The Taiping Four gorillas

[Guest guest]

It seems that Taiping authorities really don't see a problem with seeking

out and paying large sums of money for baby gorillas - thus inciting

killing of mothers and babies. At the start, it was claimed that the

gorilla deal was an " exchange. " Shirley

 

This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)

URL:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2003/7/21/nation/5884808 & sec=nation

 

________________________

 

Monday, July 21, 2003

Group: Display baby gorillas to the public

 

TAIPING: The four baby gorillas illegally sourced from Nigeria by the

Taiping Zoo recently should be displayed to the public, said the Taiping

Tourist Association.

 

Its secretary Anwar Isa said a lot of money had been spent to bring the

animals here and to maintain them since their arrival in February last year.

 

" Before they are surrendered, isn't it wise to let visitors to the zoo have

a look at the baby gorillas?

 

" Visitors will surely throng the zoo if the baby gorillas are displayed, as

lately, we have received many enquiries from tourists who want to see

them, " said Anwar.

 

On July 8, Science, Technology and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Law

Hieng Ding said the Cabinet had decided to have the baby gorillas sent to

the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa in Pretoria under a

bilateral co-operation scheme.

 

Since their arrival here, the baby gorillas have been kept in quarantine

in an enclosure.

 

Taiping MCA division vice chairman Ang Lee Kaw expressed the hope that

the Government could " work something out " since much money and energy had

been spent to bring in the animals and maintain them.

 

Taiping DAP chairman Yew Tian Hoe said that apart from wasting public

funds, the pride of the town had been tarnished by the disclosure that the

baby gorillas were illegally obtained.

 

 

Dr. Shirley McGreal, Chairwoman

International Primate Protection League

PO Box 766

Summerville, SC 29484, USA

Phone - 843-871-2280, Fax- 843-871-7988

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

 

" He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt.

He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord

would suffice. "

--Albert Einstein