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95 snakes found in burst bag at Malaysia airport
http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-odd/20100903/AS.Malaysia.Snakes.In.Luggage/
95 snakes found in burst bag at Malaysia airport
7 hours ago
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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A Malaysian man pleaded guilty to wildlife smuggling after his bag bursting with 95 live boa constrictors broke open on a luggage conveyer belt at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, an official said Friday.
Keng Liang "Anson" Wong, 52, who was previously convicted of wildlife trafficking in the United States, was charged Wednesday in a district court with exporting the endangered boas without a permit, said Shamsuddin Osman, an official with Malaysia's wildlife department.
The offense that carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison and a fine, Shamsuddin said.
Wong was arrested Aug. 26 after airport authorities found the boa constrictors, together with a few other snakes and a turtle, when his bag broke open on a luggage conveyor belt. Wong was transiting from Malaysia's northern Penang state to Indonesia's capital Jakarta.
The court will reconvene Monday pending Wong's appointment of a lawyer, Shamsuddin said.
He said the criminal charges involve the boas only, because the other animals are not listed as endangered. All of the animals are alive and under the care of wildlife officials, Shamsuddin said.
A decade ago, Wong was sentenced to almost six years in prison in the U.S. for running an animal-smuggling ring that prosecutors said imported and sold more than 300 protected reptiles native to Asia and Africa from 1996 until Wong's arrest in Mexico in 1998. It is unclear whether he served the full term.
Activists say the illegal wildlife trade used to flourish in Malaysia until the country recently stepped up efforts to crack down on it. In July, Parliament passed a new law to punish poachers and smugglers more severely, but the act has not yet taken effect.
95 snakes found in burst bag at Malaysia airport
7 hours ago
Loading... Share No Thanks Must Read?Thank YouYes 12Share |
Email Story Discuss Print
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A Malaysian man pleaded guilty to wildlife smuggling after his bag bursting with 95 live boa constrictors broke open on a luggage conveyer belt at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, an official said Friday.
Keng Liang "Anson" Wong, 52, who was previously convicted of wildlife trafficking in the United States, was charged Wednesday in a district court with exporting the endangered boas without a permit, said Shamsuddin Osman, an official with Malaysia's wildlife department.
The offense that carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison and a fine, Shamsuddin said.
Wong was arrested Aug. 26 after airport authorities found the boa constrictors, together with a few other snakes and a turtle, when his bag broke open on a luggage conveyor belt. Wong was transiting from Malaysia's northern Penang state to Indonesia's capital Jakarta.
The court will reconvene Monday pending Wong's appointment of a lawyer, Shamsuddin said.
He said the criminal charges involve the boas only, because the other animals are not listed as endangered. All of the animals are alive and under the care of wildlife officials, Shamsuddin said.
A decade ago, Wong was sentenced to almost six years in prison in the U.S. for running an animal-smuggling ring that prosecutors said imported and sold more than 300 protected reptiles native to Asia and Africa from 1996 until Wong's arrest in Mexico in 1998. It is unclear whether he served the full term.
Activists say the illegal wildlife trade used to flourish in Malaysia until the country recently stepped up efforts to crack down on it. In July, Parliament passed a new law to punish poachers and smugglers more severely, but the act has not yet taken effect.
We have a toad here in florida that is brown and has like bumpy things on its back. On the news the other night, they said if a cat or a dog even sniffs one of these things it will die within 15 minutes( the cat or dog will die). They said if we see one, put it in the freezer to kill it. It is not native to florida. Scary thing is, humans can be harmed by them as well. EW, Im with you on the snake thing, my son had one and his son was handling it and it started coiling and tightening around him! It was a python! Needless to say after he got his son detangled from it he took it to the nearest pet store and turned it in.
We have iguanas over running things as well and they get huge and are oh so ugly! When it gets cold here, they literally fall out of the trees as they cannot stand cold temps, it kills them.
What is an anole?
We have iguanas over running things as well and they get huge and are oh so ugly! When it gets cold here, they literally fall out of the trees as they cannot stand cold temps, it kills them.
What is an anole?
We've had some Chinese fire bellied toads forever. I swear those things are immortal!! My husband threatened to turn them loose. I threatened his life if he did. They aren't native to Texas. Anoles and geckos, ok. We have lots of those in our yard anyway. The kids want a snake. OH NO!! The only snake that is coming in this house will either be my new shoes or belt.
Me too! EW just the thought of it gives me the eebie jeebies! I cannot even imagine!
Introducing non native species is a huge problem. Hawaii's exotic bird species are threatened by the mongoose that was introduced to combat the rats. The mongoose now preys on the young birds and the nests for eggs.
In Florida you have the snake issue and exotic fish species that are ruining native fish habitat.... its running rampant.
In Florida you have the snake issue and exotic fish species that are ruining native fish habitat.... its running rampant.
Yep, I would have been a part of that casualty list as well. Anyone ever see that movie Snakes on Planes..not a very good movie, but enough to give me nightmares....
How many people had heart attacks?? Had I been there, you could have counted me in the casualty list.
I wish more people would realize the dangers of releasing non native species loose. especially in areas such as Florida. It's really a problem.
I wish more people would realize the dangers of releasing non native species loose. especially in areas such as Florida. It's really a problem.
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