Fw: primfocus: Malaysia to surrender gorillas

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" Shirley McGreal " <spm

<primfocus

Wednesday, October 09, 2002 9:33 AM

primfocus: Malaysia to surrender gorillas

 

 

> Wednesday, October 09, 2002

>

> Malaysia to return smuggled baby gorillas

>

> by HILARY CHEW</b>

>

> PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will surrender the four baby gorillas smuggled into

the

> country in January from Nigeria by the Taiping Zoo through false

> declaration in official documentations.

>

> Minister of Science, Technology and Environment Datuk Seri Law Hieng Ding

> told The Star today that the primates, currently held by the zoo would be

> sent to a certified breeding facility to be recommended by the secretariat

> of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).

>

> " We are very upset that this had happened. We were misled into believing

> that the transaction was above board.

> " The issue had tarnished the country's image, " he said.

>

> Gorillas are one of the four endangered great apes listed under Appendix I

> of Cites that bans all commercial trade in the species.

> Both Malaysia and Nigeria are signatories to the convention, dedicated to

> curb illegal trade of wild species of flora and fauna that will impact on

> the wild populations.

>

> 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

>

>