RE: from Friends Of The Earth Malaysia

[Guest guest]

ACTION ALERT FROM SAHABAT ALAM MALAYSIA (SAM).

 

 

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) appeals for letters re: the capture of

Rockhopper Penguins for zoos in Asia to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth

Office

 

In December last year 20 penguins of the Rockhopper species were flown in

from Johannesburg to their new home at Underwater World in Pulau Langkawi,

Malaysia.

 

Costing RM26 600 each excluding insurance and shipping charges, the penguins

were acquired through a South African wildlife dealer John Visser who has

in his possession 146 Rockhopper Penguins.

 

These penguins were captured from Nightingale Island, part of the UK

Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic. Permission

for capture was granted by the Administrator of Tristan and the British

Foreign Office. These birds were being captured for captive breeding

purposes in foreign zoos and aquariums. Although 73 pairs were taken from

an estimated population of approximately 50 000 penguins, Sahabat Alam

Malaysia believes that no birds or animals should be caught from the wild

for zoos and aquarium trade. These business entities exist purely for

self-profits and personal gains at the expense of the world’s wildlife.

 

SAM is deeply distressed to learn that these penguins will be sent to

zoos in Asia. The shocking truth is that zoos and aquariums in Asia are

totally lacking in their concern for captive wildlife where they live under

conditions of psychological stress with lack of complexity and facilities

necessary to fulfil basic instincts and desire.

 

In capturing these penguins from the wild, no thought has been given to the

stress they have to undergo from the moment of capture and transportation

until the country of destination. Sad to say, four penguins have died

either during transport to South Africa or shortly after arrival at Visser’s

aquarium.

 

Our concern now is to see that the remaining wild penguins at Visser’s Shark

Aquarium do not end up in captivity in zoos and aquariums or end up in the

hands of some private dealers like John Visser. We would rather see the

remaining penguins returned to their original habitat.

 

SAM urges you to send emails or letters to the Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

expressing your deep displeasure at the capture of the Rockhoppers from the

wild for zoos and aquarium in Asia, and that you would like to see proper

guidelines governing wildlife in Tristan da Cunha.

 

Send your strong protest to:

Mr. Ben Boddy

Desk Officer Tristan da Cunha

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Overseas Territories Department

South Atlantic Section

WH3.411

London SW1A 2AH

E-mail: ben.boddy and kindly forward a copy of your

email/messages to SAM.

 

Thank you.

 

S M Mohd Idris

President

Sahabat Alam Malaysia

9 Solok Mas

11600 Penang

Tel: 04-6596930 Fax: 04-6596931 E-MAIL: alammsia

 

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