Great letter opposing re-opening of Malaysia's monkey trade

[Guest guest]

2007/09/04-New Straits Times

Macaques: Can't we be more caring?

By : SHOBA MANO for The Remembering Sheena Campaign,

Subang Jaya

 

Are macaques being punished for trying to coexist with humans?

 

ON Aug 17, the government lifted the ban on the export of long-tailed

macaques, calling them an " urban nuisance " .

 

Are they being punished for trying to coexist with humans in what was

once their habitat, which humans invaded?

 

In doing so, these monkeys may have disturbed a VIP's golf game,

broken antennas from SUVs or messed up the designer kitchen of

someone's country home.

 

So now, they are branded as " urban monkeys " and allowed to be hunted.

 

Even the species protected under the Wildlife Act are not protected as

can be seen by the poaching of tigers, orang utans and pangolins.

In the Tumpat tiger case in October 2005, the culprit was fined

RM7,000 with no jail sentence.

 

The tiger carcass can fetch more than three times as much on the market.

 

Time and time again, people read about courts refusing to give jail

terms for poachers.

 

We notice that these poachers arrested seem to be lorry drivers,

kampung stall owners or middle men and never the masterminds.

In India, movie star Salman Khan was arrested and sent to prison for

five years for violation of animal protection laws.

 

In the US, Michael Vick, an American football player, is also looking

at a prison sentence for abusing dogs.

 

Yet, in Malaysia, it is unheard of for such big names to be arrested,

let alone given jail terms.

 

We also notice that no action is taken by Perhilitan (Department of

 

Wildlife and National Parks) against resorts that advertise their star

attractions of endangered species.

 

Now we hear from Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri

Azmi Khalid that monkeys will be exported.

 

His excuse? Sterilisation to curb the monkey population is not working

and so his ministry has no choice but to do this.

 

What about culling? Perhaps that will deprive the ministry of revenue

to be gained from sending the monkeys to a slow death.

 

These monkeys are going to be exported to Hong Kong, South Korea,

Taiwan and Japan where they will end up in cooking pots, be tortured

in laboratories or exploited in other ways.

 

Malaysia's treatment of its animals is unconscionable.

 

The least the government can do is cull the animals instead of aiding

and abetting their torture and slow death.

 

Independent rescuers of animals and wildlife seem to be doing a better

job than Perhilitan at protecting animals even with limited funds and

resources.

 

 

Dr. Shirley McGreal, Founder

International Primate Protection League

PO Box 766

Summerville, SC 29484, USA

Phone - 843-871-2280, Fax- 843-871-7988

 

E-mail - smcgreal, Web: www.ippl.org

Working to Protect All Primates Since 1973

 

One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly

making exciting discoveries. ~ AA Milne