Malaysian police raid for stolen cars finds hundreds of birds, other protected wildlife

Malaysia raid for stolen cars nets protected birds

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A police raid for stolen vehicles found 42 of them at a warehouse in Malaysia — and hundreds of birds and other protected wildlife.

Celescoriano Razond, an official with the wildlife department, says police officers found some 700 birds and caged leopard cats, albino pygmy monkeys and other animals. They included about 20 protected species.

Celescoriano said Wednesday that all the animals found in Tuesday’s raid in Kuala Lumpur were now safe with the wildlife department.

News reports say those rescued include a pair of rare birds of paradise worth 1 million ringgit ($300,000). Authorities believe the animals were to be bred or sold.

The reports say two men have been arrested and police are looking for other suspects.