Guest guest Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 CHINA-BOUND KOALAS CAUSE A STIR A Current Affair, Channel 9 18 April - Six koalas from the Gold Coast's Currumbin Bird Sanctuary are being sent to a safari park in southern China - the same safari park that has been advertising boxing kangaroos as an attraction. Michelle Monsour is the sanctuary's CEO and she says part of the deal to send koalas there was that the boxing kangaroo act be stopped. " It's a wonderful facility. I have inspected it myself. I visited there some two weeks ago for the final inspection and it's just really nice to a Chinese zoo leading the way, " Monsour says. But Sue Arnold from Australians for Animals is outraged, saying the zoo isn't fit for Australian koalas. " There's an organisation in Hong Kong called Animal Asia that has regularly inspected this park, " Arnold says. " They have a photography area where animals are forced to sit still or tortured to act so people can get photographs and because koalas are so popular in terms of having photos with people we believe the koalas may be used for photos. " A Current Affair has previously reported on the appalling conditions in some Chinese zoos - there are no laws to protect animals in China. However, Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell has approved the koala transfer. This is despite the concerns of the Queensland Environment Minister Desley Boyle. While in Australia there has, up till now, been no publicity about the koalas going overseas, in China newspapers are saying the koalas will arrive by the end of the month. What the Chinese papers haven't reported is that the zoo, which will be home to the marsupials, is giving $650,000 to the Currumbin sanctuary as part of the deal. Monsour denies the koalas are being sold. " We are receiving a donation to support conservation and research in Australia, " she says. Arnold disagrees. " They are being sold for money and let's call it what it is. It's a commercial operation between two zoos and it's outrageous, " she says. http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/stories/2081.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 Just to let you know that the Koalas have now arrived in China and are in quarantine. Their " exhibit " will open at the end of June. Please see: http://www.aapn.org/zoopage2.html#Panyu John. - " lynette shanley " <lynetteshanley " AAPN List " <aapn > Friday, April 28, 2006 5:01 AM Koalas to china > CHINA-BOUND KOALAS CAUSE A STIR > A Current Affair, Channel 9 > > 18 April - Six koalas from the Gold Coast's Currumbin Bird Sanctuary > are being sent to a safari park in southern China - the same safari > park that has been advertising boxing kangaroos as an attraction. > > Michelle Monsour is the sanctuary's CEO and she says part of the deal > to send koalas there was that the boxing kangaroo act be stopped. > > " It's a wonderful facility. I have inspected it myself. I visited > there some two weeks ago for the final inspection and it's just really > nice to a Chinese zoo leading the way, " Monsour says. > > But Sue Arnold from Australians for Animals is outraged, saying the > zoo isn't fit for Australian koalas. > > " There's an organisation in Hong Kong called Animal Asia that has > regularly inspected this park, " Arnold says. > > " They have a photography area where animals are forced to sit still or > tortured to act so people can get photographs and because koalas are > so popular in terms of having photos with people we believe the koalas > may be used for photos. " > > A Current Affair has previously reported on the appalling conditions > in some Chinese zoos - there are no laws to protect animals in China. > > However, Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell has approved the > koala transfer. This is despite the concerns of the Queensland > Environment Minister Desley Boyle. > > While in Australia there has, up till now, been no publicity about the > koalas going overseas, in China newspapers are saying the koalas will > arrive by the end of the month. > > What the Chinese papers haven't reported is that the zoo, which will > be home to the marsupials, is giving $650,000 to the Currumbin > sanctuary as part of the deal. > > Monsour denies the koalas are being sold. > > " We are receiving a donation to support conservation and research in > Australia, " she says. > > Arnold disagrees. > > " They are being sold for money and let's call it what it is. It's a > commercial operation between two zoos and it's outrageous, " she says. > > http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/stories/2081.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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