Guest guest Posted April 17, 2003 Report Share Posted April 17, 2003 http://www.keralanext.com/news/index.asp?id=9701 and http://hinduonnet.com/stories/2003041604010300.htm The Hindu Wednesday, April 16, 2003 Capital zoo to get chimps from U.S. By G. Mahadevan THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (APRIL 15): The City Zoo is finalising work on importing four chimpanzees from a research institute in the United States. Paperwork for the transfer of two male and two female chimps from the National Institute of Health, Maryland, is in its final stages. Now the Zoo will have to get the import license and a clearance as per the Convention on International Trades in Endangered Species (CITES). Both these are to be given by the Government of India. The Zoo is planning to initiate a breeding programme as soon as the chimps arrive. Meanwhile work on the construction of an enclosure for the chimps will commence on April 24. The contract for the construction of the half- acre enclosure has been handed over to the Construction Corporation of India. The Chimp enclosure will come up between the bear enclosure and the one for the Langurs which is currently under construction. The enclosure is expected to be ready in about three months. The Zoo authorities say they are being `very careful' in the construction of the pseudo-habitat enclosure for the chimps who are listed as highly endangered. The site has been selected for the abundance of big trees there. This, according to the Zoo authorities, is very vital for the mental and physical health of the chimps who are by nature tree dwellers and very much adapted to an arboreal life. In addition to providing a lot of tree and big dead tree branches inside the enclosure, the Zoo is also planning teakwood floors for the animal house by the side of the enclosure which will act as the feeding place and as the night shelter for the chimps. As was done for the Macaques, there will also be artificial rock faces, small mounds and a water body inside the enclosure which will be surrounded by a dry moat. Another major concern for the Zoo authorities is trying to maintain the health of the chimps once they are here. The Zoo has not had chimps for nearly two decades now. So animal keepers have to be specially trained to handle, feed and nurse the chimps who are closest in the evolutionary chain to man. Moreover, chimps are also known to contract diseases such as Tuberculosis from humans. This is already causing some concern among the Zoo authorities as there is no way they will be able to screen visitors for any such diseases. The zoo director, C. S. Yelakki, points out that some chimps in captivity in Indian Zoos are suffering from TB which they most likely contracted from visitors to the Zoos. Even though the National Institute of Health has not indicated a price for the Chimps as yet, there are indications that the price, if any, would be nominal as the NIH is a research institute and not a commercial entity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2003 Report Share Posted April 17, 2003 With all the chimps in labs, sanctuaries, as pets, in Hollyweird, etc, WHY are breeding captive breeding colonies still being encouraged? Can anyone explain this to me? Thanks. Jane Dewar Founder, Gorilla Haven www.gorilla-haven.org - " Linda J. Howard " <lindajhoward " Primfocus " <primfocus; " Indian Primate Group " <indianprimates >; " AAPN List " <aapn > Thursday, April 17, 2003 6:54 AM NIH to transfer chimps to zoo in India > http://www.keralanext.com/news/index.asp?id=9701 and > > http://hinduonnet.com/stories/2003041604010300.htm > The Hindu Wednesday, April 16, 2003 > > Capital zoo to get chimps from U.S. > By G. Mahadevan > > THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (APRIL 15): The City Zoo is finalising work on > importing four chimpanzees from a research institute in the United > States. Paperwork for the transfer of two male and two female chimps > from the National Institute of Health, Maryland, is in its final > stages. > > Now the Zoo will have to get the import license and a clearance as > per the Convention on International Trades in Endangered Species > (CITES). Both these are to be given by the Government of India. > > The Zoo is planning to initiate a breeding programme as soon as the > chimps arrive. > > Meanwhile work on the construction of an enclosure for the chimps > will commence on April 24. The contract for the construction of the > half- acre enclosure has been handed over to the Construction > Corporation of India. The Chimp enclosure will come up between the > bear enclosure and the one for the Langurs which is currently under > construction. > > The enclosure is expected to be ready in about three months. The > Zoo authorities say they are being `very careful' in the > construction of the pseudo-habitat enclosure for the chimps who are > listed as highly endangered. > > The site has been selected for the abundance of big trees there. > This, according to the Zoo authorities, is very vital for the mental > and physical health of the chimps who are by nature tree dwellers and > very much adapted to an arboreal life. In addition to providing a lot > of tree and big dead tree branches inside the enclosure, the Zoo is > also planning teakwood floors for the animal house by the side of the > enclosure which will act as the feeding place and as the night > shelter for the chimps. > > As was done for the Macaques, there will also be artificial rock > faces, small mounds and a water body inside the enclosure which will > be surrounded by a dry moat. Another major concern for the Zoo > authorities is trying to maintain the health of the chimps once they > are here. > > The Zoo has not had chimps for nearly two decades now. So animal > keepers have to be specially trained to handle, feed and nurse the > chimps who are closest in the evolutionary chain to man. Moreover, > chimps are also known to contract diseases such as Tuberculosis from > humans. This is already causing some concern among the Zoo > authorities as there is no way they will be able to screen visitors > for any such diseases. The zoo director, C. S. Yelakki, points out > that some chimps in captivity in Indian Zoos are suffering from TB > which they most likely contracted from visitors to the Zoos. > > Even though the National Institute of Health has not indicated a > price for the Chimps as yet, there are indications that the price, > if any, would be nominal as the NIH is a research institute and not > a commercial entity. > > > > > For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search feature on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list archives at: aapn > Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at aapn > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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