Orang Utan locked up in small cage in solitary confinement in the Melaka Zoo?

I received this photos of an Orang Utan, Malaysia's endangered primate, locked up in a tiny cage in solitary confinement, through email and i feel it is worth sharing.

According to the sender of the email, this happens at the Malacca or Melaka Zoo.












The email said :

Investigators returning to Melaka Zoo (Malaysia) this week found orangutans abandoned in tiny cages with no enrichment and no company. Not unlike conditions seen on previous visits.

Malaysia’s only great ape, a protected species deserving of an iconic status in Malaysia, treated like rats.

Shiva Lucian from Nature Alert said, “I felt like crying when I saw these orangutans caged like this. I ask myself, why is it my country allows such cruelty to continue? If anything, things have got worse at this zoo since our last report to Perhilitan.

What we see here is cruelty, against our law and it must be punished.”

Melaka Zoo is no stranger to criticism. Nature Alert has filed several reports to Perhilitan, all ignored, which is why this abject cruelty continues.?

Besides orangutans, the zoo has been sharply criticised by others for the extremely cramped conditions in its quarantine area. Animals are brought into this centre from closed down zoos, never again to be seen. Where are these animals now? What happened to all those tigers from Saleng Zoo?

Sean Whyte, CEO Nature Alert said, ‘The Melaka Zoo management must be prosecuted for this cruelty. It’s no use Perhilitan sitting in their cosy air-conditioned offices with their eyes wide shut. They are paid to enforce the law, but as we know, they only do so when stung into action by public criticism. What’s the point of the new law if they won’t enforce it.

In the summer of this year Melaka Zoo were given four orangutans taken from the A’Famosa Resort where they had been very badly treated for 12 months. Is there no zoo in Malaysia capable of caring properly for orangutans? It seems not. In neighbouring Singapore, where orangutans are not native, the Singapore Zoo treats this majestic species like royalty, so why won’t Malaysia do the same?


The email also provided a You Tube link apparently showing an Orang Utan in a tiny cage, always locked up.


MY SAY

Actually there is a world class Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre in Malaysia, located in Sepilok near Sandakan, Sabah, East Malaysia.

This centre is world famous.

If Melaka Zoo cannot handle the Orang Utans there, then why not send those endangered primates to Sepilok in Sabah?

Zoo raid shocks visitors in Kulaijaya, Johor

News source : The Star Online 22nd June 2011







Incidents of a Zoo being raided by the authority is a rare occurance in Malaysia.

In Kulaijaya, Johor, tourists visiting the Saleng Zoo were shocked to find officers from the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) raiding the premises.

20th June 2011 or Monday's operation marked the second day of the department's seizure of the animals which is expected to last a week.

Johor Perhilitan director Saharudin Anan said the operation, had been smooth.

“We have a veterinarian here at all times, who will tend to the animals and even accompany them during transport to their designated rescue centres in Malacca Zoo and Paya Indah Wetlands,” he said.

He added that animals seized yesterday included tigers, snakes, crocodiles, ostriches, wild boars and porcupines.

Saleng Zoo owner Chai Sit Yee said he had not received a reply to his appeal against the department's decision not to renew its operating permit.

“It is not that we are not willing to make improvements as suggested by the department such as expanding the animal enclosures and hiring more vets and staff.

“We just need a bit more time,” he said.

Senai assemblyman Ong Kow Meng, who visited the zoo yesterday, described the department's actions as “gross abuse of power”, adding that it was not proven that the zoo had violated the Wildlife Conservation Act.

Ong said he would help the zoo owners appeal and return the animals back to Saleng Zoo.

The Saleng Zoo has been operating since 1996 and, according to zookeeper J. Sivapriyan, hosts more than 2000 animals of 60 different species.

Singaporean businessman Terrence Wong, 45, who was with his family, said he had been to the zoo before.

“I thought that it looked quite well-maintained,” he said, adding that the animals appeared to be active and healthy although their enclosures were slightly small.

Indonesian Ronny Lie, 30, said he and his family had been looking forward to visiting the zoo as it was more convenient than travelling to the Malacca Zoo.

Frequent visitor Monaliza Mat Tahir, 33, said she was saddened by the officers' actions as she often came to feed the animals.

“I am very attached to the animals,” she said, adding that she hoped the authorities would reconsider their decision.

Another visitor V.S. Kumar, 56, questioned if the department could ensure that the animals would be well-treated during their transportation.

“What if the animals get hurt or die on the journey? Who will be responsible then?” he asked.

Bless the animals...