(ID) Fw: New report released today condemns cruelty of zoos in Bali and other Indonesian tourist hotspots

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" Jonathan Owen " <jonathanowen

" Jonathan Owen " <jonathanowen

Tuesday, 26 March, 2002 18:43

New report released today condemns cruelty of zoos in Bali and

other Indonesian tourist hotspots

 

 

Footage/pics available

For immediate release: Tuesday 26th March 2002

Press release

New report condemns the institutional cruelty of zoos in Bali and other

tourist destinations in Indonesia

 

An investigation by international charity the World Society for the

Protection of Animals (WSPA) and one of its Indonesian member societies,

Animal Conservation for Life (KSBK), has revealed shocking levels of cruelty

and neglect endured by hundreds of animals in zoos in Bali and other tourist

destinations in Indonesia.

 

A new report based on their findings, 'Caged Cruelty', documents how

researchers visited 10 zoos over a five month period in 2001. Every zoo

visited had animals kept in cages so small they could not exercise

themselves sufficiently, with some suffering from open wounds that were left

untreated. Animals were also routinely seen in cages left filthy for weeks

on end, chained and unable to move freely. Animal shows took place at 80

per cent of the zoos, with orang-utans, bears and otters beaten and starved

to make them perform.

 

The report details how 99 per cent of the enclosures seen failed to

accommodate the basic biological and behavioural needs of the animals, with

82 per cent failing to provide sufficient space and 68 per cent left filthy

for prolonged periods of time.

 

Around half of the animals seen did not have sufficient access to water. In

many cases water was only available from the ditch around their enclosure,

which was usually stagnant.

 

Unsurprisingly, stereotyping, a form of mental torment commonly found in

captive animals, was displayed by approximately 50% of the animals at these

zoos, with repeated pacing or swaying commonplace.

 

In addition, evidence was found of an illegal trade in zoo animals such as

tigers and sun bears, often after they have been falsely recorded as having

died. In one example, 16 lion cubs mysteriously disappeared from the

Indonesia Safari Park, after they were falsely reported as having died. At

Surabaya Zoo, a keeper offered a piece of tiger skin to an undercover

investigator for Rp 100,000 ($9.50). In another example, a worker at

Jakarta zoo offered a wild caught sun bear cub to an investigator.

 

Rob Laidlaw, WSPA project manager, said, " Indonesia is home to some of the

worst zoos in the world today. These places are little more than squalid

venues for the entertainment of overseas visitors and have nothing to do

with animal welfare or conservation of endangered species. "

....cont./

 

-2-

 

Millions of people visit these zoos every year, in what is a multi-million

dollar entertainment industry. The following zoos are in or near to popular

tourist destinations: Perancka Animal Park, Bali; Gembiraloka Zoo,

Yogyakarta; Taru Jurug Animal Park, Solo ; Ragunan Zoo, Jakarta.

 

 

At Taru Jurug Animal Park in Java, investigators witnessed the tragic plight

of 'Tony', an orang-utan kept in a rubbish filled rusting iron and concrete

cage. Nearby, two other orangutans, a mother and her baby, were found

languishing in an iron cage measuring 0.7 x 0.7 x 2 metres - about the size

of a telephone box laid on its side.

 

In one of the worst zoos visited, Perancak Tourist Park in Bali, a

pig-tailed macaque was confined in a cage so small it could not even lie

down properly. Even in this tiny space one of its legs was chained to the

bars. Nearby, seven malnourished lions were kept in cages measuring just

3m² with almost no shelter from the elements. Some of these lions were

chained by the neck and had maggot-infested sores.

 

Another example of the routine chaining of caged animals was found at

Bandung Zoo in West Java. Here, three elephants were seen chained by their

legs and unable to move more than a metre in any direction. One of these

elephants was even chained by three legs, with its front legs tied together.

 

 

At many of the zoos, such as Tinjomoyo Zoo in Java, visitors were encouraged

to feed the animals ice cream and candy. Also, visitors were seen to offer

cigarettes to orang-utans. At Surabaya zoo, several animals have died in

recent years after eating rubbish thrown by visitors.

 

An example of the abuse of the animals put on show at these zoos was found

at Surabaya zoo, where visitors can be photographed with an orang-utan for

just Rp 2000 ($0.19). While being led around the zoo by a trainer, the

orang-utan was repeatedly beaten with a bamboo stick in order to make it

behave.

 

The zoos surveyed are all members of the Indonesian Zoo Association and the

South East Asian Zoo Association (SEAZA). The findings of the WSPA/KSBK

Caged Cruelty report contrast with the stated aims of SEAZA to '...develop

and maintain high standards of animal displays and animal welfare...'.

 

WSPA and KSBK are calling for an immediate end to animal shows and the

closure of Perancak animal park in Bali, the worst of the zoos visited. The

organisations are also lobbying Indonesia to adopt a national animal welfare

law and a zoo licensing act to define and enforce minimum standards.

 

Members of the public should make their protests to:

Mr. M Prakosa, Ph.D.; Minister of Forestry; Gedung Manggala Wanabakti;

Jl. Gatot Subroto Jakarta 10270, INDONESIA

Email: indofor <indofor

 

-ends-

 

Broadcast footage, photographs, copies of the report and/or interviews

available.

UK contact: Jonathan Owen, WSPA, 0207 587 5000 (mobile 07801 386670)

Indonesia: Rosek Nursahid/Wita Wahyudi KSBK, 00 62 341 570033