Owning exotic pets can be very dangerous nowadays even when you own legal permit for those pets.
The 55-year-old businessman, Gary Lim claimed that he was injured in an “ambush” by officers of the Selangor Wildlife Department at his farmhouse.
He said he was caught off-guard around lunchtime when 4 four-wheel vehicle entered the compound of his farmhouse at Kampung Sungai Kamin, Ulu Yam. There was more than 10 uniformed and plain-clothes personnel introduced themselves as from the state Wildlife Department.
When he asked for their warrant to justify their presence at his compound they became angry, handcuffed him and pushed him to the ground.
“I suffered bleeding nose and bruises on my right shoulder and left knee from the fall,” he said.
“I was in pain but they were not interested in helping me. They then went on to seize some of the pets on my farmhouse.
“Several unique pets, including four tortoises, five blue iguanas, a sugar glider and a gecko (lizard) were confiscated.
“I believe it is unlawful because I have a permit to keep them,” Lim said, adding that he obtained them from pet shops. He also claimed that one of his mobile phones was confiscated as well.
The farm owner said that he was a pet lover which was why he started the farmhouse five years ago after he retired from his furniture business. He has a wide range of domestic animals in his farmhouse, including cats, dogs, chicken, peacocks, birds, swans, geese, and goats.
He said the officers took him to the Ulu Yam Baru police station where they lodged a report on the list of pets seized from his farmhouse. After he was set free, Lim said he made a police report at the same police station against them.
An official of the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) confirmed that a raid was conducted at a farm in Ulu Yam last week, the official also said the raid was conducted following a tip-off that protected species were kept at the premises.
“Under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716), Perhilitan enforcement officers are given the power to arrest any person who is suspected to have committed an offence under the Act.
“The case is being investigated under the Act and related laws,” said the official.
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