46 confiscated orangutans are claimed to be dead!

[Guest guest]

URGENT

PRESS RELEASE!

 

46

confiscated orangutans are claimed to be dead!

 

 

Friday 6 August 2004 – During an official

inspection of Safariworld today by the Thai Forestry Police again only 69 out

of 115 previously documented orangutans were found at their premises. Last week

during a raid of Safariworld by the Forestry Police, accompanied by a

delegation of Indonesian Forestry officials, a larger number of orangutans were

found to be missing. Today the explanation offered by Safariworld management

was that the missing animals had in fact all died over the last few months due

to the early start of the raining season.

 

Pictures of a few supposedly dead animals were shown to

police officials; however it is widely believed that this whole story has been

fabricated to cover up the likelihood that these animals have in fact been

moved to another location. Safariworld is required by law to declare the death

of any impounded or confiscated animal to the authorities within a set period

of time.

 

Animal welfare and wildlife conservation organizations have

called upon the Department of National Parks to remove the remaining orangutans

from Safariworld and have relocated to a wildlife rescue center, in fear of

further “disappearances” of the allegedly illegally obtained

endangered animals. The Department of National Parks has so far refused to

comment.

 

ENDS