Guest guest Posted August 6, 2001 Report Share Posted August 6, 2001 Heaven help these poor gorillas .... Now that John Aspinall has died, it seems his son, Damian, and the management team are indeed more interested in the bottom line rather than animal welfare. John Aspinall was the one who made the decision NOT to send any more gorillas to Japan, after the tragic and needless death of BIJU, a Howletts born, group/mother reared magnificent young silverback. BIJU's death is something Ueno Zoo would rather be forgotten and Aspinalls would rather not discuss, but if Rachel Weiss keeps chimp Jerom's memory and tragic death alive thru public reminders, I feel compelled to do the same for BIJU and now these 4 hapless gorillas on their way to a zoo which readily admits they often don't have funds for basic needs like food ...!!!!! They're calling this a " loan " - most likely since they fear a public backlash if it's termed a " sale " which is more than likely really what it is .... exchange a few surplus males for some other exotic species ... If anyone out there on any of these lists can assure me this is a good zoo for gorillas, please email me privately. So far I've been unable to find any such reassurances on my own. Thank you. Jane Dewar, founder Gorilla Haven www.gorilla-haven.org Email: jdewar - " Dr John Wedderburn " <john " AAPN List " <aapn > Monday, August 06, 2001 8:15 AM Fw: primfocus: Jakarta - Ragunan zoo to receive four male gorillas from Howletts Port Lympne > http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20010801.B04 > > Ragunan Zoo to receive four male gorillas > City News - August 01, 2001 > > JAKARTA (JP): The city's Ragunan zoo will have four male gorillas which > will arrive here from England in October, an official said. > > The zoo's director Ismunanto said the African animals which were born in > > the Howletts Port Lympne Wildlife Park, England, would be " lent " to > Ragunan zoo for a year. > > " If we can keep the gorillas well, they will be given to us, " Ismunanto > said, > adding that the Ragunan zoo would be the only zoo in Asia which has > the giant apes. > > He claimed a Japanese zoo once wanted to buy a gorilla at the price of > Rp 250 billion (US$25 million), but it was refused by the wildlife park. > > He said the Ragunan zoo was able to have the gorillas because it was > helped by a animal lovers foundation founded by the late Mrs. Puck > Schmutzer. > > The foundation financed the delivery of the gorillas as well as the building > of a one-hectare enclosure in the Ragunan zoo, which Ismunanto described > as the largest and most luxurious gorilla enclosure in the world. > > The low-land species of African ape would be able to adjust easily > with the tropical climate and to the enclosure in the Ragunan zoo, > Ismunanto said at the City Hall. > > " We intend to meet City Governor Sutiyoso to file a proposal to get > a kind of 'citizenship' for the four gorillas. > > " We also plan to ask the city administration to help fund the food > for the gorillas, " he said without mentioning the amount of the fund > needed for the gorillas' food, " Ismunanto said. > > He added the gorillas usually eat apples, pears and grapes. > > He said the zoo could not afford such food. Currently, the zoo get > its income mainly from entrance tickets, currently priced at Rp 3,000 > (30 U.S. cents) per visitor. > > The 140-hectare Ragunan zoo currently has 3,500 animals consisting > of 253 species. (jun) > > > > > For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search feature on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list archives at: aapn > Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at aapn or to the moderator at info > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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