The Taiping Four

[Guest guest]

I'll believe this story when the animals are moved! Shirley

 

" Taiping Four " gorillas to return to Cameroon

Mon 4 Sep 2006 9:41 AM ET

By Ed Stoddard

 

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 4 (Reuters) - South Africa's National Zoo said on

Monday that four gorillas in its care would be returned to Cameroon,

ending a long running dispute that had captured the attention of

animal welfare activists.

 

The final decision to send the apes to Cameroon was made by the

government of Malaysia under a complex diplomatic arrangement which

gave it ultimate authority over the animals.

 

" The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa was recently

informed by the Government of Malaysia of its decision to relocate

the four infant gorillas ... to the Limbe Animal Orphanage in the

Cameroon, " the zoo said.

 

" The four infant gorillas have adapted exceptionally well to their

new home at the National Zoo. The gorillas became a favorite with the

millions of visitors, who will sadly miss them, " it said.

 

Cameroon had repeatedly called on South Africa to return the animals

dubbed the " Taiping Four " , named after the Malaysian zoo where they

appeared after being smuggled out of Cameroon via Nigeria.

 

Amid the outcry, Malaysia agreed to send the lowland gorillas back to

their home continent but not their homeland. They arrived in South

Africa in 2004.

 

It was not clear why the Malaysian government switched tack and

finally decided to send the apes back to Cameroon where their numbers

are dwindling in the wild. Animal welfare groups had been pushing to

have the primates returned home.

 

" Malaysia, as the confiscating authority, has the jurisidiction in

this regard. They had initially okayed South Africa and I have no

idea why they changed their mind, " Willie Labuschagne, the executive

director of South Africa's National Zoo, told Reuters.

 

Green groups welcomed the decision but it was not clear when the

animals would be flown to Cameroon or who would pay for the transfer

arrangements. The National Zoo said it was not paying.

 

" We're delighted, we have been wanting these animals to go back for a

long time. The decision sets the correct precedent where the country

of origin requests the animals and gets them back, " said Jason

Bell-Leask, southern Africa director for the International Fund for

Animal Welfare.