ORANG UTANS SHOW

[Guest guest]

FROM MALAYSIAKINI

 

Fauwaz Abdul Aziz

 

May 21, 05 10:43am

 

An expert on Sumatran orangutans has confirmed that the pictures he saw of

orangutans performing in a show in Kuala Lumpur were those of the endangered

Sumatran variety.

 

Dr Ian Singleton, scientific director of the Switzerland-based Sumatran

Orangutan Conservation Programme said photographs taken of orangutans during

last month’s show revealed that at least two were of the protected species.

 

“I saw photographs of four orangutans at the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park (where

the show was held). At least two of them are definitely Sumatran orangutans.

I also strongly suspect that the other two are (Sumatran) as well,” he said

in an email interview.

 

Sumatran orangutans (pongo pygmaeus abelii) have been recognised as

‘critically endangered’ under the 1973 Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species (CITES). Commercial trade in these animals is prohibited.

 

Physical differences

 

Singleton also said he was able to distinguish Sumatran orangutans in the

photographs from the Bornean variety, which are not in the same “critically

endangered” category, by the colour of their hair, build and the rings

around their eyes.

 

“The ones that are clearly Sumatrans have ‘orangey’ or golden hair, slender

build, yellowy golden beards (albeit short as they are young animals) and

virtually no remaining pink eye rings around the eyes,” said Singleton, who

is currently based in Medan, Indonesia.

 

“The Sumatrans are slimmer and more 'delicate' than the robust Borneans,” he

said further.

 

Last week, malaysiakini reported allegations that the Malacca-based A’Famosa

resort was in possession of about eight Sumatran orangutans, some of which

had recently been used in animal shows at the Bird Park

 

Wildlife Department’s law and enforcement director Misliah Mohd Basir

questioned these allegations and said DNA tests had to be conducted on the

orangutans to determine whether or not they are of the Sumatran species or

Bornean.

 

She said the department could not act on claims that the orangutans are of

Sumatran origin based merely on such physical characteristics as the colour

of their hair.

 

“The characteristics tend to change according to the natural conditions and

diet. We have to confirm the species through DNA testing,” she added.

 

Misliah did not disclose, however, when the tests could be conducted but

alluded to the significant work involved in establishing a DNA profiling

system as there was currently no such system in Malaysia or neighboring

countries.

 

Hybrid animals

 

Commenting on this, Singleton said specialists would be able to distinguish

between Sumatran and Bornean orangutans, but did not rule out DNA sampling

as a way to confirm their judgement and convince the authorities.

 

“For people who are used to distinguishing between the two it is normally

very easy. To anyone who is used to working with orangutans the physical

differences are more than enough for us to know that at least these two are

definitely Sumatrans,” he added.

 

“However, if we want to convince the authorities in Malaysia and Indonesia

of this then the DNA profiling is a sensible action,” he added.

 

He expressed doubts, however, about the possibility that the orangutans

featured in the photographs were hybrids.

 

“I think it very unlikely that these are hybrid animals. If they were, they

would have to have been born in captivity, in an institution that keeps both

species together,” he said.

 

A’Famosa has not responded to numerous calls for comments on the matter.

 

 

 

FROM MALAYSIAKINI

 

Orangutan shows at KL Bird Park called off

 

Fauwaz Abdul Aziz

 

May 28, 05 2:38pm

 

The Kuala Lumpur Bird Park had cancelled its shows featuring orangutans soon

after a member of the public complained that the organisers were allegedly

using Sumatran orangutans, an endangered species, for entertainment and

commercial purposes.

 

A source said that no other shows featuring orangutans were held following

the last one on April 9 this year. Previously, the show was held twice daily

every weekend and three times during public holidays for about three years.

 

According to the source who had seen the April 9 show, it was cancelled and

taken off the programme after its organisers got wind of the complaints.

 

Sumatran orangutans (pongo pygmaeus abelii) are recognised as a ‘critically

endangered’ species under the 1973 Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species (CITES). Commercial trade in these animals is prohibited.

 

At the opening of the last show, according to the source, the master of

ceremonies had allegedly even introduced the orangutans as an “endangered

species” and are “found only in Sumatra.”

 

When contacted, Bird Park officials confirmed that it had not featured any

orangutans in its shows since mid-April.

 

One spokesperson, when pressed for the reasons, would only say that " we are

not in possession of any orangutans anymore.

" If you want to find out about orangutans, you have to ask the National

Zoo, " she said.

'Definitely Sumatran'

 

Wildlife Department’s law and enforcement director Misliah Mohd Basir has

cast doubts that the orangutans were of the endangered Sumatran variety, and

insisted that only DNA samples from the orangutans can confirm their

identity.

 

However, Dr Ian Singleton, scientific director of the Switzerland-based

Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme, has confirmed that the orangutans

captured on photographs while performing at the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park are

“definitely Sumatran.”

 

“For people who are used to distinguishing between the two, it is normally

very easy. To anyone who is used to working with orangutans, the physical

differences are more than enough for us to know that at least these two are

definitely Sumatrans,” said Singleton.

 

“However, if we want to convince the authorities in Malaysia and Indonesia

of this then the DNA profiling is a sensible action,” he added.

 

The orangutans are currently held in the Malacca-based A’Famosa Resort.

A’Famosa has not returned repeated calls for comments on the matter.

 

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