A WILDLIFE and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) spokesman confirmed that the tarantula is not protected under the international CITES List of Endangered Species nor is it covered by the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972.
“Because of this, the tarantula is regarded as a free and common species,” the spokesman said.
He added that tarantulas living in the highlands such as Fraser’s Hill and Cameron Highlands were local species, while those sold at pet shops were mostly imported.
“Because it is a free, common species, conservationists usually will not carry out surveys of the population,” he said.
According to him, most insects were not protected under the Act except for a few butterflies and moths.
An officer with the Perhilitan office in Kuantan, Pahang, said there were people, mostly expatriates, who exported live insects and this was not illegal.
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) communications head Andrew Sebastian was shocked to learn that since the tarantulas were not a protected species, there was nothing against trading it.
“Frasers’s Hill is a gazetted wildlife sanctuary and permanent forest reserve. Under the Forestry Act, this means that not even a piece of wood could be taken out.
“Every specimen that is indigenous to the location should be afforded protection,” he said.
According to him, action could be taken under the Forestry Act if anyone removed anything from the forest but said that nothing would happen unless it was enforced.
On tarantulas sold at pet shops, he said it was not easy to trace the original source and it is up to the Wildlife Department to conduct regular enforcement rounds.
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