primfocus: Chimps to China

January 30, 2004

Beti and others,

I can only speak for myself ... concentrating, as I do, on gorillas, I must

have missed the earlier incidents Ms. Kamya refers to in her summary, since

had I known more about then, I would have be equally appalled.

But I know enough about such matters to know I don't have all the facts and

details, nor do I fully understand the motives behind individuals on the

various sides on an issue. Therefore, I'm left to make determinations from

emails like these, media reports (which I know are usually more inaccurate

than not) or my gut.

My gut has driven me my entire life. It's seldom wrong. My gut tells me

" trading chimps for commerce " is a bad idea. I liked Dr. Wrangham's

suggestion of trading expertise for commerce (I'll cut and paste his

Prim-focus post hereunder).

It doesn't matter to me if the chimps are threatened or endangered or

abundant. The message the world will be getting is " Uganda will sell off

its heritage to the highest bidder. " Uganda is better than this. This

isn't a race issue either, it's not 'us against them'. Black or white,

African or American, those of us dedicating our lives to the conservation of

endangered great apes (and other animals), want the same thing: A future

for our children's children to enjoy and be proud of.

There are enough captive chimps already in zoos (or worse) around the world

that can go to China, in what Ms. Kamya refers to as a routine zoo animal

exchange. Sending chimps from Ngamba Island, a sanctuary filled with

victims of bushmeat and other crimes, will mean sanctuaries aren't the " safe

haven " they're meant to be, if the government can decide to pick out a few

" samples " to send off, as political pawns.

Jane Dewar

-

" B. Kamya " <bkamya

" Jane T. R. Dewar " <jdewar; " Linda (Monkey) Howard "

<lindajhoward; " Shirley McGreal IPPL new "

<smcgreal; " Jessica Ganas " <ganas;

<dttiuganda; <uwa; <lrulacsec;

<Arthur.Mugisha; <wildlife.justus

Cc: " CESD A " <cesdewar

Friday, January 30, 2004 7:49 AM

Re: primfocus: Chimps to China

> Dear all,

>

> I see things slightly differently.

>

> see attachment for my summarized views

>

> Beti

>

Thursday 30 Jan 2004

The Editor

Sunday Vision

In 2001, Rhino Fund Uganda and the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC),

driven by Wilhelm Moeller and Yvonne Verkaik, imported two Southern White

Rhinos into Uganda, from Kenya, as the initial step in the re introduction

of rhinos back to Uganda's wild, paying US$ 10,000 per rhino. Rhinos are

classified as much more endangered than chimps under CITES and therefore

scrutiny of their management rivaled only by that of mountain gorillas. In

the near future, rhino Fund Uganda, driven by Yvonne, plans to import two

rhinos from America to Ziwa ranch in Uganda. We all agree that it is / was a

good venture

Still in 2001, on the initiative of Wilhelm Moeller and Yvonne Verkaik, a

baby elephant was translocated from Uganda to a sanctuary in Kenya.

Elephants also rank very high up on the CITES' conservation list.

In 2002, Ngamba Chimpanzee Island driven by Debby Cox brought into Uganda

two chimps from Burundi, on the pretext that they were in transit to South

Africa. Today, the chimps are still stuck in Uganda and the re is no clear

explanation why they did not complete their journey to S Africa. More

recently, everybody remembers how Ngamba Island, under the direction of

Debby Cox, imported into Uganda, three diseased

chimps from Tanzania, breaking most International and Uganda's health and

welfare protocols while at it. This particular undertake flopped so bad that

all three chimps had to be killed in Uganda, while 24 year old Tony Muheebwa

lost both hands and feet, because Ngamba Island left two inexperienced

staff to look after the chimps, contrary to standard regulations regarding

management of dangerous animals. The three diseased chimps could have wiped

out the entire chimp population, if not of Uganda, certainly of Ngamba and

UWEC if the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Uganda Wildlife Education Centre

had bent to Ngamba's pressure to leave the chimps alone.

In none of the above instances did I hear the voice of the " International

community " protesting the sale of the rhinos (oh, I know it wasn't " really

a sale " but money did change hands) or concern that the animals were going

from a ranch to " Entebbe Zoo " as it was widely known then. I am not hearing

any concerns regarding the rhinos that are scheduled to be relocated from

America to Uganda.

I did not hear any concern about the plight of the baby elephant nor

outrage that a whole population of chimps was put at risk by the reckless

importation of chimps from Tanzania by Ngamba Island and I did not hear the

International community cry out for poor Tony who will never be the same

again. Needless to say, there were no threats of discontinuing donor support

until a satisfactory explanation was submitted.

But when Arthur Mugisha, John Nagenda, Minister Akaki, Entebbe Mayor Kabuye

and Beti O Kamya initiate a translocation of animals, the " international

community " is up in arms with all their grand morals and threats. What I

read is that in the book of the " International community " a Cox, Moeller or

Verkaik obviously know what they are doing, but how could a Mugisha, Akaki,

Kabuye, Nagenda or Kamya " possibly " know what they are doing, least of all

possess the capacity to make a rational decision? Even our own local

" International community " will sooner take the opinion of Smith as gospel

truth than seek further information from technically competent Mukasa. One

such person had the audacity to threaten me that the international community

is " pissed off " , to which I retorted that we were also VERY pissed off by

their condescending attitude.

The Chinese expressed interest in acquiring chimps from Uganda. The Uganda

Govt said that is ok in principle, as long as international conventions are

not violated and the animals' welfare not compromised. The Govt set up a

technical committee consisting of UWA, UWEC, Ngamba, Ministry of Agriculture

and Vet Services and Entebbe Municipal Council to scrutinize the entire

proposal. Before the committee has even sat, the international community is

threatening to lobby the World Bank to withhold funding from Uganda.

African and South American animals dominate European and American Zoos,

wildlife parks and sanctuaries. How do they get there except through

translocation? Each day animals criss cross the world of zoo, wildlife parks

and sanctuaries for breeding, education, conservation and other purposes,

the only problem with the chimps to China being that it is from Africa to

China and initiated by Africans and Chinese. Let's call a spade a spade.

Conservation is inherent in African culture, through the totems' system,

animal symbolism, traditional African medicine and spiritualism, which some

call witchcraft. We love and respect animals deeply. What we need is space

to develop capacity to make decisions. Threats and undue influence by the

" international community " , undermining the development of rational

home-grown-decision-making, ultimately undermine sustainability of

conservation efforts, because surely, the " international community " will not

always be around to make the " right " decisions.

Sorry Wilhelm and Yvonne, nothing personal, I just needed to make the

point.

Beti O Kamya

-

" Jessica Ganas " <ganas

" Primfocus " <primfocus

Friday, January 30, 2004 1:28 PM

primfocus: Letter to the Editor-Richard Wrangham

> [side note: Hurrah!]

>

> ==================================

> UWA is exposing Uganda's integrity to risk, ridicule!

>

> SIR - After two decades of conducting chimpanzee research and promoting

> eco-tourism in Kibale National Park, I have acquired great admiration

> for the morality and vision of Uganda and its people.

>

> So it is with sadness that I see the controversy over the request from

> China for three chimpanzees. The Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA) says

> the question of sending chimpanzees to China is a decision for Uganda

> rather than her friends and advisors, especially when future economic,

> political and cultural alliances with China lie in the balance. Of course.

>

> But there remains a problem. Despite claims that the fate of three

> chimpanzees is " a small matter in all conscience, " as the UWA chairman,

> John Nagenda would have the world believe, it is actually Uganda's

> stature as a world leader in wildlife conservation and welfare that is

> at risk.

>

> Uganda has enormous respect as a leader of wildlife conservation and

> welfare. If the chimps are treated as political objects, in the eyes of

> many that moral leadership will be lost. And that doesn't seem such a

> small matter. Uganda has the finest record of ape conservation and care

> in the world.

>

> Her reputation brings tourists wanting to see both gorillas and

> chimpanzees, funds from donors supporting the orphan chimps, investment

> by NGOs and multi-lateral organisations, and invitations to host

> international conferences.

>

> All this could unravel if Uganda treats her apes as gifts of state to be

> distributed at will. Based on experience in other countries, there will

> be an international outcry.

>

> There will be fears of further export, or capture from the wild.

> Investors will likely scale down their funds, visitors will be fewer,

> and facility standards will be jeopardised.

>

> Welfare organisations cannot be expected to continue spending hundreds

> of thousands of dollars on Ngamba Island Sanctuary knowing that the apes

> whose lives they are improving may at any time be shipped off to a zoo.

> Uganda is less likely to be invited to host UN meetings concerned with

> conservation.

>

> We might feel that such pressure reeks of blackmail. But it would come

> from the grassroots. Many people around the world, and surely in Uganda

> also, feel passionately about the great apes because the more we learn,

> the more similar their minds seem to our own.

>

> To many people, exporting three chimps from a forest sanctuary would be

> an immoral act, almost like exporting three orphaned people. So how

> might Uganda honour her friendship with China, yet keep faith with the

> moral principles that have brought so much respect?

>

> Uganda's people, rather than apes, offer a solution. China wants

> chimpanzees, but has little expertise about them. Uganda has much

> expertise, including not only field scientists but also vets skilled in

> ape care. Couldn't UWA ask Ugandan PhDs and DVMs to help?

>

> Uganda's national experts could contact zoos around the world with

> surplus chimpanzees, and facilitate a zoo-to-zoo transfer. They could

> help design a Chinese facility based on naturalistic principles, one

> that would respect the needs of the apes and thereby become the best

> chimpanzee sanctuary in China.

>

> Uganda has far more to offer than a trade in wildlife. Wouldn't Uganda

> gain more by parading her people's skills than by offering captive apes?

> This would be a move for the 21st century, to export expertise rather

> than animals. It would bring honour and admiration from around the world.

>

> Professor Richard Wrangham

> Department of Anthropology

> Harvard University

> Co-Chair, Great Ape World Heritage Species Project

January 31, 2004

Dear Betty et al,

Respectfully, I believe, when it's all said and done, everyone can/should

agree on one thing:

What is the best interest of the chimps themselves? Will going to China

enhance their lives? And what about chimps in other zoos who could benefit

by the Chinese's anxiousness to do right by chimps?

So far I haven't heard why or how the Ugandan chimps would benefit by going

to China, other than the generic " it will help conservation " argument. But

photos I've seen and stories I've heard of current conditions in most

Chinese zoos have me concerned for the animals currently incarcerated there.

I hope the Ugandans I know and respect so much will follow through on their

research and keep the chimps' best interests in the forefront. Conditions

and promises are only as good as the ability to follow up and hold people

responsible.

Sadly, I know of one silverback gorilla who went to an Asian zoo as a zoo

transfer, and despite sending experts to inspect and sign off on

state-of-the-art facilities and staff, and assurances from staff that all

was well (when this gorilla lost 10% of his body weight in one month, email

assurances claimed everything was under control ... he died a couple months

later, at the young age of 13 years), it ended in tragedy for the gorilla.

No one at the zoo acknowledges there were problems even now, years later.

I travel to Africa as often as I can, and during a trip to Cameroon, I was

talking to some school children, who found it odd that this " rich mzunga "

from America was sitting all day near the gorillas at a sanctuary there.

When I told them I thought THEY were the rich ones, not me, the kids laughed

and said " yes, but you have money and can build a sky scraper! " I replied,

" I can have all the money in the world, but I can't build a chimpanzee or a

drill or a gorilla - God gave YOU these wonderful creatures, and they're

only found in a tiny part of the entire world, so I must travel all this way

for the privilege and honor of learning about things in YOUR back yard. "

Again, if we keep the best interest of the chimps as the guiding light, then

it will follow that the best interest of the government and people of Uganda

will be protected as well, since the wildlife heritage you are blessed with,

is worth protecting.

Sincerely, Jane Dewar

-

" B. Kamya " <bkamya

" Jane T. R. Dewar " <jdewar; " primfocus "

<primfocus; " Asian Animal Protection " <aapn >;

<wildlife.justus; <Arthur.Mugisha;

<lrulacsec; <uwa; <dttiuganda; " Jessica

Ganas " <ganas; " Shirley McGreal IPPL new " <smcgreal;

" Linda (Monkey) Howard " <lindajhoward

Cc: " CESD A " <cesdewar; " Doug Cress PASA "

<ApeAction

Saturday, January 31, 2004 8:33 AM

Re: primfocus: Chimps to China

> Dear Jane,

>

> Thanks for your quick response, and as you rightly said, a lot of

> misinformation is going around and I think some people are DELIBERATELY

> promoting the misinformation and that is criminal.

>

> I am not the Govt spokeperson nor playing devil's advocate but the facts

> are that Uganda received a request from China, for two chimps, for

breeding

> purposes, to stock their new " tropical rainforest " as an education tool.

> The Govt of Uganda said in principle that is fine, as long as we do not

> violate any international conventions and as long as the welfare of the

> animals is not compromised. To that end, the Govt of Uganda set up a

> technical committee to advice on compliance and practicability. Before the

> committee even sat, the activists were up in arms. For your info, during

> their first sitting, the committee gave as conditions that the CITES

> administrator in Uganda provides a formal position as far as CITES is

> concerned, then an official from Uganda must first go to China to inspect

> the facility and then the Chinese zoo must formally undertake to do and

not

> to do all the dos and don'ts agreeable for the welfare of the animals. And

> that is where we are now.

>

> We all are committed conservationists and will do the right thing for

> conservation, the Chimps and Uganda.

>

> Hope to hear more from you all,

>

> beti

February 2, 2004

I have faith that this committee will do right by these chimps, and thus by the

people and country of Uganda. Uganda is a leader in African conservation and I'm

sure the variety of experts - both native and foreign - will find the right

answers. Good luck. Jane Dewar

-

blandina nshakira

Jane T. R. Dewar ; B. Kamya ; Linda (Monkey) Howard ; Shirley McGreal IPPL

new ; uwa ; lrulacsec ; Arthur.Mugisha ;

wildlife.justus ; Asian Animal Protection ; primfocus

Cc: damian.akankwasa ; Doug Cress PASA ; CESD A

Monday, February 02, 2004 5:08 AM

Re: primfocus: Chimps to China

Dear All,

The Ugandan government has set up a Technical Committee to to study the

request from China and advise on the best modalities for granting the request.

The Committe has hardly started its work!!. At the end of the day, the

interests of Uganda and its people should be the guiding principle to the

decision making process.

Let us give the Committee a chance to study the request, evaluate the

conditions into which the chimps are to be translocated and come up with

recommendations on the wayforward, in the best interest of Ugandans, first, and

the international community as a whole.

Blandina Nshakira

DIRECTOR FOR TOURISM, TRADE & INDUSTRY

UGANDA.

" Jane T. R. Dewar " <jdewar wrote: