questions regarding penguins

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From Malaysiakini

 

Langkawi's penguin numbers don't add up

SM Mohd Idris, President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia

Jul 11, 05 1:17pm

 

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) refers to a media report regarding the

exhibiting of penguins at the Underwater World resort in Langkawi.

 

SAM would like to recall that in December 2003, Underwater World Langkawi

acquired 20 wild sub-Antarctic birds of the Rockhopper species costing

RM26,600 each. These birds, we understand, were plucked from the wild from

Nightingale Island in the Tristan da Cunha Group.

 

However, the latest number of penguins quoted was reported at 38. This

raises the question of whether these penguins were the ones that arrived

from South Africa the previous year. That there are now an additional 18

penguins raises serious doubts as to where these additional penguins came

from and the date of their arrival.

 

Most intriguing was the caption which mentioned 'the Rockhopper penguins'

arrival in Langkawi was June. If those were the recent arrivals, then SAM is

seriously concerned over the whereabouts of the earlier 20 Rockhoppers. At

the same time, what are the number of remaining Rockhoppers that survived to

this day at Underwater World.

 

SAM is equally disturbed that the Underwater World is into the process of

acquiring 12 more penguins. SAM learnt that the process of catching the

Rockhoppers in the Tristan islands led to the death of four birds during

transport to South Africa or shortly after arrival there.

 

While four may not be a significant number considering the thousands of

penguins on the island, it goes to show that deaths are inevitable in the

capture of wildlife species for zoos and aquaria parks. Now with the

acquisition of 12 more, how many deaths will occur as a consequence of their

action?

 

Actually the whole idea of taking wildlife from their natural habitat should

be questioned. The main accent so far appears to be on economic

considerations of how best to exploit animals for the amusement of mankind.

 

Zoological and safari parks are two of the largest procurers of wildlife.

Whenever new zoos or parks are established, the animal trafficking

fraternity is delighted. Besides being a major drain on wildlife, animals

are supplied by many dubious dealers.

 

Such establishments use rare species to attract more visitors. The excuse

for their procurement of exotics is on the pretext of captive breeding for

ultimate return to the wild. Also used as an excuse to remove animals from

the wild is the undisputed fact of habitat destruction, which raises the

question of where the captive animals would be returned to in 10, 20 or 50

years time!

 

These establishments would be better off pooling their resources together to

save animals in their natural habitats. Such animals should not be brought

to foreign lands as they not only suffer from being removed from their

natural habitat, but also from the stress of acting as exhibits for humans

to enjoy.

 

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