Fw: [alloprimate] NSPCA statement re Taiping Four gorillas

[Guest guest]

Forgive if this is a duplicate ... Jane

 

-

" Shirley McGreal " <smcgreal

<alloprimate >

Wednesday, December 24, 2003 9:29 AM

[alloprimate] NSPCA statement re Taiping Four gorillas

 

 

>

> MEDIA STATEMENT

> ISSUED ON THURSDAY 24 DECEMBER 2003

> CONTACT RICK ALLAN ON 011-907-3590 OR 084 408 8700

> FROM OUTSIDE SOUTH AFRICA +27-11-907-3590 OR +27 84 408 8700

>

>

>

> GORILLAS IN THE MIDST

>

> NSPCA STANCE: " SEND THEM BACK WHERE THEY BELONG. "

>

> Four gorillas were smuggled from Cameroon to Nigeria and exported via

South

> Africa on fraudulent captive-born documents to Taiping Zoo in Malaysia.

The

> whistle was blown on this scam and now the future of the Taiping Fouris

the

> centre of a controversy.

>

> It was reported that the government of Malaysia has decided that the

> gorillas should come to South Africa. Pretoria Zoo (against whom the NSPCA

> recently laid criminal charges) is allegedly set to receive the gorillas.

> It currently only has one gorilla and five others have died there. The

> facility at the Pretoria Zoo for these gorillas is currently being built

> but is not complete.

>

> South Africa has no native gorillas. The NSPCA believes the gorillas

should

> go back where they belong to Cameroon where the Limbe Wildlife Centre can

> accommodate them.

>

> The NSPCA was saddened to receive confirmation in a communication from

> Sonja Meintjes, Assistant Director; Trade and Regulation, Office of the

> CITES Management Authority, South Africa: -

>

> " We as Management authority is (sic) happy that Malaysia have taken the

> recommendations into account before they made their decision to send the

> animals to Pretoria Zoo. "

>

> The NSPCA is far from happy and issues the letter below to the media in

its

> entirety, as was sent to the relevant authorities in Malaysia and

" copied "

> to South African role-players, including Ms Meinjies.

>

> To the Chief of Malaysia's Wildlife Department; - Musa Nordin

>

> Dear Sir

>

>

>

> POSITION STATEMENT

>

> The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

> (NSPCA) representing 102 individual SPCAs in South Africa with their

> constituent members plus affiliated SPCAs in neighbouring Botswana,

> Namibia, Zambia and Mozambique advises: -

>

> We believe that the gorillas now known as the Taiping Fourmust be returned

> to their country of origin Cameroon.

>

> The NSPCA opposes any option to relocate them to South Africa.

>

> Our standpoint can be supported with various reasons but we do not wish to

> enter into trial by correspondence at this stage. The NSPCA believes the

> time is right to make our stance known to you and to place this on public

> record.

>

> If we understand correctly that the Government of Malaysia has decided the

> gorillas should come to South Africa, we feel it is only fair that you are

> told that we are the largest animal welfare organisation which enforces

93%

> of animal welfare legislation in South Africa - oppose this.

>

> The NSPCA is aware of the gathering momentum of public pressure and of

> lobbying from animal welfare and animal rights organisations throughout

the

> world on this issue. The NSPCA is a member of the World Society for the

> Protection of Animals (WSPA) and of the Species Survival Network (SSN).

>

> We concur with their sentiments that South Africa should gracefully defer

> to the wishes of the Cameroon government and should assist in the

> repatriation of the gorillas to Cameroon.

>

> The NSPCA formally appeals to the officials of the government of Malaysia

> to pay heed to our calls for sense and compassion to prevail. South Africa

> has no native gorillas and so, as exotic animals in our country, they

would

> be doomed to a life in captivity and in a country which does not have a

> successful track record with gorillas.

>

> We ask for your indulgence in that we believe so powerful is the sentiment

> of our message that we are sending copies of this communication to

relevant

> parties, including South African government representatives.

>

> The NSPCA believes it is of vital importance that our stance is made

known.

> We shall go public with our stance and shall lobby to bring influence to

> bear upon relevant parties.

>

> With regards

>

> Yours faithfully

>

> Marcelle Meredith

>

>

> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR National Council of SPCAs

>

> DIRECTOR , World Society for the Protection of Animals

>

 

>

>