Resort Serves Protected Pangolin Meat, Faces Penalties

A tourist resort in Malaysia is under scrutiny for serving meat of a protected pangolin species to its guests. Authorities conducted a raid, codenamed "Ops Khazanah," in Sabah, acting on intelligence that endangered animals were being prepared for tourists. Officers discovered a live Sunda pangolin, along with cooked pangolin dishes and other suspected wildlife meat, being offered as an "exotic" dining experience.

Three individuals were apprehended to aid in the investigation. The Sunda pangolin is a fully protected species under Sabah law, with no permits issued for its trade or consumption. Globally, pangolins are critically endangered, facing immense poaching pressure for their scales and meat, which are trafficked for traditional remedies and as a high-end delicacy.

Those found guilty of handling protected wildlife in Sabah face significant penalties, including fines ranging from 50,000 to 250,000 ringgit and prison sentences of one to five years. Officials stressed that such activities not only violate conservation laws but also damage Sabah's reputation as a sustainable ecotourism destination. The Sabah wildlife department has pledged to increase patrols and enforcement against wildlife crimes within the tourism sector.