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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian wildlife officers arrested six Vietnamese suspected poachers and seized a wide hide of animal parts, including skins of the critically endangered Malayan tiger, during a raid this week, officials said on Friday.
Pieces of tiger skins, along with skins, claws, meat and other parts of protected bears, a leopard, serow and a python were recovered during the raid State of Pahang.
Six Vietnamese nationals, including two women, were arrested and arrested for further investigation.
"This is the biggest raid involving tigers in Malaysia this year, worth half a million ringgit, "said wildlife department chief Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim.
He said the poachers had killed three tigers. Wildlife officials later told AFP that one of the tigers was a cub.
The species once roamed the jungles of Malaysia is now critically endangered, with fewer than 340 believed to be in the wild.
It is also the country's official animal, and depicted often on its national emblems and its coat of arms.
Tiger skins, prized as upscale home decorations,
People found
Wildlife trafficking watchdog Traffic Southeast Asia senior communications officer Elizabeth John said the finding was "heartbreaking".
"When you have so few, every single one is a massive loss." (19659002) "They (the government) need to invest more in law enforcement if they wish to save a national symbol. "
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