FW: UPDATE ON SOLITARY ORANGUTAN (From my forward 2-19-03)

[Guest guest]

Hi Friends;

 

Poor, poor, poor, Rusti, so TOTALLY at the mercy of...the humans!!!! My

letter at the end. Please do write pleading with OFI to accept Rusti in

their (apparently) wonderful habitat for him! (See beautiful photos). If

you can't open the attached photos, they are below in this msg...if they

stayed. Thanks so very much! Adela

 

-

Kathryn L. Kovach <bizshows :

bizshows

Wednesday, February 19, 2003 4:12 PM

Update on Rusti the Orangutan

 

 

New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance

 

 

Those who have previously written on behalf of Rusti may have gotten a press

release from Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) stating they are

building a state-of-the-art open-air orangutan sanctuary at Kualoa Ranch in

Oahu which will house Rusti and other orangutans on several acres of wooded

land.

 

That sounds fine, but there are a few things that make this suspect. The

first is that Rusti sat in Honolulu Zoo in a " temporary " home while OFI made

plans to build an orangutan sanctuary. That was over 5 years ago. How long

will it take them to build it this time? Will they build it at all?

 

Also, why were the plans to send him to the Center for Orangutan and

Chimpanzee Conservation (COCC) http://www.prime-apes.org/ in Florida

abandoned? OFI now states that was out of concern for Rusti (being

tranquilized for the trip). But they had been prepared to do it before, so

what changed? NJARA has tried to get answers from OFI, but so far, we have

received none.

 

See the places for yourself. Compare COCC to that of Kualoa Ranch

http://www.kualoa.com/zoo.htm where OFI is choosing to send Rusti.

 

See the attached virus-free picture of the Spider Monkey at Kualoa Ranch.

The cage that he now lives in is the very same one that he was delivered to

the Ranch in years ago. Obviously they see no problem with him living like

that. How can we expect them to care any more for how Rusti lives?

 

The Hawai'i Department of Agriculture summary of the permit plans to

transfer Rusti from Honolulu Zoo to Kualoa Ranch states: " The enclosure to

be built as a " temporary " facility at Kualoa Ranch consists of a heavy-duty

chain-link fenced area measuring 18-feet (length) by 10-feet (width) and

10-feet (height) for day activities, and a night house measuring 10-feet

(length) by 10-feet (width) for overnight holding. The entire floor will be

concrete and sloped towards a floor drain that leads to an existing

cesspool. "

 

THIS WILL BE RUSTI'S NEW HOME. OFI say's it is only temporary, and that they

are building a state-of-the-art facility there for him, but that is what

they said back in 1997. And he spent over 5 years in his " temporary "

quarters at Honolulu Zoo!

 

The summary also states: " If OFI’s planned animal sanctuary is ultimately

built at Kualoa Ranch, " Rusti’s " enclosure would be merged with the larger

facility. " This means he will be IN THE PETTING ZOO area, where he will be

seen by " 16,000 schoolchildren a year. " The summary further states: " Kualoa

Ranch has other exotic animals and wants the orangutan on the Ranch’s

property “to share with the children of Hawaii.” "

 

While NJARA is not certain that moving to Florida would be the most ideal

for Rusti (it is a 16-18 hour trip in which he needs to be sedated and

Florida is not as ideal a climate for Orangutan's as Hawai'i is), we ARE

certain that he cannot spend much time in the box that is being built for

him at the Ranch. A clear plan and timetable must be put forth by OFI. His

new, open air sanctuary must be everything it is promised to be and MUST be

built in a timely fashion. Furthermore, Rusti must not be made into a

curiosity for schoolchildren.

 

Please contact OFI and ask them for a clearer picture of their intention and

timetable for Rusti.

 

Write to:

Dr. Biruté Galdikas

Orangutan Foundation International

4201 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 407

Los Angeles, CA 90010

Phone: 800-ORANGUTAN or

(323) 938-6046

Fax: (323) 938-6047

ofi ---

 

Some files have not been scanned

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SAMPLE LETTER (Pls. do not copy. change around, at least the first paragraph

or write yoru own. Thanks!)

 

ofi

Dr. Biruté Galdikas

Orangutan Foundation International

4201 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 407

Los Angeles, CA 90010

 

Dear Dr. Galdikas:

 

I intensely beg you to reconsider your arranging to send Rusti, the poor

Orangutan Primate, to the wonderful habitat that the Center for Orangutan

and Chimpanzee Conservation (COCC) has in Florida.

 

The fate of this Orangutan rests entirely upon YOU! After waiting 5 years

for a promised " state-of-the-art open-air orangutan sanctuary at Kualoa

Ranch in Oahu " …Rusti is still sitting in a Honolulu Zoo with not even a weak

resemblance to his habitat…and why would anyone believe a 2nd promise while

the poor soul will still be CAGED in a box??? In contrast, COCC has the most

wonderful habitat for him, per photos I had the privilege to see. I can’t

understand why, after planning to give Rusti finally this well deserved,

lovely place, you suddently changed your mind???

 

I’ve also seen photos of the Honolulu Zoo, and the construction of Rusti’s

" temporary " home, including the small 10’x 10’ night enclosure! The feelings

you might have about having to exist in a zoo as an exhibit and in a barren,

10’x 10’ cement floor box …are also the feelings of Rusti and any other

living being.

 

Again, I implore you to give Rusti the gift of a beautiful, natural life!!!

Your God will thank you and all animal lovers across the globe will thank

you very, very much!

 

[YOUR FULL NAME/ADDY/PHONE/ETC.]