DPA
Kuala Lumpur, May 31 (DPA) A Malaysian court has charged two men allegedly involved in illegal wildlife trading with torturing 70 pythons by keeping them in a sack and sealing their mouths shut with tape, a news report said Saturday. The two men, aged 38 and 40, were also charged with being in possession of several clouded monitor lizards and a dead black leopard, both of which are protected animals.

The duo, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, also allegedly had crocodile meat, deer meat and deer hide in their possession, the New Straits Times daily said.

Wildlife officers discovered the animals during a raid at a home in the capital Kuala Lumpur Sunday.

The animals and meat were believed to be destined for the local market and were worth 100,000 ringgit ($29.40), the report said.
DPA