUALA LANGAT: The Selangor Wildlife Department has raided the farm where cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others were allegedly murdered and rescued 16 birds. Six officers were seen entering the farm at noon under the watchful eye of police personnel stationed nearby. The team, led by an officer known only as Jalal, found 16 birds of several unprotected species at the farm.
“These birds had been left with minimum food and water and looked fragile. We came after we heard reports that exotic meat was sold here,” he told reporters, adding that it found four adult peacocks, two common mynahs, four spotted doves, five magpies and one bird whose species had not been identified. The team later took the birds to the department. However, Jalal declined to comment if there was exotic meat at the farm.
‘Flight’ to freedom: A Wildlife Department officer removing one of the peacocks from the aviary at the farm yesterday.
Selangor Wildlife Deparment director Rahmat Topani said no action would be taken because no laws had been breached for rearing these birds. It was earlier reported that the lawyer brothers implicated in Sosilawati’s murder had used the farm to entertain and treat their friends to exotic meat.
In KLANG, animal activists are crying foul over the killing of nine dogs belonging to the brothers. Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better adoption coordinator Christine Lai said the Kuala Langat District Council should have called the Veterinary Services Department, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or PAWS before putting down the dogs. “It is disgraceful that the dogs had been left to starve for days without food,” she said.
Dog lover Myza Nordin said she was not convinced by the council’s excuse that the dogs were aggressive and that it was unfair to kill them in their territory. Independent rescuer Leigh Chen said the council “took the easiest way out” without consulting any animal welfare organisation.
It was reported that six Rott_weilers, two Dalmatians and a bulldog were put to sleep by the council on Sunday morning. According to sources, police had asked the council to remove the starving dogs from the farm. However, the council decided to put the dogs down, claiming that they were aggressive and going after the poultry and livestock in the farm.
