RE: Chimps to China

[Guest guest]

Dear Ms. Nshakira,

 

Respectfully, your assertion that the Technical Committee wishes to

" evaluate the conditions into which the chimpanzees are to be translocated "

implies that a decision has already been made to send chimpanzees from

Uganda to Changsha Zoo in China. I hope this is a rhetorical error because

if a decision has been made, we are merely 'splitting hairs' by discussing

this issue.

 

I'd like to ask that you and the Technical Committee evaluating the

conditions into which the chimps are to be translocated consider the

following:

 

In today's news, the article at

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13377555 begins, " The Year of the

Monkey, which began last month, has brought misery to monkeys in China's

zoos, which are forcing the animals to give more performances than usual due

to their increasing popularity, state media said Monday. " Is this the fate

that will become of Uganda's " goodwill ambassador " chimpanzees?

 

In January 2004, AAPN toured Changsha Zoo and took photos. It is appalling

that any zoo in the year 2004 can still think that appreciation of animals

can be achieved when animals are exhibited in a " Chamber of Freaks " . If

there is anything " freakish " about the monkey shown at

http://www.aapn.org/changsha%20images/Imgp0027.jpg it is the completely

substandard, dilapidated make-shift cage he is in at Changsha Zoo. Instead

of importing chimpanzees from Uganda, Changsha should be investing in

improving conditions for the zoo's existing captive animals.

 

Please reconsider this plan.

Sincerely,

Linda Howard

 

 

blandina nshakira [dttiuganda]

Monday, February 02, 2004 4:08 AM

Jane T. R. Dewar; B. Kamya; Linda (Monkey) Howard; Shirley McGreal IPPL

new; uwa; lrulacsec; Arthur.Mugisha;

wildlife.justus; Asian Animal Protection; primfocus

Cc: damian.akankwasa; Doug Cress PASA; CESD A

Re: primfocus: Chimps to China

 

Dear All,

 

The Ugandan government has set up a Technical Committee to to study the

request from China and advise on the best modalities for granting the

request. The Committe has hardly started its work!!. At the end of the

day, the interests of Uganda and its people should be the guiding principle

to the decision making process.

 

Let us give the Committee a chance to study the request, evaluate the

conditions into which the chimps are to be translocated and come up with

recommendations on the wayforward, in the best interest of Ugandans, first,

and the international community as a whole.

 

Blandina Nshakira

DIRECTOR FOR TOURISM, TRADE & INDUSTRY

UGANDA