Kitchen-bound panther carcass seized in Malaysia

The carcass of a protected Malaysian panther believed bound for the kitchens of Thai restaurants selling exotic dishes was seized by officials at the border between the two countries, it was reported today.

Wildlife protection officials in Malaysia’s north-eastern Kelantan state trailed a suspected smuggler for six hours before calling in help to try to detain him as he prepared to cross into Thailand by river boat, the New Straits Times said.

But the suspected smuggler escaped by abandoning his car and fleeing across the river border by boat on Thursday, Kelantan anti-smuggling chief Mazlan Che Hamid was quoted as saying.

The wildlife officials found the 88lb carcass, estimated to be worth around €3,190, hidden in the car’s boot with its internal organs removed and wrapped in white plastic, Mazlan said in the report.

“Diesel oil was smeared on the package to reduce the smell (of the carcass). We suspect the smuggler was planning to take the meat across the border to be sold at restaurants specialising in exotic meat,” Mazlan was quoted as saying.

The panther is a protected species and those caught hunting or selling it can be jailed for three years under Malaysia’s Wildlife Act, the newspaper said.