Wildlife smugglers flung cages filled with rare birds into the ocean after being intercepted by authorities on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
A boat carrying the rare bird species was detained by the MMEA in the Malacca Strait, the statement provided to dpa Wednesday said.Three Indonesians tossed cages holding the birds into the ocean as soon as they noticed the MMEA vessel approaching.
Of the 300 rare birds that they tried to smuggle, only three could be saved, according to MMEA district director Amran Daud.
It was suspected that Malaysia was being used as a transit centre after the birds were smuggled from Vietnam to Thailand, before being taken into Indonesia.
Those species being smuggled were all threatened and protected by the World Wildlife Fund, Amran told dpa.
The case has now been referred to the Wildlife and National Parks department for further investigation under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
