Taiping Zoo's fishy gorilla deal.

[Guest guest]

The story written by Chinedum Uwaegbulam appeared today in 9 December issue

of the Nigerian newspaper " The Guardian. " How the Ibadan Zoo director can

justify exchanging gorillas stolen from the wild outside Nigeria on the

grounds that the deal was " non-commercial " escapes me - in any case the

Malaysian representative at CITES confirmed that money had been paid for

the gorillas. Lots, I suspect.

 

www.ngrguardiannews.com

 

Fg [Federal Government] wades into controversial export of four gorillas to

Malaysia

 

By Chinedu Uwaegbulam

 

CONTROVERSY last week continued to trail the illegal

export of some four young gorillas from Nigeria to

Malaysia 11 months ago, as the prospects of a landmark

judicial intervention loomed large at the weekend.

 

Apparently stirred by the growing international

attention which the case has begun to attract, the

Federal Government last week threatened prosecution of

all official and individuals found to have been

involved in the messy deal, while across the borders,

both the Cameroonian and Nigerian government are

demanding that DNA tests be conducted to determine the

precise origins of the primates.

 

Not done yet, the storm is also blowing through the

grounds of the University of Ibadan zoological gardens

- earlier implicated in the controversial affair where

officials have been refuting allegations that the deal

was a commercial transaction.

 

International Primate Protection League (IPPL) had,

earlier in the year brought the deal to global

attention through the media, and an organised post

card letter writing campaign targeted at the Nigerian,

Cameroonian and Malaysian authorities. The group

alleged that the animals were procured through

commercial dealings as there is no captive gorilla

breeding programme in Nigeria.

 

Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Imo Okopido, in

a statement at the Convention on International Trade

in Endangered Species (CITES) held last month in

Santiago, Chile, said all those involved will be

investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices

Commission (ICPC).

 

" We took very seriously the gorilla smuggling

incident, and the tarnishing of our country's image

internationally. Accordingly, all persons involved -

whether government officials or private individuals -

will be investigated by the Independent Corrupt

Practices Commission and if need be, Interpol will be

invited to help track down the smuggling network, "

Okopido stressed.

 

According to the minister, the government has

re-deployed CITES enforcement officers to Nigerian

airports, seaports and border posts in a renewed

effort to stamp out illegal importation and

exportation of endangered species. He added that the

officers will work in close collaboration with the

Nigerian police, customs service, immigration service

and other regulatory agencies.

 

The minister explained that " gorillas are listed on

Appendix 1 of CITES, which bans commercial trade.

Documents and correspondence at my disposal clearly

indicate that this unwholesome deal was an illegal

commercial transaction and also that this was known to

the directors of both zoos. "

 

CITES export permit for five gorillas was signed by an

individual who is not a member of the Nigerian CITES

management authority and could not have been mandated

to sign it in his then position as only himself have

the authority to do so, the minister said.

 

He added: " This collusion by high ranking officials

in both governments is unpatriotic, very damaging to

the reputations of both countries and damaging to the

endangered species that they are employed to protect.

It is important to realise that young gorillas are so

sensitive to the stress of capture that even in

experienced hands, 80 per cent of rescued orphans die.

Thus to provide four living infants, at least 16

infants probably died. "

 

But Dr. (Mrs.) D.O. Akinboye, director of University

of Ibadan zoological garden told The Guardian that the

zoo does not catch, traffic, export or participate in

commercial deals. The mix-up, which is interpreted as

trafficking of gorillas, must have arisen from the

planned, animal exchange programme between Ibadan zoo

and Taiping zoo, which the media is now frustrating.

The Taiping zoo was expected to send tigers, sun bears

and other animals to Nigeria.

 

" There had been an exchange programme dating some

years back. An exchange programme is a programme

without monetary involvement. An exchange programme

between zoos is a normal programme, it is very much

legal. It operates throughout the world and other

universities. There is nothing illegal about it, its a

very clean programme, " she said.

 

Already, the Malaysian government had confiscated the

gorillas after it received a CITES report that the

animals were imported into Malaysia through false

declarations in official documentation.

 

Meanwhile, in a joint letter written to Mr. Willem

Wijnsteckers, secretary-general of CITES, both Dr.

Okopido and Mr. Denis Koulagna Koutou, director of

wild life and protected areas in Cameroun stated.

 

" We are both of the opinion that the four gorillas

should be returned to their country of origin, and

that this should be determined by the immediate

scientific analysis of DNA samples.

 

" Thus, we are writing to inform you that it is the

wish of the Ministry of Environment of Nigeria, acting

on behalf of the Nigerian government, and the CITES

management authority of Cameroun, on behalf of the

Cameroonian government, that the above mentioned four

young gorillas be returned to a sanctuary in Africa

(Cameroun, if the DNA confirms this as their country

of origin). "

 

CITES had wanted the confiscated gorillas to be sent

to a centre or zoo in a third country still to be

determined.

 

The letter endorsed by Okopido and Kouton was copied

to the Minister of Science, Technology and Environment

in Malaysia, Mr. Law Hieng Ding, UNEP, and was

forwarded for the information of the Great Ape

Survival Project and Dr. Shirley McGreal of IPPL.

Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) welcomed the

DNA test and expressed " utter dismay " at the

involvement of government officials including zoo

attendants in facilitating the illicit trade. " Those

charged with the responsibility of protecting

Nigeria's natural resources should live up to their

responsibilities, " they said.

 

Dr. McGreal, chairperson of IPPL told The Guardian " it

is very good news that Nigeria and Cameroun have

agreed to the return of the " Taiping Four " gorillas to

Africa and have demanded DNA testing of the animals.

Many zoos are anxious to get a bonanza of a million

dollars worth of free gorillas and the accompanying

glory and publicity, without the zoos having done any

of the work on this case like IPPL and others have

since learning of the shipment in March 2002.

 

" Obviously, the sanctuary option is more suitable for

a variety of reasons. I wonder if zoos are as anxious

to take in more " boring species than gorillas, " she

queried.

 

Mr Wijnstekers, CITES secretary-general said " gorillas

are so highly endangered that every criminal

transaction such as the one uncovered here can have an

impact on their future. The laws are in place, we must

now rely on all governments to tighten their

enforcement controls and do everything in their power

to stamp out illegal wildlife trade. "

 

CITES officials promised to issue an alert to all

national CITES management authorities as well as

Interpol and the world customs organisation to help

enforce its regulations. CITES has over 160 members

and illegal wildlife trade continued to pose a major

threat to the survival of many highly endangered

plants and animals.

 

An investigative report released by Malaysian

officials reveals that the Taiping zoo applied to the

CITES authorities of Malaysia to import five gorillas

for breeding and exhibition purpose, but the Malaysian

CITES management authority being aware of the trade

involving Appendix I had taken the necessary actions

to comply to Article III of the convention.

 

Besides, the Malaysian authorities also considered the

suitability of the zoo for keeping the gorillas, and

took into account its experience in breeding other

primates.

 

Besides, based on the information provided by the

University of Ibadan zoological gardens which

confirmed that the gorillas were captive-bred animals,

Malaysian CITES management authority issued CITES

import permit to enable Taiping zoo to import the

gorillas.

 

The finding also indicated that a forwarding agent,

Messrs Nigercom Solution sdn. Bhd, was also hired to

execute the exchange and that the Malaysian CITES

officials received a copy of the Nigerian export

permit prior to the actual importation.

 

The permit was issued by the authorised CITES

management authority of Nigeria, which indicated the

gorillas were captive-bred from University of Ibadan.

" Malaysia accepted the permit in good faith and never

doubted the authenticity of the document as it was

issued by the appointed authority. "

 

The Malaysian officials further disclosed that

although the Nigerian CITES permit was valid, the

information on the permit was false.

Action has therefore been taken to conform to CITES

procedures as far as illegal trade in CITES-listed

species are concerned.

 

" The minister of Science, Technology and the

Environment being the authority to decide on matters

relating to the fate of a totally protected species

under the protection of wild life Act 1972 agreed that

the gorillas be sent to a facility which is capable to

keep and breed the animals. "

 

According to Dr. McGreal, " we are pleased that this

affair reached the highest level of the Malaysian

government and that the minister personally

intervened. If the Taiping zoo had been allowed to

place the gorillas on exhibit, other unethical zoos

might have tried to get the gorillas. The minister's

action has sent a strong message that the reckless

actions of the zoo brought Malaysia a bad reputation. "

 

She added " we had help from a lot of Malaysians. It is

a victory for gorillas as a specie and for Africa as a

continent. Demand for smuggled gorillas may lessen.

Mother gorillas can sleep a little more safely at

night. "

 

IPPL advised that governments should ask for help from

CITES secretariat before accepting the import of live

specimens of Appendix I species declared as breeding captivity.