Sabah wildlife not toys – Christina
KOTA KINABALU: Adhere to the rules as Sabah wildlife are not toys for possession, warned Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew.
In response to the press on Friends of the Orangutans director Upreshpal Singh’s statement regarding animals kept in Sabah’s roadsize zoos, Liew said she would give instructions for an investigation to be held by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD).
“Anyone who wants to keep wildlife animals, they must adhere to the conditions set up by the Wildlife Department,” said Christina, also is Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, when approached by the press after officiating at the World Rotary Day Celebration and International Understanding Bazaar at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall here, yesterday.
“I do not know about this case but if there is such a case, I will instruct my Wildlife director to investigate. Not anyone can keep wildlife animal as their toy, you can’t do that. There are terms and conditions that you must adhere to,” she emphasized.
According to Upreshpal in a recent statement, the organization’s investigations have revealed that roadside zoos kept many animals in decrepit or barren enclosures.
He claimed that roadside zoos conditions did not indicate that wildlife received enrichment, which is vital for the physical and psychological wellbeing of captive animals.
He alleged that a couple of roadside zoos located several kilometres from Sandakan’s Sepilok area have kept animals in dreadful conditions for years.
He said early deaths of animals were not uncommon, and shows were often exploitative and outdated and at one of the roadside zoos near Sepilok, a macaque was chained around its neck while it was forced to entertain visitors, including children, during animal shows.