Sickening details of Taiping Zoo gorilla deal

[Guest guest]

IPPL has received a copy of the Report of the Administrative Panel of

Inquiry established following CITES-Santiago to investigate the illegal

trade/smuggling of endangered Species of Fauna and Flora into and out of

Nigeria. " The report is extremely interesting and identifies several people

who, it is recommended, be prosecuted, including civilians and allegedly

corrupt government officials.

 

The University of Ibadan also undertook an investigation and the letter

below reporting on its findings shows that six baby gorillas died before

the four were assembled for export. It also appears to confirm that all the

gorillas originated in Cameroon.

 

This letter (reproduced uncorrected) was written by Dr. Abiodun Sanni,

Professor of Food Microbiology at the University of Ibadan, who was looking

into the export of four baby gorillas from Ibadan Zoo, a zoo operated by

the university, to Taiping Zoo, Malaysia. Note the callous disregard of the

death of so many baby gorillas and obsession with the financial aspects of

the deal.

 

December

20, 2002

 

The Vice Chancellor,

University of Ibadan

Nigeria.

 

Dear Sir,

 

U.I. GORRILAS DEAD OR SOLD?

 

I am impelled to write you on the above subject matter in view of the

international attention the issue is receiving.

 

I was appointed the Chairman of a Panel constituted by the Dean of Science,

Prof. L. A. Hussain to look into the activities of the Zoological Gardens

(Appendix 1). The terms of reference of the Panel were as stated on the memo.

 

During our course of investigation, the Panel noted that out of N1, 436,

025 expended on the purchase of animals from 1st July, 200 to 31st

December, 2001, N1, 131,525 was used in purchasing 1 female gorilla (N130,

000), 1 female lowland gorilla (N185, 000), 1 baby gorilla/1 baby

Chimpanzee (N270, 000), 1 male gorilla (N120, 225) and 1 lowland gorilla

(N336, 000). Dr. (Mrs.) D.O. Akinboye, the immediate past Acting Director

explained the rationale behind spending such a huge amount on gorilla only,

saying that it was to fulfill the Animal Exchange Cooperation between

University of Ibadan Zoo and Taiping Zoo, Malaysia. However, all efforts by

our panel to have access to the documents relevant to the Exchange

cooperation, proved abortive.

 

To our dismay, the panel also noted that all the gorillas were recorded as

dead within few weeks of acquisition. When further demanded to locate the

carcasses of the dead gorilla, neither the management nor the Zoo workers

was forthcoming.

 

However, when we requested for the post-mortem record of dead Zoo animals

over a period of time, from the Dept. Of Veterinary Pathology, a list

forwarded to the Panel by Prof. S.O. Akpavie, the then Head of Department,

included 6 dead gorillas (Appendix IV).

 

To my utter dismay, my attention was drawn to the issue of illegal trade of

endangered primates in the University of Ibadan, Zoological Gardens, on the

internet. On further enquiry, this endangered primate turned to be gorilla

which also formed the focal point of our investigation.

 

However, few days ago, I received some documents from the World Primate

Association that poses more questions on the dead gorillas (Appendix A).

The association has not taken the matter lightly. The Presidency has been

notified of this act of illegality supposedly committed by the University

of Ibadan, Zoo.

 

The following are some excerpts from the documents:

 

(i.) Four (4) baby gorillas shipped to Taiping Zoo on export

documents falsely stating that the animals were born at Ibadan Zoo, which

has one old female gorilla and no male gorillas.

 

(ii.) Zoo keepers at Ibadan Zoo told the Press that the

gorillas were caught in the forests of Cameroon (our panel also obtained

same information during the interviews conducted for the Zoo keepers).

 

(iii.) Certification of Animal Health for the gorillas

purportedly issued by Prof. M. O. Akuzu of Veterinary Teaching Hospital,

University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

 

(iv.) Export permit purportedly signed by Eng. D.B. Usman of the

Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria.

 

(v.) NigerCom Solutions (Malaysia) letter raising questions

about the financial aspect of the gorilla deal.

 

(vi.) Lowland gorillas are listed as the most endangered and

threatened with extinction.

 

(vii.) Karriah Mohd. Sharif, the Director of Malaysia Wildlife

Dept. exonerating his country from the scandal, but acknowledged the

possibility that the gorilla could have been illegally obtained in Nigeria.

 

(viii.) The gorillas were offered to the Taiping Zoo or the price

of $1.6 million by the seller.

 

(ix.) International postcard campaign to Cameroon, Nigeria, and

Malaysia on the scandalous deal between U.I. Zoo and Taiping Zoo planned

for early part of 2003.

 

(x.) Dr. Muhtar Aminu Kano, Executive Director of Nigeria

Conservation Foundation concluded that the gorilla deal was a clear case of

smuggling.

 

(xi.) Malaysia's government-funded Taiping Zoo denies

wrongdoing, saying the gorilla were bred in captivity in Ibadan Zoo, and

therefore liable to trade under World Wildlife Protection accord.

 

(xii.) Dr. Shirley McGreal of US based International Primates

Protection League said, " The endangered status of gorillas is well-known

worldwide. It is the Wildlife Department's and the Taiping Zoo Director's

job to know this " etc.

 

Sir, as the Chief Executive Officer of this great University, the onus is

on you to step into this matter decisively. I reliably learnt that the

Presidency has waded into this potentially scandalous issue of trading in

endangered animal species.

 

Even without having any fore knowledge of the international dimension the

gorilla issue has taken, our panel recommended as follows:

 

(a.) In view of the over-pricing of the dead gorillas

culminating in the loss of over 1 million Naira, ABISEF VENTURES, the sole

supplier of the animals should be fully investigated to determine the

company's expertise in the supply of Zoological animals.

 

(b.) Price range for the gorillas should be obtained from at

least three different sources, with a view to arriving at what should have

been the actual cost of the gorillas.

 

(c.) Investigation should be carried out to determine why

ABISEF VENTURES, continued to enjoy the patronage of University of Ibadan,

Zoo management despite the earlier deaths of two gorillas bought from it.

 

(d.) All those involved in the acquisition of the gorillas must

be identified and made to recover the price differences in (b) from ABISEF

VENTURES, or be made to face the University Disciplinary Committee.

 

In view of the expected spiral international condemnation of Ibadan

Zoological Garden's involvement in the scandalous deal, I pray that you

will be endowed with the wisdom of Solomon to handle the situation. There

is a potential threat to the image of the University, Which may impact

negatively on various collaborative partnerships abroad.

 

Yours sincerely,

Prof. A.I. Sanni