Published on: Thursday, October 23, 2003 |
TOURISM, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat denied suggestions that he or the Ministry was involved in any business transaction with a private firm to care for elephants pending shipment to zoos in China and Japan under an exchange programme.
As far Im concerned there is no company doing business with me, the Ministry or even the Wildlife Department, said Chong, when asked to comment about reports that 10 pygmy elephants were being kept by an individual pending shipment to China for captive breeding.
Speaking outside the Assembly, he said requests for such animals are done on a government-to-government or agency-to-agency basis, appointed by the parties that requested for them.
But before the agency comes to us, they must have clearance from their respective government or from the appropriate Ministry, he said, adding that the State Government was awaiting approval from the Federal Science, Technology and Tourism Ministry to ship the elephants.
The approval to export such elephants also takes into consideration the Convention for International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) because we cannot just export as we like.
According to Chong there is nothing unusual about exchanging wildlife and this is done worldwide. Such exchange is the result of networking. We cannot grow by isolating ourselves. We need co-operate with others worldwide in order for us to grow.
On fears that the elephants may even end up as meat in restaurants in China, he said: There are zoos there that could breed and look after them. We have lot of elephants in our jungles and many are destroying entire plantations. There are about 2,000 to 3,000 and some need to even rescued and relocated. What is the big deal about 10 or 20 elephants being sent for such purpose? Chong said, adding it had been practised before.
He said some of these zoo or safaris were very professional and trained them.
Asked about a dozen elephants sent to China in 2000, Chong said: It was not only for exchange but our wildlife officers were sent to China at the latterÌs expense to be trained to handle these animals. This is another benefit of such a programme.
On Oct 3 Daily Express carried a report and the picture of special cages in a workshop meant for shipping the pygmy elephants to China.
