(SG) making a difference

[Guest guest]

Tuesday October 3, 2006-The Star

 

Making a difference

 

WHEN Louis Ng volunteered his time to work with animals at Singapore Zoo in

1999, little did he know that it would change his life.

 

The stint exposed him to the training of African great apes for photo

sessions with zoo visitors. The chimps were separated from the family

group.

 

" The plight of Ramba, a young female, affected me tremendously. When I found

her lips bleeding during training, I could no longer sit back and let it

happen, " recalls Ng.

 

He wrote to several animal welfare organisations and got a reply from the

International Primate Protection League (IPPL) which provided him with some

funds to run an exhibition in Singapore to create awareness on the plight of

apes.

 

It took about two years of campaigning before Singapore Zoo ended the use of

chimpanzees in photography sessions.

 

" In 2001, the zoo released Ramba, who had spent years away from her mother,

back in the main enclosure area. I saw them affectionately grooming each

other. They still recognised each other after all those years apart and I

was very touched.

 

" I felt I had made a difference in the life of a sentient being and that if

I continued to put my heart and soul into it, I could help more animals. "

 

The success of the first campaign strengthened Ng's resolve to spend the

rest of his life helping animals. He went on to form the Animal Concerns

Research and Education Society (Acres) with nine other Singaporeans.

 

" My first step towards becoming an advocate for animals was when I saw a

programme on turtles being slaughtered for food. I gave up turtle soup and

over the following years, eliminated all animals from my meals, " says the

vegetarian.

 

The executive director of Acres reveals that he was inspired by the work of

Dian Fossey with mountain gorillas when, at 14, he watched the film *Gorilla

in the Mist*. This led to his choice of a biology degree at the National

University of Singapore and then a Masters degree in primate conservation.

 

" My parents were concerned that I would not have a bright future in the

field of animal welfare. I convinced them that this was what I really wanted

to do with my life and today, while they still have concerns with my salary,

they are supportive of what I'm doing, " adds the 28-year-old.

 

Ng's interest in ending the plight of less prestigious primate species has

resulted in the repatriation of a vervet monkey to the African continent and

a rhesus macaque to India. *– By H.C.*

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

See Louis Ng in person when you attend

Asia for Animals 2007 at Chennai.

Visit www.asiaforanimals.org and register online.

 

Louis speaks on his wonderful work. Other speakers

include Jill Robinson; Maneka Gandhi; Valmik Thapar;

Alan Knight; Jotce D'Silva; and others.

 

Best wishes.

 

S. Chinny Krishna

 

 

yitzeling [yitzeling]

Tuesday, October 03, 2006 12:12 PM

aapn ; animal_net

(SG) making a difference

 

 

Tuesday October 3, 2006-The Star

 

Making a difference

 

WHEN Louis Ng volunteered his time to work with animals at Singapore Zoo in

1999, little did he know that it would change his life.

 

The stint exposed him to the training of African great apes for photo

sessions with zoo visitors. The chimps were separated from the family

group.

 

" The plight of Ramba, a young female, affected me tremendously. When I found

her lips bleeding during training, I could no longer sit back and let it

happen, " recalls Ng.

 

He wrote to several animal welfare organisations and got a reply from the

International Primate Protection League (IPPL) which provided him with some

funds to run an exhibition in Singapore to create awareness on the plight of

apes.

 

It took about two years of campaigning before Singapore Zoo ended the use of

chimpanzees in photography sessions.

 

" In 2001, the zoo released Ramba, who had spent years away from her mother,

back in the main enclosure area. I saw them affectionately grooming each

other. They still recognised each other after all those years apart and I

was very touched.

 

" I felt I had made a difference in the life of a sentient being and that if

I continued to put my heart and soul into it, I could help more animals. "

 

The success of the first campaign strengthened Ng's resolve to spend the

rest of his life helping animals. He went on to form the Animal Concerns

Research and Education Society (Acres) with nine other Singaporeans.

 

" My first step towards becoming an advocate for animals was when I saw a

programme on turtles being slaughtered for food. I gave up turtle soup and

over the following years, eliminated all animals from my meals, " says the

vegetarian.

 

The executive director of Acres reveals that he was inspired by the work of

Dian Fossey with mountain gorillas when, at 14, he watched the film *Gorilla

in the Mist*. This led to his choice of a biology degree at the National

University of Singapore and then a Masters degree in primate conservation.

 

" My parents were concerned that I would not have a bright future in the

field of animal welfare. I convinced them that this was what I really wanted

to do with my life and today, while they still have concerns with my salary,

they are supportive of what I'm doing, " adds the 28-year-old.

 

Ng's interest in ending the plight of less prestigious primate species has

resulted in the repatriation of a vervet monkey to the African continent and

a rhesus macaque to India. *– By H.C.*