Melbourne Zoo Palm Oil Council claims Melbourne Zoo mistreating their Oragutans

[Chlidonias]

Zoo Melbourne nafi beri layanan yang buruk terhadap orang utan | BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News

the article is in Bahasa Malaysia (I couldn't see an English one on the news feeds), but basically says that Palm Oil Council chief executive Tan Sri Datuk Dr Yusof Basiron is claiming that Melbourne Zoo is keeping orangutans in cruel conditions. The orangutan was seen shivering with cold and screaming in agony because the blanket it had wasn't big enough to provide it with warmth. The Zoo responded by pointing out that the orangs have heated indoor enclosures, are perfectly happy, and the blanket wasn't there to keep them warm but because they like playing with them.

EDIT: here's an English one: http://www.mysinchew.com/node/61432

The orang-utans at the Melbourne Zoo are having a swinging time and are not living in deplorable conditions.

Neither are they shivering in Melbourne's freezing temperature and crying out in distress as a result, noted the zoo's conservation director, Rachel Lowry.

Denying allegations by Malaysian Palm Oil Council chief executive Tan Sri Datuk Dr Yusof Basiron that the orang-utans lacked proper treatment, she said their enclosures were built to provide "great climbing structures to encourage their natural behaviours".

"Like all Melbourne Zoo exhibits, the orang-utan exhibit is designed to enable the animals to have their choice of sitting in the shade or sun, in the open or under.

"There is underfloor heating outdoors, their day room exhibit area is kept at 20 degrees, and their night dens are also heated. As with all tropical species displayed at Melbourne Zoo, we meet their need for warmth.

"Their use of sheets or other coverings is behavioural, not a response to the cold. They enjoy lying under sheets or other fabrics, and they even do it in our summer weather," she told Bernama in an interview here today.

She said the zoo celebrated the birthday of the young male, Menyaru, who was born here eight years ago, as part of an international endangered species breeding programme.

Dr Yusof, who visited the zoo last week while on a working mission with Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, had told Bernama the orang-utans were housed in "deplorable conditions".

He had also said he observed the orang-utans shivering in Melbourne's freezing temperature and recognised the noises they made as "cries of distress".

Dr Yusof also said orang-utans were tropical animals and they found it difficult to live in a winter climate.

He said the sack cloth given to the orang-utans at the zoo here to keep them warm was too small to go round their large bodies.

 

[jay]

I doubt that the orangs are in any form of discomfort. Considering that Melbourne Zoo has been instrumental in the anti palm oil movement, and that the bloke making the accusations is an important person in that industry I think we can safely say that it was just a way for him to get back at the zoo.

 

[Chlidonias]

not exactly subtle was it?

 

[Simon Hampel]

Melbourne Zoo rejects orangutans complaint

Melbourne Zoo rejects orangutans complaint - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The Melbourne Zoo has rejected reports that its orangutans are living in cold conditions.

The zoo says accusations made by a visiting member of Malaysia's palm oil council that the animals are being left out in the cold are false.

Conservation director Rachel Lowry says the world-class orangutan sanctuary has outdoor and indoor heating, with the exhibit area kept at 20 degrees Celsius.

... (more)

 

[nanoboy]

I doubt that the orangs are in any form of discomfort. Considering that Melbourne Zoo has been instrumental in the anti palm oil movement, and that the bloke making the accusations is an important person in that industry I think we can safely say that it was just a way for him to get back at the zoo.

This sums up the report on Channel 9 news last night.

 

[Meaghan Edwards]

These people have really no room to talk when they're taking away their habitat.

 

[Lynx]

I doubt that the orangs are in any form of discomfort. Considering that Melbourne Zoo has been instrumental in the anti palm oil movement, and that the bloke making the accusations is an important person in that industry I think we can safely say that it was just a way for him to get back at the zoo.

I agree, this guy isn't exactly neutral on the subject.