[gorillakeepers] WAZA Statement Re; Taiping Four Case

[Guest guest]

Gee, Hope, why don't you say what you *really* feel!? ;-)

 

It's clear you're expressing feelings many of us outside the Big Boys Club are

feeling, in that gorillas were slaughtered and now some in the zoo world are

taking credit for saving them from extinction. There are powers in government

and in the zoo world at work here, and it's clear they're helping each other

more than helping any conservation efforts.

 

The good guys in the zoo world are staying quiet, because you shouldn't

criticize your friends, even when they're doing something wrong. OR they're

thinking, how can some new genes added to the captive population hurt? But this

silence only means the bad guys win and gorillas lose. And it's not just

gorillas, although they're the big draw items the zoos want - remember the poor

vervet South Africa refused to let back into its country?

 

The bottom line is, it's now a matter of public relations. Pretoria is already

touting themselves as the saviors of these gorillas, and we have to make sure

that nonsense doesn't go unchallenged.

 

Meanwhile, I'll keep asking why no criminal charges have been filed in Cites or

in South Africa or in Malaysia? Could it be the criminals are the ones

investigating the crimes?

 

Jane

-

Hope Walker

gorillakeepers

Cc: marceil.yeater ; john.sellar ; jim.armstrong ;

willem.wijnstekers ; cscholtz ;

sharronh ; lydiao ; dhignett ;

smeintjes ; cites.ukma ;

managementauthority ; waza.director ; wlab

Wednesday, April 21, 2004 1:06 PM

[gorillakeepers] WAZA Statement Re; Taiping Four Case

 

 

Dear Dr. Dollinger et al;

 

<<the Wildlife and National Parks Department for Peninsular Malaysia has

decided to send four confiscated gorillas known as the “Taiping Four†to

the

 

National Zoological Gardens of South Africa. While certain interest groups

challenge this decision, WAZA maintains that there was no better option.>>

 

Yes. It's easier to label us " interest groups " rather than to own the fact

that as early as January 2004 Cameroon was issuing statements about the

demand for the return of the gorillas.

 

<<The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) for Peninsular

Malaysia has informed the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and

the

National Zoo of South Africa that the Government of Malaysia has finally

decided

to send the confiscated gorillas known as the “Taiping Four†to the

National

 

Zoological Gardens of South Africa (Pretoria Zoo). This decision was made

taking into account a recommendation by WAZA.>>

 

Oh, I'm sorry. But does that actually say that WAZA got involved in a CITES

matter? I must be confused. What in the world does WAZA have to do with the

illegal trade in these gorillas? And wasn't WAZA one of the first " interest

groups " to issue a statement against the ILLEGAL TRADE in these gorillas?

And what in the hell is John Sellars, a British policeman, doing telling

anyone what to do with gorillas? As far as I can see he has zero real-time

experience with gorillas, so how on earth can he be responsible for deciding

the final location? The convention states that these animals should be

returned to the country of origin. It says nothing about allowing a former

cop to decide what is best for them based upon a proposal submitted by a zoo

(no mention of whether or not Limbe was allowed to submit a proposal, by the

way) with a notorious history of dead gorillas. Let me guess, that's another

little idea you fellas came up with. Anyone with a brain knows that Sellars

made the amaeteurish decision to go with what looks sexy rather than with

what works, is successful, and is already in place. Recent media reports

indicate that Pretoria has updated their enclosures. So, the enclosures need

an update when four new babies arrive, but they don't need it when a single

gorilla is housed there?

 

<<WAZA and its members are deeply committed to species conservation and

animal

welfare. WAZA’s Code of Ethics requires that obtaining animals from the wild

 

should be reduced to a minimum, and that each importation must be in full

compliance with the relevant national and international legislation. The two

zoos

involved in the illegal transfer from West Africa to Malaysia of the

gorillas

concerned are not members of WAZA.>>

 

Oh, now I get it. You're against wild caught wildlife unless it suits your

interests. And since one of your member zoos was without gorillas and had

watched five other gorillas die while in their " care " , you decided to take

the ingenious step of " obtaining " four more for them. Silly me. What in the

world was I thinking?

 

<<It is WAZA’s stated policy to support international conservation

treaties.>>

 

Really? Fabulous! I can't wait to see the gorillas returned to Cameroon.

Could I have a date please?

 

<<Consequently, the WAZA Executive Office assisted the Secretariat of the

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and

Flora

(CITES) in the fact finding and suggested that Pretoria Zoo would be a

suitable

place to accommodate the animals in case they would have to be confiscated

and

could not be returned to their country of origin.>>

 

Ah. But you see, they COULD be returned to their country of origin. But you

know, when a bunch of white people get together and tell black people what

is best for them, everything always works out well in the end doesn't it

fellas?

 

<<At the Executive Office’s request, Pretoria Zoo submitted a comprehensive

documentation allowing the

authorities to make an informed decision.>>

 

Did they send pictures of the dead gorillas that had already died at

Pretoria? How about the two infants under three months? Just curious.

 

<<• The keeping of gorillas is expensive. Any institution receiving them

should

have a solid financial basis. Pretoria Zoo is the National Zoo of South

Africa. It has a well administered budget, and the costs exceeding the

revenues

from gate fees etc. are covered by the National Government.>>

 

In other words, whitie will cover all of the expenses. 'Course, any fool

will tell you that infant and juvenile gorillas are a massive gate draw. But

that was entirely immaterial to the good deed that Pretoria and WAZA were

trying to do.

 

<<• Any facility accepting animals from a country outside the species’

natural

range should be able to guarantee lifetime care. Pretoria Zoo was

established

in 1898, and has been continually and extensively renewed. It is thus a very

 

a long-term operation whose further existence is ensured by the fact that is

 

government-owned and that it receives a very large number of visitors.>>

 

Oh, I see. So, out of curiosity, how did you explain all of the gorillas

which died at Pretoria in the past? And while we're on the subject, how

about those facilities that ARE WITHIN the species natural range. You know,

those pesky facility that by all rights and everything CITES stands for

SHOULD go to?

 

<<Lowland gorillas are endangered in the wild. Every year about 3000

gorillas

are slaughtered for the illegal bushmeat trade. The maintenance of viable

breeding populations in human care is therefore of utmost importance. For

this

reason, an international studbook is kept under the auspices of WAZA, and

two of

WAZA’s Association Members (AZA and EAZA) operate co-ordinated ex situ

conservation breeding programmes. In 2002, the total of animals under

control of the

WAZA Network was 825 gorillas kept by 144 zoos. Of these, 388 gorillas in 56

 

zoos belong to the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), which also

includes Australia, and 373 gorillas in 53 zoos to the North American

Species

Survival Plan (SSP). Pretoria Zoo has always registered its animals in the

International Studbook. The only gorilla currently at the zoo is a loan from

the

European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). The zoo has a commitment to

cooperate with both, studbook and EEP also in future.>>

 

And as I have already noted in the past, if Pretoria was so wonderful the

EEP would be leaping to give them another gorilla. Perhaps some of you

geniuses should have thought about the reason why they weren't obtaining

another gorilla even though there is a practical glut of males within the

international zoo community. Further, I know of no statistic which indicates

that the current captive populations need additional genes. They are

breeding and being managed quite well without the influx of these gorillas.

The problem lies in WILD populations. You know fellas, the populations from

which these gorillas came because some greedy bastard like you ordered their

capture.

 

<<Pretoria Zoo employs not only dedicated and experienced animal keepers,

but

also two fully salaried staff veterinarians and a veterinary nurse. The zoo

has its own animal hospital, it can count on the cooperation of the

world-renowned Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty, which is only a few minutes

drive away,

and there are numerous human medicine institutes and hospitals in Pretoria,

which could be consulted if necessary.>>

 

Too bad you fellas didn't use these facilities with the last lot you killed.

Then maybe you wouldn't have to steal gorillas from Cameroon in order to

increase your gate revenue.

 

<<Animals taken out of their original range may attract pathogens, often

without becoming clinically ill themselves. This may be a problem for the

wild

population if the animals would be returned to their home land, and would

have to

be addressed by adequate veterinary expertise and appropriate quarantine

facilities. Pretoria Zoo, apart from having the veterinary experience and

facilities available, lies outside the gorilla’s range, i.e. no disease

could be

transmitted to wild gorillas.>>

 

And you fellas know quite well that this would not have been a problem for

Limbe, who have successfully rehabilitated hundreds of primates, including

dozens of gorillas in FAR WORSE condition than these gorillas.

 

<<Those who promote the transfer of the gorillas to a sanctuary instead of a

 

zoo claim that a strong message needs to be sent to zoos to the effect that

illegal trade in gorillas will not be rewarded. WAZA is not aware of any of

its

member zoos having accepted gorillas from illegal sources within at least

the

past twenty years.>>

 

Until now friend. In one swoop you have made your organization and Pretoria

Zoo look like a bunch of greedy lying bastards. And a press release isn't

going to fix that.

 

<<73 % of the gorillas currently kept by zoos are born in

human care, many of them are second or third generation animals. Only nine

gorillas from the wild were added to the studbook during the past ten years.

This

includes animals confiscated by the authorities and subsequently entrusted

to a

zoo pursuant to article VIII.4 of CITES.>>

 

And in each case the NATION of ORIGIN had something to say about it. But

this time you and John Sellars (CITES) have decided what is best in spite of

the facts, the law, and the demands of Cameroon. Gotta love greedy and

power-hungry white men.

 

<<The Taping gorillas have to tell a story by which they would promote CITES

 

and conservation in general. However, for telling a story, an audience is

needed. Pretoria Zoo has an attendance of 600'000 to 800'000 visitors per

year

forming a huge audience. In addition, there are a number of outreach

activities.

South Africa is often blamed for having allowed the transit of illegally

traded CITES specimens. Having the four gorillas at Pretoria Zoo in

combination

with the activities envisaged will help to create awareness among the

general

public, but also among airline personnel, customs officers, border

veterinarians

etc. and thus help to prevent similar cases in future.>>

 

And as I noted the last time I wrote you fellas, who is learning their

story? The mostly white visitors of Pretoria, who will return home to their

cushy homes and feel warm and safe in knowing that these gorillas are safe

from the evil black people who tried to kill them? Nice message boys. And

not only is your message a racist and ignorant one, it is useless. The

people who need to learn about gorilla conservation are the people on the

ground, in-situ, where populations are being killed. But I can see why you

fellas don't want that to happen. If people on the ground are taught to

protect wildlife, then your source of wild-caught wildlife dries up and God

forbid that.

 

<<The visitors meeting the gorillas at Pretoria Zoo may be disposed to

donate

money for gorilla conservation. Pretoria Zoo will undertake to establish a

Gorilla Conservation Fund subject to official audit and to scrutiny by

CITES.

This fund will be used to support conservation projects in the gorilla range

 

states of West and Central Africa.>>

 

Ah, see folks, there is the sanctuary carrot. Play along and you might get

some money from the Pretoria Zoo. Note the " may " in the sentence, too. How

lovely. Sanctuaries in Africa will be offered money earned off of the backs

of the very animals they are trying to protect, which were illegally stolen

and sent to a zoo, in order to make money for that zoo. What sheer genius.

 

<<Those who oppose the transfer of the gorillas to Pretoria Zoo argue that

sending victims of one zoo's misconduct to reward or award another zoo would

not

be acceptable, and they suggest that zoos want to purchase gorillas for

economic profit. These arguments are not pertinent, as they are based on an

antiquated understanding of justice implying a collective guilt of zoos, and

a complete

lack of understanding of the economic relevance of keeping gorillas in a

zoo.>>

 

Not at all. I get it completely. You guys see a source of revenue and you

believe that you can make a ton of money off of these gorillas (and everyone

knows you will) so you'd rather see the gorillas go to Pretoria rather than

Limbe because that way you can make money. It makes sense. Of course it

does. I get it. I just happen to think that you are all a bunch of racist

sleazebags who don't have any problem carrying out a misinformation campaign

and twisting facts in order to obtain the gorillas.

 

<<Of course, gorillas are a high profile species, and opening a new gorilla

exhibit or adding a group of gorillas to the collection will always result

in an

increase of visitor numbers. However, zoos having given up the keeping of

gorillas to make more space available for other species, such as Aalborg,

Copenhagen or Rome Zoo, have seen no negative impact on visitor numbers, and

in zoos

having built new and attractive gorilla exhibits, visitor numbers returned

more

or less to normal after a while.>>

 

Sell that someplace else, fellas. We're talking about infant gorillas, now

made entirely infamous by your backdoor, double-talking machinations. The

lines will be out the door and you know it. And lines out the door is a nice

influx of cash, which is the only reason you people are doing this and you,

I, and everyone else who reads anything about this case knows it.

 

- Hope Walker