Sumatran Orang Utan in Johor Zoo

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Tuesday November 21, 2006

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Repatriation held up

 

AFTER repatriating six Sumatran orang utans last year, Malaysia has kept

silent about plans for the remaining one held by Johor Zoo and the number of

Bornean orang utans found to be illegally acquired.

 

Nature Alert director Sean Whyte claimed that the Department of Wildlife and

National Park (Perhilitan) confirmed the presence of seven Bornean orang

utans of the Central Kalimantan subspecies and that they would be returned

to Indonesia.

 

However, Indonesian authorities said Perhilitan, in an official letter,

stated that only one Sumatran and four Bornean orang utans would form the

next batch earmarked for repatriation.

 

" We have replied to that letter but until now there is no progress. We do

not know whether the Cites-Grasp technical mission report that highlighted

the overcrowded state of rescue centres in Borneo has affected this planned

repatriation.

 

" We are now focusing on the repatriation of orang utans from Thailand that

has already been delayed several times, " says Herry Djoko Susilo of theate-General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation.

 

The scheduled repatriation of 41 orang utans from Thailand was aborted

following the peaceful military coup in September. Latest information

suggests that the repatriation will be take place this week.

 

It is learnt that the sole Sumatran orang utan has been delivered to Malacca

Zoo, a Perhilitan facility, last month, in preparation for its repatriation.

However, there are no signs of the Bornean orang utans.

 

Repeated attempts to obtain information from Perhilitan, the Forestry

Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Johor

Government yielded nothing.

 

It is understood that Johor Zoo has demanded a replacement as a condition to

give up the Sumatran orang utan in its possession, which was discovered to

be illegally acquired during a Perhilitan investigation last year.

 

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