Attempt to smuggle wild animals foiled in Dhofar

Muscat: Authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle wild animals through the Sultanate of Oman’s borders.

“The Directorate General of Environment in the Governorate of Dhofar, in coordination with the competent authorities and the Royal Oman Police, managed to thwart the smuggling of wild animals through the border crossings. The legal procedures are being completed against violators,” Environment Authority said in a statement.

The animals were transferred to the veterinary clinic of the Royal Court Affairs in Salalah to receive the necessary treatment and care.

Legal procedures have been initiated by the authorities against the violators. The authority called on everyone to preserve the environment and its natural features, and to abide by environmental laws and legislations.

Oman’s Law on Nature Reserves And Wildlife Conservation bans the hunting of a number of indigenous animals and birds, many of which have become endangered ie the Arabian leopard and Arabian oryx.

Article 15 (b) says any one who intentionally kills, hunts or smuggles any animal or bird mentioned in the Appendix No.1 (Arabian oryx, Arabian leopard, Arabian tahr, Reem or Sand Gazelle, Nubian ibex, Striped hyena, Arabian gazella, Houbara bustard and Caracal) shall be subjected to imprisonment for a period not less then six months and

not exceeding five years and a fine not less then RO1,000 and not exceeding RO5,000 or any of the two penalties.

Article 15 (c) says any one who intentionally kills, hunts or smuggles any animal or bird mentioned in the Appendix No.2 (Honey badger,Hare, Red fox, Green turtle, Loggerhead turtle, Olive ridley turtle, Hawksbill turtle, Wild cat, Sand cat, Arabian wolf, Rueppell’s sand fox and all falcon, owl, vulture, eagle, flamingo, pelican, gull and tern species) shall be subjected to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months and a fine not less than RO100 and not exceeding RO1,000 or one of the two

penalties.

Article 15 (d) says any one who intentionally chop off or causes damage to any protected plant or kills, hunts or smuggles any of the protected animals or birds not mentioned in the above shall be subjected to a fine not less than RO10 and not exceeding RO500.

Nature reserves have been set up to protect the natural habitats of the animals that call Oman home. There are fifteen reserves in total and their main goals are to help conserve biodiversity and the natural heritage of Oman as well as to provide research opportunities, to help educate the population about conservation and to encourage ecotourism. Regulations are in place throughout Oman to ensure that environmental factors are considered before beginning new programmes.