Fw: [Singapore] Zoo's 'snapshot' chimps now run free

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The Straits Times

January 28, 2001

Zoo's 'snapshot' chimps now run free

 

Singapore Zoo ends confinement of trained chimpanzees on the back of

criticism by animal-welfare groups

 

By Eunice Lau

 

THE days of being caged in are over for Poko, Gombe and Rhamba -

Singapore Zoo's young chimpanzees, which pose daily for photographs

with visitors.

 

The zoo decided to end their confinement following an outcry by the

International

Primate Protection League (IPPL) and the World Society for the Protection

of Animals.

 

The three - aged between 1 1/2 and four years - are in a long line of

chimpanzees

which have helped popularise animal photography at the zoo for more than

15 years. Poko, Gombe and Rhamba were taken away from their mothers

at birth and raised by the keepers. They were kept apart from the other

chimpanzees, which lived in an open enclosure.

 

After being trained to pose with visitors, they were kept in cages so that it

was easier to produce them for photography.

 

They were integrated with the rest of the chimpanzees shortly after The Sunday

Times reported in November last year on the animal-welfare groups' attack

on the caging of the trained chimpanzees.

 

Photo: Frolicking in the sun: Rhamba, trained from young to pose with visitors,

is

no longer caged and is now reunited with mother Suzy (above left) and the

other chimpanzees. -- THOMAS WHITE

 

This was revealed by Mr Bernard Harrison, chief executive officer of Wildlife

Reserves, during a visit last Sunday to the zoo by an IPPL director, Mrs

Dianne Taylor-Snow.

 

'We are very open to what the animal-welfare groups have said,' he said.

'Animal welfare is the overriding deciding factor.'

 

He said the young chimpanzees would not be separated from the rest of

the herd again.

 

So far, the three have responded well to the changes and have been

accepted by the other chimpanzees.

 

The Sunday Times saw them rolling on the grass and frolicking with

other chimpanzees under the sun.

 

The keepers do not have any problem retrieving them from the group

for their photography sessions, which continue as usual.

 

The zoo has also decided to immunise all young chimpanzees against

common human diseases and asked keepers to explain to visitors the

need for conservation.

 

Mrs Taylor-Snow, an American, was happy: 'We will continue to

monitor the situation, but we are pleased with the changes.'

 

Conservationist Louis Ng, 22, who blew the whistle on the practice

of caging the chimpanzees after witnessing a keeper allegedly abusing

Rhamba, said the fight was worth it.

 

'I wanted to improve the conditions for the animals. Maybe I did it the

wrong way, but that should not be the issue now.

 

'After seeing Poko, Gombe and Rhamba run in the open enclosure, I

feel I've done something good.'