AR-News: IPPL letter to the editor re the Taiping Four gorilla affair

[Shirley McGreal]

Gorilla scam: Wildlife crime unit needed

Shirley McGreal
3:18pm Tue Apr 20th, 2004

It is not surprising that the four gorillas smuggled from Nigeria to 
Malaysia on false certificates of captive birth left Malaysia in secret - 
with Malaysia's vigilant press left in the darkness. This was because a 
<http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/2004041600115179.php>vile deed was being 
done that could not withstand the light of examination by a free press or 
alert civilians.

Most Malaysians are probably aware that in Asia, baby orangutans are 
brought into trade by the shooting of mother animals carrying babies. The 
same is true of Africa's gorillas. But gorillas are a big draw for the 
world's zoos, and there are some zoos that will make deals with the Devil 
himself to get them.

Forgetting the slaughter of the mothers and the sufferings inflicted on 
their babies, Nigeria's presidential panel investigating wildlife crime has 
revealed that six more gorilla babies had died at Ibadan.

In 2001, a crooked Nigerian businessman offered gorillas to the world's 
zoos - and claimed they were born in captivity at a zoo that has only one 
gorilla. Anyone with half-a-brain could smell foul play!

But we are told that Malaysia's then minister of science, technology and 
environment Law Hieng Ding was 'duped.'. Well, one can take hope in the 
fact that this man is now a former minister.

Law was again 'duped' when he announced that the best zoo in the world for 
caring for and breeding gorillas was the Pretoria Zoo in South Africa. At 
that time, this zoo only owned one elderly male gorilla, three other adults 
and two babies having died.

It would be interesting to learn who 'duped' the minister on this point. 
Maybe he duped himself, but why?

Details of the deal that took the four gorillas from Malaysia to a South 
African zoo - despite the fact that the gorillas had been smuggled aboard a 
South African airways flight and had passed through South Africa in transit 
- should be made public in the interests of transparency.

Earlier there was talk of possible offspring of these gorillas being sent 
to Malaysia, or other African animals. What's going on? SM Idris of SAM is 
correct to <http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/2004041600115179.php>demand an 
investigation into the affair and to protest the likelihood that all 
Malaysians involved appear will get off scot-free.

Clearly, Malaysia needs to establish a national wildlife crime unit with 
the ability to investigate and prosecute criminal activities, such as 
happened in this case. If Malaysia had a Freedom of Information Act, this 
would deter government wrongdoing and help expose it when it does happen.

(The writer is the chairperson of the International Primate Protection 
League).

<http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/200404200036731.php>http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/200404200036731.php

Malaysia Kini

Dr. Shirley McGreal, Chairwoman
International Primate Protection League
PO Box 766
Summerville, SC 29484, USA
Phone - 843-871-2280, Fax- 843-871-7988
E-mail - smcgreal at ippl.org, Web: www.ippl.org

"He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. 
He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord 
would suffice."
         --Albert Einstein