Conservationists are up in arms over the importation of wild animals from South Africa to stock the notorious Melaka zoo.
FMT
PETALING JAYA: Wildlife conservationists from various non-governmental organisations have spoken out vehemently against the decision of the Melaka Zoo to import 24 species of animals from South Africa to restock what it claims is to be an “improved zoo”.
Sean Whyte from Nature Alert who is a long-time campaigner for improved conditions in Malaysia’s zoos added, “Just when we thought Perhilitan could not possibly make any more stupid decisions, they go and approve of wild animals in Africa being caught so they can be transported thousands of miles to be stuffed in a Malaysian zoo of disrepute.
“Perhilitan is incompetent, leaderless and clueless. It would be impossible to exaggerate how badly this government department is managed and it’s a scandal how Minister G. Palanivel (Natural Resources and Environment Ministry) accepts such poor standards from his wildlife department. It’s like the blind leading the blind.”
The zoo, once managed by Perhilitan but now owned by KAJ Development Sdn Bhd is notorious for being evasive about the many dead and missing wildlife in its care apart from the deplorable living conditions of those still living with them.
Jennifer Yeap from Malaysian Friends of the Animals said, “We have been made aware of many animals at the zoo dying due to poor treatment. As part of a cost-cutting programme animals are also being fed less food.”
Yeap also said that based on regular visits to Melaka Zoo, it was obvious there were less animals on display, leading her to wonder if they had been killed or relocated.
She also noted that some of the animals there were suffering from zoochosis, or psychological stress.
She added, “Instead of importing animals from Africa, Malaysia needs to focus on its own wildlife and provide better, more humane conditions for its existing animals.”
Anyone visiting Melaka Zoo today will see for themselves how run down and poorly managed it is with no conservation or educational content including a host of disinterested keepers.
Director of Friends of the Orangutans, Upreshpal Singh said: “We heard two orangutans died at this zoo earlier this year. This came as no surprise to us.
“The orangutan enclosure does not meet the apes’ needs and massive improvements to it are needed. The orangutans don’t appear to receive enrichment and consequently can be seen to be bored and listless.”
Upreshpal also said visitors kept feeding the orangutans junk food as none of the zoo’s staff bothered to monitor this bad habit.
He added, “We are also worried about the health of Mardia the female orangutan who is very obese due to lack of physical activity and this urgently needs to be addressed.
“We are more than happy to help the zoo management if they will allow us to improve the lives of the orangutans at the zoo.”
Melaka Zoo is a member of the Malaysian Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria. (MAZPA). All attempts to find out from them why so many animal have died or disappeared at this zoo have proven unsuccessful.
“The import of animals from Africa must be cancelled and the lives of the animals now suffering must be urgently improved. As one of the oldest zoos in Malaysia, it brings a lot of embarrassment to the Melaka state,” added Yeap.
All three wildlife NGOs hope conservationists in Africa will band together to protest this exploitation of their natural heritage and stop the export of animals from Africa to Malaysia.
“Sending their animals to Malaysian zoos is most probably sending them to an early death,” Whyte said.
All attempts by FMT to contact either Perhilitan or Melaka Zoo regarding this issue have proved fruitless.
FMT
PETALING JAYA: Wildlife conservationists from various non-governmental organisations have spoken out vehemently against the decision of the Melaka Zoo to import 24 species of animals from South Africa to restock what it claims is to be an “improved zoo”.
Sean Whyte from Nature Alert who is a long-time campaigner for improved conditions in Malaysia’s zoos added, “Just when we thought Perhilitan could not possibly make any more stupid decisions, they go and approve of wild animals in Africa being caught so they can be transported thousands of miles to be stuffed in a Malaysian zoo of disrepute.
“Perhilitan is incompetent, leaderless and clueless. It would be impossible to exaggerate how badly this government department is managed and it’s a scandal how Minister G. Palanivel (Natural Resources and Environment Ministry) accepts such poor standards from his wildlife department. It’s like the blind leading the blind.”
The zoo, once managed by Perhilitan but now owned by KAJ Development Sdn Bhd is notorious for being evasive about the many dead and missing wildlife in its care apart from the deplorable living conditions of those still living with them.
Jennifer Yeap from Malaysian Friends of the Animals said, “We have been made aware of many animals at the zoo dying due to poor treatment. As part of a cost-cutting programme animals are also being fed less food.”
Yeap also said that based on regular visits to Melaka Zoo, it was obvious there were less animals on display, leading her to wonder if they had been killed or relocated.
She also noted that some of the animals there were suffering from zoochosis, or psychological stress.
She added, “Instead of importing animals from Africa, Malaysia needs to focus on its own wildlife and provide better, more humane conditions for its existing animals.”
Anyone visiting Melaka Zoo today will see for themselves how run down and poorly managed it is with no conservation or educational content including a host of disinterested keepers.
Director of Friends of the Orangutans, Upreshpal Singh said: “We heard two orangutans died at this zoo earlier this year. This came as no surprise to us.
“The orangutan enclosure does not meet the apes’ needs and massive improvements to it are needed. The orangutans don’t appear to receive enrichment and consequently can be seen to be bored and listless.”
Upreshpal also said visitors kept feeding the orangutans junk food as none of the zoo’s staff bothered to monitor this bad habit.
He added, “We are also worried about the health of Mardia the female orangutan who is very obese due to lack of physical activity and this urgently needs to be addressed.
“We are more than happy to help the zoo management if they will allow us to improve the lives of the orangutans at the zoo.”
Melaka Zoo is a member of the Malaysian Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria. (MAZPA). All attempts to find out from them why so many animal have died or disappeared at this zoo have proven unsuccessful.
“The import of animals from Africa must be cancelled and the lives of the animals now suffering must be urgently improved. As one of the oldest zoos in Malaysia, it brings a lot of embarrassment to the Melaka state,” added Yeap.
All three wildlife NGOs hope conservationists in Africa will band together to protest this exploitation of their natural heritage and stop the export of animals from Africa to Malaysia.
“Sending their animals to Malaysian zoos is most probably sending them to an early death,” Whyte said.
All attempts by FMT to contact either Perhilitan or Melaka Zoo regarding this issue have proved fruitless.
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