(MY) export of our macaques

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Allowing export of macaques a callous act-Malaysiakini

SM Mohd Idris

Apr 9, 07 4:05pm Adjust font size:

 

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) refers to a statement by the Ministry of

Natural Resources and the Environment Parliamentary Secretary Sazmi

Miah regarding the export of our long-tailed macaques overseas either

for their exotic meat or as pets.

 

The decision to export our long-tailed macaques looks like a betrayal

by the very people who are entrusted to safeguard our nation's

wildlife.

 

In arriving at this decision, the parliamentary secretary shows no

concerns for NGOs and wildlife groups who are trying hard to change

the mindset of the public.

 

By its very action, it is conveying the message that it is alright to

eat wildlife thus undermining efforts by wildlife organisations to

change the public's mindset. This shows the reluctance of the

department to withdraw licences of those found selling exotic meat.

 

We recall that in May 2006, the ministry invited NGOs, scientific

personnel and wildlife groups for a dialogue session pertaining to the

management plan for long-tailed macaques. Much time and effort was

taken to come out with proposals and after a lengthy discussion,

points were noted for better management of monkeys.

 

However, all these will come to naught with the ministry hell-bent on

exporting the monkeys. It prefers an easy solution, without any or no

intention of taking up any of the proposals submitted by NGOs and

other groups.

 

It looks as though the ministry has no qualms about the horrific

suffering the monkeys will undergo at the hands of exotic food-lovers

in Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong who relish eating monkey brains.

One can just imagine the agony our macaques will be subjected to when

their brains are exposed, seasoned with brandy and eaten with the

monkeys still alive, tied under a table.

 

Then again, to export our monkeys for keeping as pets shows how

shallow-minded and ignorant the ministry is. The keeping of wildlife

as pets has never been encouraged in the first place because wildlife

can become unmanageable when fully grown. They will only end up in

chains or caged for life or abandoned which is totally cruel.

 

Why then is the ministry subjecting our long-tailed macaques to untold

suffering and horrendous deaths at the hands of pet owners and exotic

meet lovers?

 

The writer is president, Sahabat Alam Malaysia.