AR-News: Wild animal farm shut down for trafficking in protected animals

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Tue, 10 Feb 2004 21:41:48 +0200

AR-News: Wild animal farm shut down for trafficking in

protected animals

 

primfocus

 

http://nt7.h2com.com/

Le MatinaL Online

Feb 8, 2004

 

[Translated from French]

 

Guinea-Bissau: Wild animal farm shut down for trafficking in protected

animals.

 

A German national who owns a wild animal farm located in the heart of

Guinea-Bissau has been ordered to cease all activities and his operation

has been shut down until further notice for " large scale trafficking " in

protected animals, it was learned on Wednesday in Bissau from

corroborating sources.

 

Hans Joerg Schuhmann, who settled in Guinea-Bissau in 1993, operates

River Zoo Farm in Xime, a village located

in the Bambadinca District (Bafata Region), where he raises wild

animals for export. On Wednesday, Mr. Schuhmann was summoned to the

Bureau of the Environment in Bissau. All authorizations for the

operation of his farm have been withdrawn and he has been ordered to

cease all activities until further notice for his involvement in " large

scale trafficking in wild animals protected under international law, " a

source close to this office has told AFP. [Agence France Presse, the big

French news agency] This report has been confirmed to AFP by the local

office of an international environmental protection organization. Hans

Joerg Schumann was recently cited in connection with the planned export

of 100 dolphins to Asia, slated to take place in February/March and

denounced by several environmental protection organizations. River Zoo

Farm keeps several species of animals confined in cages, some of which

(crocodiles, otters, and several species of chimpanzees) are in danger

of disappearing. According to this environmental protection

organization, the farm's managers have been operating on 200 hectares

[494 acres], despite the fact that they are only authorized to engage in

agricultural operations on 90 hectares [222 acres].

 

 

the wild, cruel beast is not behind the bars of the cage. he is in front of it -

axel munthe

 

" Never doubt that a small group of dedicated citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. " Margaret Mead

--

 

 

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