MALAYSIA
Deforestation is the problem, not zoos, says animal rights activist
PETALING JAYA: A zoo functions as a place for conservation and research purposes, and should not be phased out, says Malaysian Animal Association president Arie Dwi Andika.
Zoos are important for researchers to learn about various wildlife, he said, and it would not be sensible for them to catch these animals in jungles just to complete their research.
Arie’s comments comes in response to a call by the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) for the government to reconsider the concept of zoos. CAP said zoos cost too much to maintain and contribute to animal cruelty.
However, Arie said that the focus should be on stopping deforestation in the country as more animals are put at risk of extinction.
He said zoos remained relevant as they help to support breeding and rescue programmes for endangered species and enable sharing of expertise between officials of zoos and local parks.
“Also, if these animals were to be placed back into the jungles, there would still be maintenance costs to pay. There would still be a need to hire park rangers and bear the cost of rescuing and protecting these animals in the event they are at risk of being poached.
“I don’t think it is a waste of money to invest in zoos at all, especially in terms of education for children. In fact, the government should pump in more capital to zoos to ensure that there is proper administration, facilities and care for the welfare of these animals as many are already at risk of being endangered,” he said.
Veterinarian Dr Reza Singam, who worked at Zoo Negara in the early 2000s, said the days where people would go out and hunt animals in the wild were long gone.
“If zoos are still doing that, then they should definitely be shut down. However, these animals have been bred in captivity and it would not be suitable for them to be released into the wild.
“For example, if you release a tiger bred in captivity into the jungle, it would not know how to hunt in the wild and would definitely try to head back to its enclosure,” he told FMT.
Reza added that these days, animals bred in captivity also had a longer lifespan compared with those living in the wild.
“Polar bears living in a tropical country like Singapore have lived well beyond their natural lifespan in the wild. It’s a testament to the fact that zoo workers take good care of their animals,” he said.
Reza added that zoos play an important role in education, helping children to learn more about different animals around the world.
“How will you educate your kids on animals? Are you going to take them to the jungles and track these animals down? If zoos are closed, a child is going to grow up into adulthood not being able to see what a live elephant looks like.
“The internet is not the same as there is nothing like a zoo experience for a child,” he said.
However, Reza said that feeding, providing water, and sheltering these animals were not good enough as they need proper husbandry and diet enrichment, adding that the government should strive to follow international zoo keeping standards for the animals.
He said zoos should be headed by those with a passion for animals or who have a background in zoology-related fields.
“People such as veterinarians, zookeepers, and curators on the ground are trying their best to provide the best care for these animals. However, there are people at the top who are not qualified in managing the zoos, and this affects the welfare of the animals,” he said.
“I know there are many qualified Malaysians out there who want to work in zoos but it puts them off because the management is impeding their growth. Thus, a more supportive environment must be given to employees at zoos, especially experts, in order for them to properly care for these animals in the best possible manner,” he said.
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