The future of the "Taiping Four" gorillas

April 2003

Malaysia announced in October 2002 that it would confiscate four gorillas illegally exported from Nigeria to Malaysia’s Taiping Zoo in January 2002. Malaysia contends, however, that its officials and the Taiping Zoo director were duped by officials at Nigeria’s Ibadan Zoo into believing that the animals were born in captivity.

Gorillas are a big draw for zoo-goers, probably second only to pandas. People love to watch these magnificent animals and buy gorilla T-shirts, baseball caps, coffee mugs, and assorted paraphernalia.

This is probably why several zoos contacted the Malaysian Government to express their interest in obtaining the "Taiping Four." Pretoria, a zoo in South Africa, was one of those zoos. Pretoria currently has only one gorilla. Another South African zoo, Johannesburg, has two gorillas.

The World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA) predictably supported the zoo option for the gorillas. WAZA is led by Peter Dollinger, who represented Switzerland at CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) meetings for over two decades. During that time, wildlife protection groups viewed Switzerland as a negative force on the treaty.

Dollinger explained:
WAZA has offered, already in June to find a suitable place for the gorillas in case the Malaysian MA [CITES Management Authority] wishes to send them to a zoo. We have identified the National Zoo of South Africa as the most suitable option. The National Zoo has submitted a documentation to the Malaysian authorities, and WAZA has expressed its support of Pretoria’s offer.

On the other hand, IPPL and many other conservation groups believe that the "Taiping Four" should go to a sanctuary in a gorilla habitat country, preferably Limbe in Cameroon. Limbe has a wonderful social group of eight gorillas. Limbe also has a skilled and knowledgeable care staff, as well as a vigorous education program. All the Limbe gorillas arrived as youngsters after being rescued from trade. Jane Goodall has expressed strong support for the Limbe option.

In March 2003, John Sellar, Senior Enforcement Officer of the CITES Secretariat, informed IPPL that the Malaysian Government had decided to send the gorillas to South Africa:

The Secretariat understands that a decision had recently been taken by the authorities in Malaysia that the gorillas should go to a suitable facility where they can be housed in appropriate conditions and contribute to conservation of the species and that discussions are underway with a zoo in South Africa to enable this to take place. The Secretariat is of the opinion that the discussion to dispose of the animals in this manner complies with the guidance that the Conference of the Parties has issued on this subject. The Secretariat has already made clear to Malaysia that it thinks it would not be appropriate for Taiping Zoo to benefit now or in the future from trade that was conducted contrary to the Convention [Sellar is referring to reports that the recipient zoo would be required to send any offspring born in South Africa to the "Taiping Four" to Taiping Zoo].

The Secretariat is aware that an alternative facility in Africa [Limbe] was identified as a possible recipient for the gorillas confiscated in Malaysia and it made the authorities aware of this. It is also aware, however, that this facility is soon to receive gorillas that have recently been seized by the authorities in Nigeria. It presumes that this may have been a fact that Malaysia took into account in reaching a decision regarding the disposal of the animals.

The two gorillas to whom Sellar refers are six-years-olds named Brighter and Twiggy. In December 2002, they were confiscated from a Lebanese businessman living in Kano, Nigeria, and are now scheduled to go to Limbe. IPPL does not view the fact that these gorillas are going to Limbe are a valid reason to send the "Taiping Four" to a zoo.

IPPL, the Pan African Sanctuary Association, and many wildlife protection groups believe that the gorillas should go to Limbe, because:

• The gorillas had been shipped on South African Airways from Lagos, Nigeria, via Johannesburg, to Malaysia. South African authorities had issued veterinary import/re-export permits for the animals; hence South Africa as a nation had participated in the smuggling incident, although neither Pretoria nor Johannesburg Zoo was involved.
• The young gorillas were certainly caught in the wild in Cameroon.
• The Governments of Nigeria and Cameroon have officially requested that the Malaysian Minister of the Environment return the gorillas to a sanctuary in Africa.
• At Limbe, the gorillas could live in an existing group and have a hope of eventual return to the wild.
• A third zoo should not be allowed to profit from the wrongdoing of two other zoos.

Letters Needed Please send a courteous letter thanking the Government of Malaysia for its plans to confiscate the four gorillas illegally exported from Nigeria to Taiping Zoo and requesting that the four gorillas be sent to an African sanctuary in preference to a zoo. US-Malaysia postage is 80 cents per ounce. Dato’ Seri Law Hieng Ding, Minister of Science, Technology, and the Environment Tingkat 6, Blok C5 Pusat Pentadbiran, Kerajaan Persekutuam 62502 Putrajaya, MALAYSIA E-mail: lhd@moste.gov.my Fax from US: 011 60-3-2693-7981 Please send a copy of your letter to: Dr. Musa Nordin, Director General Department of Wildlife and National Parks Km. 10, Jalan Cheras 56100 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA