gorillas, japanese zoos etc.

[Guest guest]

Hi.

 

Whilst no one seems to have sent emails to the lists about the shipment of

gorillas from Australia to Japan, there has been many emails to me personally.

 

When I made the request " why this particular shipment " , I was asking a valid

question as I could not figure out why this incidence was being singled out when

it happens everyday all over the world. In fact yesterday afternoon I spoke to a

few people here in Australia and they asked exactly the same question. Why this

particular transference of animals. At the time I had no idea that a gorilla had

died at one of these zoos in what most people think are questionable

circumstances. Many have emailed me about this and some have given good info and

insight into some of the problems.

 

When I was made aware of this I did approach Taronga and they said they were

aware of the past problems but the zoos are improving and they are helping them

to improve.

 

Now there is a problem in that. The situation is that zoos can improve. One zoo

here in Australia, which was the subject of a report we had done has improved

dramatically and our report was a learning exercise for them. So Taronga could

be correct when they say the zoos have improved. Remember they do have a keeper

in one of the zoos at the moment, so their information is most likely current

information.

 

The other problem is that we have no proof that the zoos in Japan are not

improving, or at least I have no proof of this. Whilst the zoo community in

Australia says the Japanese zoos are improving I have to take note of that in

the absence of current up to date information that contradicts those statements.

 

Now to give you all some background from the Australian Animal Welfare point of

view. As I said yesterday this is no different to sending other animals to

foreign zoos. Only in the last 2-3 months the groups here in Australia have just

gone through exactly the same problem when a zoo in Australia moved Ping Ping a

Polar bear to Beijing Zoo. It was exactly the same problem. We were worried

about the conditions at Beijing zoo and Beijing's past record. The zoo community

came back and said they had improved. We had no evidence to say they hadn't

improved. In fact it seemed the zoo would improve because the olympic games will

be held there. So the zoo held the cards just as Taronga does now. No amount of

protesting made any difference when it came to sending Ping Ping to Beijing. We

have to learn from that experience. The animal welfare groups said yesterday,

without proof that the zoos have not improved there is little that can be done.

 

Even if these gorillas do not go to Japan, will any action in regards to these

gorillas stop other movements? No because once again the Big Issue is not being

addressed. I suppose it is easier to single one or two incidents instead of

discussing the issue of mucking up an animals social life to manipulate the gene

pool.

 

Australia it appears is a member now of the EEP. European Endangered Species

Program. (I have put a link to this below for anyone interested) As we only have

2 zoos with gorillas (Melbourne and Taronga) they joined the EEP to make sure

there were sufficient genes with gorillas and are working in that program. It

seems some Asian countries are in that program and Japan it appears is a member,

at least with gorillas.

 

On Friday I spoke to a government department about this program. If Taronga or

Melbourne do eventually decide to send gorillas to Japan in accordance with this

program, the program has to be approved. The program has not yet been put up for

approval to send these animals overseas. So if gorillas go to Japan then the

Japanese zoos will have to meet CITIES regulations, Australian regulations and

the EEP program will have to be approved. Based on that it could be some time

before these Gorillas go to Japan if they do go to Japan at all. This is at

least my understanding of the situation.

 

Taronga said they will meet with me and I will be in contact with them again in

the next few days but if people do not want this event to take place they can

express their concerns to Taronga Management.

 

Also if anyone has photos or video footage taken in the last month or so, which

indicates the zoos are not good, I would be interested in seeing this. I could

possibly use these to put a case to Taronga. If it is contrary to what they are

saying they will have to take on board our concerns and address our concerns

even if they still end up sending them to Japan. Please contact me privately.

 

How do people feel about disrupting an animals social life and their feelings of

security to manipulate the gene pool. That is the real issue and it is an issue

that involves all animals, not just gorillas and not just primates. It is an

issue so basic to the whole zoo issue.

 

http://www.zoo-frankfurt.de/english/animals/eep.htm

European Endangered Species Program.

 

Lynette Shanley

www.primates4primates.org