Guangzhou safari park, spca, disappearing tigers, circus animal abuse

[Guest guest]

The Star 25.12.01

 

Malaysia Airlines' cargo division airlifted four elephants to their new home in

Guangzhou, China. The elephants a 12 year old male named Lawin and three

females named Vita, 10, and Adilla and Chiku, both eight, belonged to the

Malacca zoo.

They were sent to the Guangzhou Panyu Safari Park as part of an animal exchange

programme. Malacca Zoo vet officer Dr. Razeem told reporters here that the

elephants were captured from the jungles of Perak, Pahang and Johor. They were

the last of four shipments of animals promised by the zoo. The zoo had earlier

sent four Malayan tapirs in January, four siamangs in June and six reticulated

pythons in August to the safari park.

In return the park in China will send four red pandas, four elands, four blue

wildebeests, four blesboks, 10 harlequin ducks, 10 demoiselle cranes and eight

sika deer. The flight to Guangzhou would take about four hours. To calm the

elephants during the journey their trainers will accompany them.

 

 

The Star 25.12.01

 

Malacca SPCA wants an annual grant from the Government and contributions from

the private sector to ease its monthly expenses of RM5 000 for food, medical

supplies and maintenance. SPCA head Irene Seet said a fixed grant was badly

needed because public donations, had been dwindling while costs had risen. " The

people I meet say they would rather donate to other organisations which look

into the needs of human beings, and not for animals, " she said. Seet said

expatriates and middle and lower income Malaysians were more sympathetic towards

the needs of SPCA.

The society has almost 100 dogs, 50 cats besides rabbits, tortoises and a goat

which was badly injured in a road accident and was sent to the centre by a

passer-by. Among the items needed by the Malacca SPCA are:

- rice for the animals, cat food and dog food.

- medicine and surgical equipment

- volunteers possessing a valid commercial driving licence

- old newspapers, magazines, children's exercise books, aluminium cans ( items

for recycling) and

- cash

 

The Star 18.12.01 - Letter to editor.

 

Over the last few weeks tigers have been reported sighted and caught. Today

their numbers in the peninsula are no more than 100 compared to 3 000 in the

1950s. Some have put them at only 50. While poaching in the 1950s and 1060s

was the main contributor, habitat destruction is the main culprit today.

We have national parks all over the nation but development has made

accessibility difficult for not only tigers but all other animals as their

" highways " for migration are cut off. This results in the exhaustion of prey in

a particular area and they forage closer to the jungles edge for food. When

this happens, we fear and make a big hue and cry and call in the Wildlife

Department to have them caged up. And if they harm anybody, it is a real good

excuse to show one's hunting prowess with a shotgun. One way to avoid all this

is to stop developing the Main Range. Not only can we help wildlife propagation

via migration but also preserve water catchment areas which supply our treatment

plants.

Tigers are at the top of the food chain. Their numbers determine the state of

health of the forest. Tigers can also be an attraction where a special reserve

can be set up for tigers.

 

Firstly we must have extensive conservation programmes. Today the detailed

study of the tiger is limited because they are too few and the study of such

elusive animals require much funding.

Next we have to preserve habitat. Any development will destabilise the Main

Range, National Parks from Perlis to Johor should integrate and strict

enforcement must be carried out to avoid encroachment and to promote green

passages so that the animals can use these " highways. "

I strongly urge the Government to push for a unified park concept all along the

Main Range.

Federal funding for tiger research or other animal/conservation research is

required. Today much research is NGO and corporate funded.

I urge those corporations' funding animals at the zoo to support such research.

Animals do not belong in a zoo.

 

Indonesia - Illegal loggers in Indonesia are evading arrest by forestry rangers

by getting their wives to strip naked to distract officials while they escape

with the valuable hardwood. A local government official on Sulawesi island, La

Ode Maradala said authorities were too embarassed to take action. Much of

Indonesia's tropical rainforests have been stripped clean by illegal loggers and

environmentalists say they are in danger of disappearing altogether in the next

decade.

 

Trainer not guilty of animal abuse.

A famous Ringling Brothers animal trainer was found not guilty of elephant abuse

by a California jury after a trial that pitted animal rights activists against

" The Greatest Show on Earth. " Mark Gebel had been accused of abusing an

elephant named " Asia " after he struck it with a hooked prod during a performance

leaving a bloody wound on the animal's leg.

Prosecutors invoking a 1989 California law banning elephant abuse, accused Gebel

of using violent force to punish or discipline the animal.

Gebel's attorney argued forcefully that no punishment had occurred, saying

instead that the charges were part of a political campaign mounted by a handful

of extremists seeking to halt the use of wild animals in live performances.

Activists who attended the San Jose trial said they were undaunted by the

verdict and would continue to publicise the issue of how circus animals are

treated.