PERHILITAN TO COOPERATE WITH TANZANIAN AUTHORITIES ON AFRICAN IVORY CASE       

 
      
    KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- The Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) said it is highly concerned with the recent seizure of elephant tusks in Tanzania said to be headed for Malaysia.
    
    In a statement, Perhilitan said it had contacted Tanzanian authorities with regard to the case.
    
    "The department is committed to curbing illegal wildlife activities and, in this case, Malaysia has been identified as only a transit point before reaching the final destination, and not a major hub for illegal wildlife trade," it said.
    
    Perhilitan said this was based on previous records and the latest cases in which two shipments of ivories were intercepted in Johor and Penang en route to their final destinations.
    
    "Both cases are currently under investigation by the relevant authorities including Perhilitan. It is vital to note that there's not much demand for African elephant ivory in Malaysia," the statement said.
    
    It further said that Malaysian authorities had to date foiled 68 smuggling attempts involving wildlife or its by-products.
    -- BERNAMA