Re gorilla shipment

[Guest guest]

South African Airways carried the " Taiping Four " gorillas from Lagos to

Malaysia, despite a company policy against carrying primates stated by the

Cargo Department, " Dear Dr. McGreal, The conveyance of non-human primates

on the services of SAA is not permitted. You may however direct enquiries

to the Cargo Policy & Procedures section on 2711 9783844, fax 2711

9783817. Thank you for your enquiry. Kind regards, Lionel Heuer,

Customer Service Centre - Cargo JIA, E-Mail: heuerl. "

How this policy came to be violated has not been clarified yet.

.. IPPL obtained the following documents that make clear that South

Africa facilitated the smuggling of the animals.

 

1) On 7 January 2002 South Africa's Department of Agriculture issued a

" veterinary import and re-export permit. " The permit, issued to " Cargo

Marketing International, a/c the [sic]of Malaysia, Taiping Zoo, 34008

Perak, Malaysia, " stated:

 

" Authority is hereby granted for you to import into and re-export out of

the Republic of South Africa 5 (FIVE) LOWLAND GORILLAS from Nigeria

(Ibadan) through port of entry Johannesburg International Airport

[phone/fax included] directly through the RSA for immediate export to

Malaysia. "

 

The consignment was to be accompanied by various veterinary

certificates but there was no reference to any requirement that the

shipment be legally exported from Nigeria.

The application was hand-signed by an individual " iabuschagre " (?

really bad hand-writing), Director of Veterinary Services.

Note that five gorillas were not shipped. Did one die or did the

Ibadan Zoo suppliers come up one short at the time the shipment took place?

 

2) On 7 January 2992, Ibadan Zoo sent out a " To Whom it may concern "

message, requesting assistance apparently from South African Airways for

the " bearer. " A hand-written note was added on 9 January 2002 by " Jod Ezeh "

of SAA Cargo LOS [Lagos]. The note said, " Attn. Gert, these are the

requested letters. Kindly expedite action. Shipment scheduled to leave

Lagos on 13/01/2001 on SA 204. Also Penang is a Customs International

Airport. MHTB 429 flies daily from BKK [bangkok] to PEN [Penang]. Requested

routing LOS-JNB-BKK-PEN. Please confirm as soon as possible.

 

3) South African Airways cargo waybill No.083-067-5295, dated 7 January

2002, issued to the Zoological Garden, Ibadan, Attn. Dr. (Mrs.) Akinboye,

with the " Government of Malaysia, Taiping Zoo, Taiping Municipal Council,

Attn. Dr. Kevin Lazarus PPT, with " Cargo Marketing Int'l Lagos listed as

" carrier's agent. " The " airport of departure " was listed as Lagos and the

routing was listed as LOS/JNB/KUL/PEN, flight numbers listed were SA204/16

January BKK/MHTC, MA 207/17 January. The " handling information " listed Dr.

Kevin Lazarus as contact. There were four crates with 386 (it doesn't say

whether it's kilos or pounds) listed as the " chargeable weight. " The

" nature and quantity " of the goods was listed as " Baby gorilla gorilla

(Lowland gorilla) container No. 33, 30 " x 30 " by 36 " x 4 pieces. " The

signature of the agent was illegible.

 

Given these circumstances, IPPL considers it ludicrous that South

Africa's national zoo was " awarded " the gorillas by the Government of

Malaysia (under pressure), in preference to a country-of-origin sanctuary

and in defiance of repeated requests from the Dr. Tanyi Myianbor,

Cameroon's Minister of the Environment, for the return of the gorillas.

 

 

Dr. Shirley McGreal, Chairwoman

International Primate Protection League

PO Box 766

Summerville, SC 29484, USA

Phone - 843-871-2280, Fax- 843-871-7988

E-mail - smcgreal, Web: www.ippl.org

 

" He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt.

He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord

would suffice. "

--Albert Einstein