Chimp in Lebanon-smuggling of chimps around the Middle East

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Forwarded message:

Mary <moonflower.uk

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 1:01 PM

chimp in Lebanon

 

If you have a minute please contact these politicians about the smuggling of

chimps around the Middle East. The problem is rife in Lebanon and although

illegal nothing is being done to uphold the law - due to 'people in high

places' having a finger in the pie.

 

Jason has been trying to get three chinps relocated to a sanctuary -

strangly the chimps are now missing following tip-offs to the smugglers.

 

Pressure needs to be put on - making the official aware that the outside

world is watching!

 

Please send letters to the contacts and pass this on to anyone who could

forawrd it further to like-minded folk!!

 

Thanks

 

<>

 

Dear Sue,

 

Below is a letter which was sent around regarding the chimpanzee in Lebanon,

if you could forward it around to your contacts and cross post wherever

possible. Strangely I have had the easiest time getting support from the

relevant international NGOs but am having a hard time getting much support

from the general public. I am getting more media exposure - so far in

Animal People and the Daily Star as well as a few websites, and this week an

article will be printed in the main Lebanese French newspaper L'Orient De

Jour and also the main Arabic paper, and yesterday I received an email from

a reporter of Bahrain's Gulf Daily News which wants to write the story. I

will go back once more in June and then will have a television piece and in

some magazine called VIP which is all the rich and socialite. I have to

hope that makes some sort of a change, but knowing how stupid the world is

maybe more people will just want to own chimpanzees.

 

Jason

_____

 

A young chimpanzee has been smuggled into Lebanon and is now languishing at

the Animal City Zoo. Despite a commitment by the Ministry of Agriculture

and the Internal Security forces to confiscate the chimpanzee, he is still

on display at the zoo - the owner apparently above the law.

 

Please take the time to write to the various Ministers

y.r.sarraf, ministry, mot,

kamman and urge them to take appropriate action, a

sample letter is below. All letters will be compiled into the existing

report and presented to all three Ministers in June.

 

Thank you,

Jason Mier

 

To:

Minister of Environment

Mr. Yacoub Riad Sarraf

 

Minister of Agriculture

Mr. Talal Al Sahili

 

Minister of Tourism

Mr. Joseph Sarkis

 

Dear Ministers

 

We're calling for your urgent help to save Charlie and to give him the life

he needs. Charlie, a young chimpanzee smuggled into Lebanon, then bought for

$4,000 from the 'Middle East Pet Shop' owned by Nagib Abou Rjeili in early

2005, has languished at the Animal City zoo in Beirut ever since.

 

On 17 January the Ministry of Agriculture investigated how Charlie came into

the country, and was determined to have been smuggled in. The Ministry

ordered for a confiscation, which was then approved by the Mayor of Mont

Lebanon, the head of the police for the area, and the local police

department which was to carry out the confiscations, and CITES export

permits were issued.

 

Only days before Charlie was to be confiscated he disappeared, likely due to

a tip-off by someone knowing about the confiscation, though only being

discovered when the confiscation was to take place. While the owner was not

on the premises at the time, public relations officer Josianne Feghali

stated on camera that 'two men came in a truck a few days ago to take him to

a vet', though she could not say who took him or where this vet was. She did

say that if she knew where Charlie was she would hand him over as the zoo

'wanted the best for him'. Josianne also stated to police that she was

calling the owner and that they would hand over Charlie 'in fifteen minutes'

but the only person to show up was the lawyer for the zoo and the

confiscation was finished - failed.

 

Charlie is now back on display, kept in a cramped cage with no adequate

care, enrichment or companionship.

 

How much longer must Charlie suffer - only to earn his owner a few extra

dollars?

 

Please make sure that Charlie goes to an approved sanctuary as soon as

possible.

 

We're looking forward to your positive reply.

 

Kind regards

 

Name, Country, Email