(MY) animal exhibits

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New rules on animal exhibits next year New Straits Times

24 Dec 2006

 

 

KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no more using wildlife as window dressing

or for entertainment next year when amendments to the Protection of

Wildlife Act become law.

 

For the first time, a specific clause is being introduced to regulate

establishments that exhibit wildlife.

 

Another clause to punish those who parade and keep them in a cruel

manner will also be introduced, said Datuk Sazmi Miah, Natural

Resources and Environment Ministry parliamentary secretary.

 

" Taking care of wildlife isn't just the government's job. We want

everyone to be responsible. This includes people with an interest in

wildlife, like exhibitors. "

 

Sazmi said that in the past, the Wildlife department has had to deal

with many animal exhibition centres that paraded wildlife under the

pretext of raising awareness.

 

" But when we check, we find that it's for pure entertainment.

 

" Sometimes, there's no element of education at all, for instance when

animals are made to perform tricks for visitor's amusement.

 

" If an elephant is made to walk on its two hind legs or do some other

acrobatics, how does anyone learn anything from that? "

 

Sazmi said the law will regulate the manner in which such animals are

exhibited and make regular veterinary checks a must.

 

The law also covers issues of display, disease control, transportation

and feeding of the animals.

 

The amended Act is expected to be tabled in Parliament in March next

year, he said.

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Exhibitor let off with warning, fine

24 Dec 2006

 

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Amazing Ten Sdn Bhd will be issued a compound notice for

keeping protected wildlife without a licence.

 

Wildlife and National Parks Department law and enforcement director

Misliah Mohamad Basir said the exhibitor had at least 19 protected

animals at its centre in Genting Highlands.

 

The company that runs the Amazing Ten Animal Kingdom wasn't able to

prove that it could legally keep them.

 

These included water monitor lizards and reticulated pythons listed in

the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972.

 

Enforcement officers who paid a surprise visit to the centre also

found that at least 29 of the animals on display were on Appendix II

of the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species of

Wild Fauna and Flora.

 

This is a list of animals and plants that could become endangered if

trade in them is not controlled or monitored.

 

The company was found to have contravened Section 68 of the Act and

could face a maximum fine of RM3,000 or a three-year jail term if

found guilty by a court.

 

However, the department is letting it off with a warning and a maximum

fine of RM1,500 allowed under the same law.

 

The department is also checking on suppliers who sold the animals to the centre.

 

They could face action if the CITES-listed species were brought into

the country without permits.

 

It has warned the company not to go ahead with plans to display

totally protected wildlife like the slow loris and the komodo dragon.

 

It was also cautioned about its treatment of the animals.

 

Operations manager Loh Kong Hooi said they were in the midst of

rectifying the licensing problems, and it would be in order within two

days.

 

We are doing everything that the department has asked us to do and we

will ask them to visit us again to make sure we are doing things

right.

 

" We are open to advice from experts. We want them to tell us if we are

not treating the animals well. "

 

Loh said the lights in the enclosure of nocturnal animals had been

turned down low and the snake in a glass box embedded in the walkway

had been moved.