Guest guest Posted August 13, 2002 Report Share Posted August 13, 2002 New Straits Times » Letters Include more animals in protected list Aug 13: SAHABAT Alam Malaysia (SAM) is delighted at news of the proposed amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and urge the ministry to expedite the implementation of the Act to deter smugglers and traders from trafficking. Despite the enactment of stiffer penalties for offenders, the lucrative trade in wildlife is a roaring business and traders, smugglers, poachers, hunters and animal dealers will resort to all means illegal to satisfy the craze for exotic species with the use of sophisticated weaponry. The amended Act should be strengthened by expanding the list of animals covered including those bred in captivity, reptiles, insects and wild plants. Clearly, commercial trade in wildlife must be severely restricted or eliminated across much of the region, through national policies and international collaborations. It is public demand that allows the trade to continue. Therefore, it is important to cut off the trade from the consumer side. Education is vital and the department could enlist the help of village headman, community leaders and NGOs to inculcate an understanding of the threatened species and the need to protect them as part of Malaysia's natural heritage. If these steps are not taken immediately all that will be left are silent forests, empty of the birds and mammals that are critical to the health of the forest. _______________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2002 Report Share Posted October 12, 2002 Dr. Kay Farmer has sent the following message to the CITES Secretariat. She has given me permission to circulate her letter. Dear Willem Wijnstekers, As a former manager of the Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon and a current member of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance advisory board, I would like to comment on the 'Taiping Four' as they are now known. Firstly, I would like to thank the CITES Secretariat for instigating an investigation that has resulted in the announcement that the Government of Malaysia are going to confiscate the illegally imported gorillas from Nigeria. I am grateful to Shirley McGreal for successfully highlighting the fate of these gorillas. Undoubtedly a precedent has been set, but what next? It is imperative that all persons involved in this deal are made accountable. Furthermore, these gorillas need to be returned to their country of origin (most likely Cameroon) to strengthen the message that there can be no benefits from participating in this illegal trade. African sanctuaries have been created to provide a solution to the large number of orphaned primates in need of refuge. As you must be well aware confiscation of wildlife is vital to international law enforcement, and where there are no sanctuaries, there are little or no confiscations. Presently over half of all apes in African sanctuaries have been confiscated. Furthermore, sanctuaries not only deal with the symptoms of this illegal trade, but they also address its root causes and are an integral part of in-situ conservation. The Limbe Wildlife Centre not only offers a refuge for orphaned primates, but also has an active conservation education programme that includes an education centre, on-site information boards outside of enclosures, guided tours, nature clubs, conservation seminars and workshops, and out-reach programmes to schools, hunting camps and villages. However, the important role that sanctuaries play in in-situ conservation is generally ignored and under valued, which is why sanctuaries like the Limbe Wildlife Centre are over stretched financially and logistically. However, despite such difficulties, there is a team of dedicated Cameroonian staff at the Limbe Wildlife Centre that successfully cares for all the animals at the sanctuary. Frequently, the animals arrive in a very poor state of health, suffering from both physical traumas and behavioural abnormalities. Perhaps surprisingly, gorillas in particular are extremely fragile, but this dedicated team is having great success with its gorilla group. There is no question that this is where the 'Taiping Four' should go. However, funds will be required to build a new gorilla enclosure. I ask for your support in facilitating the return of these gorillas to Cameroon, in getting them sent to the Limbe Wildlife Centre, and furthermore, that the governments/parties involved are held responsible by paying for the construction of a new gorilla facility. I look forward to receiving your comments, Yours Sincerely, Dr Kay. H. Farmer. ****************** Dr. Kay H. Farmer Scottish Primate Research Group Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA. Scotland. U.K. Tel:- 01786 466373 Fax: 01786 467641 Email: k.h.farmer -- The University of Stirling is a university established in Scotland by charter at Stirling, FK9 4LA. Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message. If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible for delivery of the message to such person), you may not disclose, copy or deliver this message to anyone and any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. In such case, you should destroy this message and kindly notify the sender by reply email. Please advise immediately if you or your employer do not consent to Internet email for messages of this kind. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of the University of Stirling shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it. Dr. Shirley McGreal, Chairwoman International Primate Protection League POB 766, Summerville SC 29484-0766, USA Ph. 843-871-2280 Fax. 843-871-7988 E-mail: ippl. Website www.ippl.org " We need not think alike to love alike. " Francis David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.