orangutans at A Famosa- Malacca, Malaysia

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From Malaysiakini.com

 

Dept to investigate orangutans kept at resort

Fauwaz Abdul Aziz

May 10, 05 5:16pm

 

The Wildlife Department will conduct DNA tests on several orangutans owned

by A’Famosa Resort in Malacca to determine whether or not they are of the

endangered Sumatran species.

 

If the orangutans are found to be of the protected species pongo pygmaeus

abelii, the authorities will not hesitate to confiscate the animals and take

action against the company, said law and enforcement director Misliah Mohd

Basir today.

 

She was responding to information received by malaysiakini that the

Malacca-based resort was in possession of about eight orangutans, some of

which had recently been used in animal shows at the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park.

 

Sumatran orangutans have been recognised as ‘critically endangered’ under

the 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Commercial trade in these animals is prohibited.

 

Misliah admitted, however, that the resort had been given a ‘special permit’

about three years ago to import the animals, but said this was “before my

time”.

 

She also said the Anti-Corruption Agency had visited the department to

investigate the issuance of the permit.

 

There were allegations that A’Famosa had been given a ‘special permit’ to

import the Sumatran orangutans.

Need for DNA tests

 

She said the initial approval had been given about three years ago “before

my time”, when such approvals were issued by the then Science, Technology

and Environment Ministry. Since then, the department has only been involved

in renewing the permit annually.

 

The resort management could not be contacted for comment as the person in

charge was said to be away.

 

Misliah said the department could not act on claims that the orangutans are

of Sumatran origin, based merely on such physical characteristics as the

colour of their hair.

 

“These claims could have been made by A’Famosa promoters to impress the

crowd, but we cannot confirm whether they are pongo pygmaeus abelii or

whatever based merely on their colour,” she said.

 

“The characteristics tend to change according to the natural conditions and

diet. We have to confirm the species through DNA testing.”

 

Misliah said there was a possibility that the orangutans were hybrid

Bornean-Sumatran and not ‘true-blood’ Sumatran.

 

“The legal implications of this must be studied by our legal advisors before

action can be considered.

 

“We do allow Bornean orangutans into Peninsular Malaysia, but we do not

allow Sumatran orangutans to be brought in for commercial purposes.”

Conditions of permit

 

Asked about conditions attached to A’Famosa’s permit to keep the orangutans,

she said these related mainly to the conditions of captivity and use of the

animals for cross-breeding purposes.

 

She said all orangutan owners would have to comply with stringent

procedures, but that the law is silent on the purposes of bringing

non-endangered animals into the country.

 

“We do ask them (importers) the purpose of bringing in (these) animals. If

the purpose is commercial and to attract tourists, then we do allow it

because that would also help the country’s economy.”

 

Misliah also said the department is seeking to establish a DNA profiling

system for all orangutans in the country as Malaysia does not want to depend

on facilities abroad, such as those in the US.

 

“It will be a bit slow. It will take us some time to establish a DNA

finger-printing plan because we plan to monitor not just these orangutans in

A’Famosa but all the facilities in the country that have orangutans,” she

added.

 

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