Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) president Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail said the fact that wildlife crime was still occurring during the MCO meant that Perhilitan had to be more proactive in adopting technology to nab criminals. He said a breakdown in the number of cases involving trafficking and related cases was needed. Ahmad said the increased wildlife sightings reported on social media showed that they were roaming outside their territories during the MCO due to the drop in noise and human activity. This, he said, was an opportunity for Perhilitan to gather data. "We hope the department will get better data through radio-tracking and camera traps in the areas where the animals roam. The data can be used for better habitat management." He lauded the department for continuing patrols during the MCO, and monitoring poaching and smuggling. "MNS has been monitoring this through our community programmes. We have Sahabat Raja Rimba, Sahabat Enggang, Sahabat Beruang Madu, Sahabat Bakau and Sahabat Flyway to be our eyes and ears." He urged the government to focus more on Malayan tapirs as there were critical issues related to the survival of the species. There has been a rise in the number of hit-and-run cases involving tapirs, which are ensnared for their meat and body parts that are used as collector's items. "We need to do urgent research on them and the corporate sector should come support this. "We do not want a repeat of what happened to our Sumatran rhinoceros." Malaysia's last Sumatran rhinoceros, Iman, died of cancer in Sabah in November.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/05/591347/zoologist-too-early-draw-conclusion-wildlife-crimes