Wildlife Crime

Combating Illegal Wildlife Trafficking in Myanmar (June 2013)

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June 2nd, 2013 - In collaboration with Forest Department officials, Myanmar National Police Force seized 77 tortoises and turtles in Pyi Gyi Tagon Township of Mandalay Region and arrested one suspect. The seizure included three Arakan Forest turtles, four Impressed tortoises, 27 Asian Leaf turtles and 43 Yellow tortoises. All confiscations are kept at the Turtle Rescue Centre and will be released to their natural habitats. The defendant is being charged in accordance with section 36 (A) of the Protection of Wildlife and Protected Areas Law(1994) and can be punished with imprisonment of up to 5 years or with fine of kyats 30,000 or with both.

June 18th, 2013 - In collaboration with Forest Department officials, Myanmar National Police Force seized 11 Kg of Pangolin scale from a suspect on the local bus running on the Kalay-Reed Road in Teetain Township of Chin State. The confiscated Pangolin scale are kept at the Forest Department Office of Teetain Township. The defendant is being charged in accordance with section 37 (A) of the Protection of Wildlife and Protected Areas Law (1994) and can be punished with imprisonment of up to 7 years or with fine of kyats 50,000 or with both.

June 18th, 2013 - A Mobile Inspection Team of Kalay District seized 155 Kg of dry orchids and 72 sheets of Barking Deer skin from a suspect on the local bus running on the Kalay-Tamuu Road in Chin State. The confiscated dry orchids and Barking Deer skin are kept at the Forest Department Office of Kalay Township. The defendant is being charged in accordance with section 36 (B) of the Protection of Wildlife and Protected Areas Law (1994) for dry orchids and section 41 (A) of the Forest Law (1995) for barking deer skin and can be punished with imprisonments of up to 6 years or with fine of up to 40,000 kyats or with both.

June 25th, 2013 - Myanmar National Police Force seized a suspect together with 1.633 Kg of Edible Nest Swiftlet Collocalia fuciphaga (white and brown) at the airport of Myeik Township in Taninthayi Region. The confiscated Edible Nest Swiftlet are kept in Forest Department Office of Myeik Township.The defendant is being charged in accordance with section 37 (A) of the Protection of Wildlife and Protected Areas Law (1994) and can be punished with imprisonment of up to 7 years or with fine of kyats 50,000 or with both.



Record of Seized Illegal Wildlife Trade in Myanmar ( June 2013 )

No. Date Seized Items Place Seized Organiztions Action Taken with Remark
1 2-6-2013 77 heads of Tortoises (alive) PyiGyiTagonTownship, Mandalay Region FD, MNPF 36 (A) Alive animals are to be released to their habitats.
2 18-6-2013 Pangolin Scale (11 Kg) Teetain Township, Chin State FD, MNPF 37 (A)  
3 18-6-2013 1. Dry Orchids (155 Kg),
2. Barking Deer Skin (72 sheets)
Kalay-Tamuu Road, Chin State Mobile Inspection Team of Kalay District 1. 36 (B)
2. 41 (A) of Forest Law (1995)
 
4 25-6-2013 Edible Nest Swiftlet (1.633 Kg) Myeik Township, Taninthayi Region MNPF 36(A)  

Notes: All cases are taken action by Protection of Widlife and Protected Areas Law (1994) and only exception is for barking deer skin.

Abbreviation: FD = Forest Department, MNPF =Myanmar National Police Force

36(A) Whoever commits killing, hunting or wounding a protected wildlife species or seasonally protected wildlife species without permission, possessing, selling, transporting or transferring such wildlife or any part thereof shall, on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 years or with fine which may extend to Kyats 30,000 or with both.
36(B) Whoever commits removing, collecting, or destroying in any manner any protected wild plant within the designated area without permission shall, on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 years or with fine which may extend to Kyats 30,000 or with both.
37(A) Whoever commits killing, hunting or wounding a completely protected wildlife species without permission; possessing , selling , transporting or transferring such wildlife or any part thereof shall, on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a team which may extend to 7 years or with fine to Kyats 50,000 or with both.
41(A) Whoever commits extracting, removing, keeping in possession unlawfully any forest products, with the exception of timber from teak and reserved tree, without a permit, be punished with fine which may extend to Kyats 10,000 or with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with both.[Forest Law (1995)]