Decisions made on misconceptions, not facts

[Guest guest]

Dear Mr. Law and others,

 

The following statement, attributed to you, reflects a serious misconception

of the realities of the situation at the Limbe Wildlife Center and is

insulting to the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria and the people working

to STOP the illegal trade of their natural wildlife heritage:

 

" Our prime concern is the welfare of the animals and we are trying to make

sure that they end up in a place where they will be given the proper care

and protection. We are sceptical of the sanctuary's idea of returning the

animals to the wild, especially with the unresolved bush meat problem in

countries like Cameroon and Nigeria. These infants are likely to fall prey

to poachers, " he said in an interview recently. " (The Star, 25Aug03)

 

You claim your main concern is the welfare of the gorillas known as the

Taiping 4, and yet you ignore the simple and irrefutable FACTS comparing,

the sanctuary and the zoo choices for these gorillas:

 

FACT #1: Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon has kept 12 of the 14 gorillas

to come to them alive, despite the fact that most arrived at LWC on death's

door and only survived by the sheer talent and dedication of the Cameroonian

staff.

 

FACT #2: Five of the six gorillas kept at Pretoria Zoo in South Africa are

DEAD, including 2 babies which didn't even survive a month, illustrating

that zoos don't necessarily have better care than a sanctuary, despite

access to funds and " experts. "

 

FACT#3: At Limbe, the gorillas are protected and rescued from the bushmeat

trade, IRONICALLY fueled by Zoos like Taiping which put the high price on

the heads of these babies. To suggest they could or would be " dumped " back

into the wild portrays ignorance of the actual situation, which I'm sure is

not what you or the Malaysian government wants to do.

 

FACT #4: These gorillas and other bushmeat victims can never be returned to

the wild. But they can be released to a large preserve bushsite, where they

can/will be protected and be able to live as free as possible, something

which will NEVER happen to them if they go to a zoo.

 

FACT #5: Pretoria Zoo has more money, but it's clear from the above

statements and clearly verified facts, that money doesn't always mean the

greatest care or success.

 

If you stated the T4 gorillas belong in Pretoria Zoo since you are hoping

one day Taiping Zoo will be able to secure the gorilla's offspring, then

THIS, at least, would be a more honest and understandable position and

explanation for your decision.

 

If you make a decision of this magnitude based on anything but the truth and

verifiable facts, not innuendo and misconceptions, your decision will be

respected. As it is, the world will now see Malaysia as a place where

criminals aren't prosecuted and " stolen goods " (these gorillas, stolen from

the forests of Cameroon, on demand from zoos like Taiping) are handed over

to " friends " in countries where the gorillas were transferred through.

 

Malaysia has recently been in the world news due to the deaths of orangutans

and other travesties and destruction of your own wildlife heritage.

Malaysia has already suffered a serious blow by the criminal acts which

brought the T4 gorillas to your country. Setting things right, by returning

them home to Cameroon, will show the world that Malaysia really does have

the gorillas' welfare at heart. Sending them to a zoo in a non-range

country will make it look like you are part of the probem and not part of

the solution, and will be legacy of shame for

future generations of Malaysians.

 

You can enhance your stature and future, and be viewed as world leaders in

conservation by returning these gorillas to their native home, where they

can live out their lives in safety and as much freedom as captivity will

allow. I urge you to re-consider your decision.

 

Thank you.

 

Jane Dewar

Founder, Gorilla Haven

President, Dewar Wildlife Trust

 

 

 

 

-

" Shirley McGreal " <smcgreal

<aapn >

Monday, August 25, 2003 11:01 AM

Gorillas for South Africa

 

 

> The Malaysian Minister of the Environment has accepted the WAZA

> recommendation that the Taiping Four gorillas go to South Africa despite

> that nation's involvement in the sordid deal. The CITES Secretariat has

> stated that the placement does not contravene CITES, despite a resolution

> calling for return of animals to their homeland, if requested by the home

> government, as the optimal solution for confiscated wildlife. If you

> haven't given up on the sanctuary option, here's the contact for the

> Malaysian Minister.

>

> Datuk Law Hieng Ding

> Minister of Science, Technology and Environment

> Email : lhd

>

> For your information, no gorilla at Limbe Wildlife Center has ever been

> killed --- to be eaten or for any purpose. The suggestion is preposterous.

> Further, there are no plans to " release " sanctuary gorillas into the wild.

> Limbe just received a major grant to expand its gorilla housing and is

> looking for an out-station. Shirley McGreal

>

>

> The Star Online > Nation

>

> Monday August 25, 2003

>

> Government to stick to decision on relocating gorillas

>

> BY HILARY CHIEW

>

> PETALING JAYA: The Government will stick to its decision to send the

> confiscated gorillas to the South African zoo in Pretoria if it does not

> receive new information advising otherwise from the Convention on

> International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) secretariat.

>

> Science, Technology and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Law Hieng Ding

said

> that despite calls from certain quarters to have the animals sent to the

> Limbe Sanctuary in Cameroon, the government was not convinced that the

> sanctuary was a better option than a zoo.

>

> " Our prime concern is the welfare of the animals and we are trying to make

> sure that they end up in a place where they will be given the proper care

> and protection. We are sceptical of the sanctuary's idea of returning the

> animals to the wild, especially with the unresolved bush meat problem in

> countries like Cameroon and Nigeria. These infants are likely to fall prey

> to poachers, " he said in an interview recently.

>

> Law was responding to objections from the international primate

> conservation circle that sending the animals to the zoo would perpetuate

> further trafficking of baby gorillas which are linked to unscrupulous zoos

> and private collectors.

>

> Conservationists also charged that the zoo was taking advantage of the

> situation to replenish its aging gorilla's gene pool.

>

> Dubbed the Taiping Four, the western lowland gorillas are believed to have

> been poached from the Cameroon forests and smuggled through Nigeria and

> South Africa using a forged Cites export permit to the Taiping Zoo in

> January 2002.

>