(MY) Bungled capture kills giraffes

[Guest guest]

Saturday, November 18, 2000 South China Morning Post http://www.scmp.com/news/

by IAN STEWART in Kuala Lumpur

 

Three giraffes imported from South Africa by a safari park died and three were

injured in a botched rescue attempt after the animals bolted as they were being

released from wooden cages.

Three giraffes escaped from their intended enclosure by breaching a wire fence,

but failed to scale a barrier separating the 500-hectare A'Famosa golf resort

and safari park from a road, 100km south of Kuala Lumpur.

 

Following their escape, the Malacca State National Parks and Wildlife Department

said it would use tranquillisers to catch the animals.

 

A spokesman had said the operation would be supervised by a South African

veterinarian, who accompanied the giraffes from South Africa with two

assistants.

 

" Extreme care is being used to recover the giraffes, such as proper dosage of

tranquillisers on the escaped animals, " he said. " Long poles with ropes attached

will be used to catch the animals before they collapse. "

 

But the people charged with recapturing the giraffes apparently did not follow

this procedure. Reports in the New Straits Times said the giraffes suffered

broken necks and other injuries and died when they fell into a ravine and a

drain after being shot with tranquillisers. The story cited lack of experience

among the catchers as the cause.

 

After the animals were reported to have died, the Wildlife and National Parks

Department spokesman said: " The department has no experience in catching

giraffes as the animal comes from the African continent. "

 

The safari park manager, Robert Na, said the remaining three giraffes were in

stable condition, although they had been injured in the incident. He said he

believed the animals, which cost M$150,000 (HK$308,000) each, reacted wildly

because they were highly stressed after the long flight from South Africa.

 

Mr Na said the giraffes were already restless when they arrived at the safari

park. He said some of them were trying to break free by " banging against the

cages " .