Guest guest Posted December 17, 2002 Report Share Posted December 17, 2002 ***************************Advertisement*************************** TechCentral http://star-techcentral.com ***************************************************************** This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling. Comment from sender: very sad indeed This article is from thestar.com.my URL: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2002/12/17/features/iguana & sec=f\ eatures ________________________ Tuesday, December 17, 2002 Iguana & #8217;s plight A WEEKEND jaunt to Malacca revealed to me the plight of a South American green iguana put to work under stressful conditions. In the square in front of the Stadhuys, a middle-aged man plied his trade, offering tourists a photo opportunity with his massive pet iguana and albino python for a small fee of RM3. The handler & #8217;s affection for his iguana was obvious as he held and stroked it often. However, in order to provide tourists with a good view of his iguana and to prevent his iguana from meandering away, the reptile handler placed the iguana on a hydrant-sized metal post about one metre in height and a mere 25cm in diameter by the old fountain in front of the Stadhuys. The iguana repeatedly tried to leave this uncomfortable and precarious perch and fell heavily to the ground each time. I picked the iguana up and handed it to the smiling handler, who promptly put the iguana back on the narrow perch, whereupon the unfortunate iguana fell again because its hind legs could not get a proper grip. By now a Caucasian tourist, incensed by this lack of concern for the iguana & #8217;s welfare, berated the reptile handler loudly. The handler immediately took the iguana in his arms, but when I went by the Stadhuys a little while later, the poor iguana was back on the perch. I would advise the Malacca Tourism Board and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Malacca branch) to look into this matter both to consider the needs of a delicate companion animal and the sensitivities of more enlightened tourists. While iguanas enjoy sunlight, it is unwise and possibly dangerous to keep them under direct sunlight for too long. Iguanas need a few hours of basking under direct sunlight a week, and not up till eight hours a day as the handler was doing. The handler and his overworked iguana were waiting for customers from before noon to after 7pm on that particular day. By evening, the exhausted iguana was perched limply on the post and trying to get some sleep. Instead of calling it a day, the handler jolted the iguana awake by picking it up abruptly when a fresh gaggle of tourists arrived. I could see the iguana & #8217;s startled movement when it was so rudely roused and my heart went out to it. I would encourage the Malacca SPCA to speak to the handler and urge him to use a soft leash or harness that would allow the iguana more mobility but prevent it from bolting. Perhaps someone should also advise the handler not to overwork his animals and educate him on the proper care of his exotic pets. I do not believe that his pets should be taken away from him as I have witnessed his genuine affection for them. He is, however, possibly murdering his reptiles out of sheer ignorance of their needs. While I do not condone the abuse and exploitation of animals, I think it is the handler & #8217;s right to earn his livelihood from his companion animals provided they are given proper care and attention and are not ill-treated. In the iguana & #8217;s case, the iguana should be kept very clean to prevent the transfer of salmonella bacteria to humans, be fed sufficient and appropriate food and water regularly, not be subjected to undue stress and loud noises, be taken out not more than three hours a day and be kept in a pet carrier for the iguana & #8217;s comfort and privacy when not being photographed, or gently restrained by means of a leash or harness. I am sure the sight of the iguana falling off the post or perched on it wearily had disturbed many other tourists. It is callous and inhumane to place profit above the welfare and rights of an animal and I am positive that the relevant authorities will look into this matter with the seriousness that it deserves. We are dealing with a beautiful living thing here. With proper care, an iguana can live up to 20 years. To the reptile handler, my advice is: Please don & #8217;t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Iguanas are intelligent, affectionate creatures and should be regarded with love, respect and dignity. Wong Ee Lynn, Rawang, Selangor<p> ________________________ Your one-stop information portal: The Star Online http://thestar.com.my http://biz.thestar.com.my http://classifieds.thestar.com.my http://cards.thestar.com.my http://search.thestar.com.my http://star-motoring.com http://star-space.com http://star-jobs.com http://star-ecentral.com http://star-techcentral.com 1995-2002 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Star Publications is prohibited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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