Guest guest Posted May 22, 2006 Report Share Posted May 22, 2006 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 Maria Nika, Greece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Dear Maria, thank you for telling us about Charlie - a sad story... If I can 't help in any other way, I can at least give you a tip on which sanctuary to move him to when he is freed; Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage in Zambia ( www.chimfunshi.org.za ). They may have a place for Charlie. Right now, efforts are made to have another mistreated chimpanzee - Ola from Sweden - moved to Chimfunshi from his dreadful life in Safari World Zoo in Bangkok, Thailand. It seems like most struggles for having exotic animals freed from bad owners are in vain - at least it 's very hard to succeed. Tell me if I, as a private person, can to anything further to help Charlie. /Liselotte Holmbom, Sweden (former sponsor of Chimfunshi chimpanzees). >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........................... >...............................................................................\ ............................................ >Only days before Charlie was to be confiscated he >disappeared................... >...............................................................................\ ............................................ >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 >Maria Nika, >Greece > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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