KUALA LUMPUR: Between January 2023 and March 2025, an estimated RM5.4 million worth of protected wildlife species were rescued from being smuggled out through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the animals targeted for trafficking and smuggling include turtles, snakes, birds and primates, comprising local and exotic species.

"To date, Perhilitan has opened 10 investigation papers related to wildlife smuggling cases through KLIA during the same period.