Malaysian wildlife group statement on Taiping Four gorillas

[Guest guest]

Punish those involved in illegal gorilla deal

 

S M Mohd Idris

4:43pm Fri Jul 18th, 2003 Source: Malaysiakini

 

The recent <http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/2003070900111160.php>admission

by Science, Technology and Environment Minister Law Hieng Ding that four

baby gorillas were illegally sourced from Nigeria came as no surprise to

us. Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has been following closely on the gorillas

case, believed to be illegally removed from the wild, since news of its

arrival in January 2002 to the Taiping Zoo.

 

SAM would like to voice our frustrations and total disappointment with the

Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, the Wildlife Department,

the Taiping Municipal Council and the Taiping Zoo for their total denial

and cover up of their wrongdoings. We are totally dismayed at the manner in

which the case is being handled - that it took an incredibly long time for

the relevant authorities to admit their mistakes.

 

In acquiring what were wild caught gorillas the Taiping Zoo was acting in a

species-destructive manner considering the number of gorillas killed to get

at the babies. Rather than seeking to further conservation by acquiring

members of a highly endangered species illegally removed from the wild, the

zoo should instead, concentrate on conserving endangered primates resident

to Southeast Asia.

 

SAM would like to question the Malaysian CITES authorities on the action

taken against those responsible for the wrongdoings. As a responsible body

entrusted with the sole task of preventing trade in highly endangered

species listed under Convention on International Trade in Endangered

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), it is unimaginable for the

management authority not to have investigated into the acquisition of the

gorillas from Nigeria, claiming ignorance and trust in the word of the

documents stating them to be captive bred.

 

Procuring the gorillas on the understanding that the transaction was done

in good faith does not warrant immunity from action against those involved

in the deal.

 

SAM believed that those involved in the gorilla deal should be transparent

with their dealings for after all it is the taxpayersmoney that are being

paid to a Penang-based company, which has since ceased operation, to bring

in the animals. The authorities should not expect their follies to go

unquestioned.

 

Again SAM is totally displeased at the decision to send the gorillas to the

National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria, believed to be on a sharing

agreement to allow Taiping Zoo to import the offspring.

 

SAM has always reiterate its stand for the gorillas to be sent to a

sanctuary such as Limbe which has the facilities and the knowledge to care

for these gorillas rather sending them to zoos. Again the reputation of the

recipient zoo and its solid tradition of successful care of gorillas has to

be questioned.

 

Sending the gorillas to a breeding center will only encourage more zoos and

potential buyers to acquire endangered species through illegal means. It

will only encourage more of such trade in endangered species benefitting

those involved in the shipment of gorillas. No zoo should profit from the

misdeed of another zoo and getting the animals free, which are worth a

million dollars.

 

Only through the confiscation of the species and sending them to a

sanctuary would thus discourage buyers and other potential buyers.

 

It would be ethical to send these gorillas back to their country of origin

where chances of their return to the wild may be more likely since Nigerian

and Cameroonian officials had officially requested for their return.

 

In view of these, we called on the relevant authorities to be transparent

in their dealings with the public/NGOs; to uphold all regulations in trade

of endangered species and zoos in particular, should concentrate on

conserving wildlife species in their home region rather than contributing

to species destruction.

 

Dr. Shirley McGreal, Chairwoman

International Primate Protection League

POB 766, Summerville SC 29484-0766, USA

Ph. 843-871-2280 Fax. 843-871-7988

E-mail: smcgreal, Website www.ippl.org

 

" We need not think alike to love alike. " Francis David