Malaysian gorillas likely to be sent to South Africa

[Guest guest]

This is outrageous. South African Airways, the nation's national carrier,

carried the gorillas to Taiping Zoo. Limbe would be a great home for them -

and at least they would have a chance to return to the wild.

 

Why should a South African zoo get a bonanza? There are only three gorillas

in South African zoos, one at Pretoria (due to the decease of three adult

gorillas at the facility) and two at Johannesburg. We understand that

Pretoria is likely to get the " windfall. "

 

The " alternative facility " mentioned by the CITES Secretariat is Limbe

Wildlife Center in Cameroon which has a lively social group of eight gorillas.

 

IPPL continues to believe that Malaysia is getting off far too lightly. The

Malaysian government should never have issued an import permit. A Malaysian

state (Perak) was involved in the purchase. The Taiping Zoo director (Kevin

Lazarus) still had his job and nobody is being prosecuted and nobody will

be. The Nigerians are trying to do something.

 

 

-----------------

 

The CITES Secretariat's monitoring of investigations into the export of

gorillas from the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden in Nigeria to

Taiping Zoo in Malaysia is continuing.

 

A member of the Secretariat returned last week from a mission to Nigeria

where, among other issues, he considered Nigeria's response to the evidence

that the trade between the two zoos was contrary to the Convention. The

Secretariat is firmly of the opinion that considerable criminality is

associated with this incident, particularly with regard to how the animals

were acquired and their subsequent export from Nigeria. It also believes

that there are reasonable grounds to suspect the complicity of persons in

Malaysia in the illicit trade.

 

The Secretariat staff member attended the inauguration of a Commission of

Inquiry in Abuja, Nigeria, and briefed its members regarding illicit trade

from the country. Special attention was given to the gorillas that were

traded to Malaysia. One of the tasks of the Commission will be to examine

the circumstances surrounding the issuance of a permit authorising the

export of the gorillas to Malaysia. The establishment of a Commission of

Inquiry was by order of the President of Nigeria and the inauguration was

conducted by Nigeria's Attorney General and Minister of Justice. The

Secretariat also took the opportunity to meet with senior officials of the

Nigeria Police and Nigeria Customs Service, as well as officials of the

Federal Ministry of Environment (in which the CITES Management Authority of

Nigeria is located). The Secretariat will continue to provide assistance

and technical support to Nigeria to help improve its implementation of the

Convention. This issue will also be discussed at the 49th meeting of the

Standing Committee, which will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, in April 2003.

 

The Secretariat's latest observations regarding the incident are being

communicated to officials in Malaysia. It understands that a decision has

recently been taken by the authorities in Malaysia that the gorillas should

go to a suitable facility where they can be housed in appropriate

conditions and contribute to conservation of this species and that

discussions are underway with a zoo in South Africa to enable this to take

place. The Secretariat is of the opinion that the decision to dispose of

the animals in this manner complies with the guidance that the Conference

of the Parties has issued on this subject. The Secretariat has already made

clear to Malaysia that it thinks it would not be appropriate for Taiping

Zoo to benefit now or in the future from trade that was conducted contrary

to the Convention.

 

The Secretariat is aware that an alternative facility in Africa was

identified as a possible recipient for the gorillas confiscated in Malaysia

and it made the authorities aware of this. It is also aware, however, that

this facility is soon to receive gorillas that have recently been seized by

the authorities in Nigeria. It presumes that this may have been a fact that

Malaysia took into account in reaching a decision regarding the disposal of

the animals.

 

The Secretariat regrets that unscrupulous persons were able to circumvent

the provisions of the Convention on this occasion. It believes, however,

that useful learning opportunities have been identified and hopes that

something positive will emerge from the incident. It continues to encourage

the countries concerned to gather evidence to allow those involved in the

illicit trade to be prosecuted.

 

The Secretary-General of CITES is highly appreciative of the concern and

support shown by non-governmental organizations and the general public in

relation to this incident. In particular, Willem Wijnstekers wishes to note

the information supplied by the International Primate Protection League and

the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

 

 

John M. Sellar

Senior Enforcement Officer/Oficial Superior de Observancia/Charge de la

lutte contre la fraude

Legislation and Compliance Unit/

Dependencia de Legislación y Cumplimiento/

Unité chargée des législations et du respect de la Convention

CITES Secretariat/Secretaría CITES/Secrétariat CITES

Chemin des Anémones

1219 Châtelaine - Geneva

Switzerland/Suiza/Suisse

 

 

tel. (+4122) 917 8139

tel (+4122) 917 8293 (direct)

fax (+4122) 797 3417

email: john.sellar

 

CITES Secretariat Web site: www.cites.org

 

 

Shirley McGreal, Chairwoman, International Primate Protection League

POB 766 Summerville SC 29484 USA

Phone: 843-871-2280 Fax: 843-871-7988

E-mail spm or ippl

Visit IPPL's award-winning web site: <http://www.ippl.org>

 

" Only after the last tree has been cut down,

only after the last river has been poisoned,

only after the last fish has been caught,

only then will you find that money can not be eaten. "

CREE INDIAN PROPHECY