SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa's National Zoo said that four gorillas in its care would be returned to Cameroon
- ITN Source
SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa's National Zoo said that four gorillas in its care would be returned to Cameroon
South Africa's National Zoo said on Wednesday (September 6) that four gorillas in its care would be returned to Cameroon, ending a dispute that had captured the attention of animal welfare activists around the globe. The final decision to send the apes to Cameroon was made by the government of Malaysia under a complex diplomatic arrangement which gave it ultimate authority over the animals. The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa was recently informed by the Government of Malaysia of its decision to relocate the four infant gorillas to the Limbe Animal Orphanage in the Cameroon. The director of the zoo, Willie Labuschagne, said that he four infant gorillas had adapted exceptionally well to their new home at the National Zoo and had become a favorite with the millions of visitors, who will sadly miss them. Moreover, Labuschagne also fears for the future survival of the gorillas. "I have a fear for the future of the gorilla. The gorilla, being a threatened species are being exploited in their natural habitat, they are being killed, the expected number of gorillas being killed every year is about 3000, not necessarily for the sustainable bushmeat because the information we have is that gorilla meat are being exported to countries far outside their homelands. They are being exported to Europe and other countries where it does become a delicacy which is unfortunate that the end of the gorilla meat should be absorbed in such a manner. So, I have a fear for gorillas and in making that statement, it is everybody's responsibility to ensure the future survival of this enigmatic and beautiful animal," he told Reuters Television. Cameroon had repeatedly called on South Africa to return the animals dubbed the "Taiping Four", named after the Malaysian zoo where they appeared after being smuggled out of Cameroon via Nigeria. Amid the outcry, Malaysia agreed to send the lowland gorillas back to their home continent but not their homeland. They arrived in South Africa in 2004. It was not clear why the Malaysian government switched tack and finally decided to send the apes back to Cameroon where their numbers are dwindling in the wild. Animal welfare groups had been pushing to have the primates returned home. Gorillas are highly endangered and could be extinct in the wild within 50 years, according to experts. These four gorillas were captured from the wild as infants, and then exported to the Taiping Zoo in Malaysia through South Africa using forged travel permits. Leading animal welfare and conservation groups have applauded the decision.
ITN Source | September 9, 2006
