Javan gibbon up for historic trip 'home' to Indonesia | Perth Now
Perth Zoo once again putting into practice what many here feel should be done.
Perth Zoo once again putting into practice what many here feel should be done.
Perth Zoo javan gibbon release
- Thread starter jay
- Start date
Devil's advocate;
[Sarcasm]So they are taking a potentially genetically important, captive born (und thus easily transportable) male out of the allready small captive population to put it in a very vulnerable position in the wild, while there are probably dozens of other javan gibbons kept under horrible conditions in Java that would need that spot more then him? [/sarcasm]
Seriously though, are there more people here that raise questionmarks over this transfer? I don't know the situation of Javan Gibbons, both in captivity in the western world as in Indonesia, but if my assumptions are remotely true, i don't really see the added value...
[Sarcasm]So they are taking a potentially genetically important, captive born (und thus easily transportable) male out of the allready small captive population to put it in a very vulnerable position in the wild, while there are probably dozens of other javan gibbons kept under horrible conditions in Java that would need that spot more then him? [/sarcasm]
Seriously though, are there more people here that raise questionmarks over this transfer? I don't know the situation of Javan Gibbons, both in captivity in the western world as in Indonesia, but if my assumptions are remotely true, i don't really see the added value...
Accually, I had similar doubts about this transfer when i saw the title. I know nothing about the situation of Javan gibbons, so that I can make only uninformed assumptions. And some bad quiet voice inside me says something along the lines - somebody wants to get rid of its surplus animal when holding capacity is missing, releasing a captive animal to the wild for the sake of good PR for the zoo and not of the wild population and ecosystem primaliry, what is a genetic importance of a single zoo-born animal (probabaly without knowledge of exact capture point of its ancestors) when there is a station full of ex-pet animals on Java and so on. That they are yet to search for a place where the gibbons can be released shows that they go the opposite way then I think is responsible. And I rather don´t want to know how much effort and money was spent to realise the air transport/carantene of this single favoured animal.
Ditto regarding the Orang-utan releases.
HSI are currently running a begging TV commercial in many areas of Australia. It shows literally dozens of confiscated young Orangs awaiting their chance at rehabilitation to the "wild". One of them won't get that chance because a zoo born animal is going to jump the queue. We are concerned about providing "spaces" in captive breeding programs but we have no compunction about depriving a genuinely needy Orang of it's "space" in a rehab program.
Months ago I asked if I was missing anything in the decision making process that permits this seeming injustice. Nobody satisfactorily answered my question on the forum but a couple of the pms were very illuminating!
taun
Well-Known Member
I do not have access to the studbook, but I believe we are talking of a known captive population of around 50 animals. However if we are to breed these to be released there has to be a time were we actually try this, therefore why not now?
This youn male is not'that 'valuable'' genetically as he has plenty of siblings, including a breeding animal at Mogo Zoo and the female recently sent to Britain from taronga. The idea of messed up in the head is not that far fetched. I believe the article mentions why they chose this animals, amongst other reasons he is parent reared (unlike many of the confiscated ones) and so they hope that he would then be able to raise young of his own. He is also healthy unlike many of the confiscated ones. I assume that he is also being released into an area that is well protectedas well.
Seriously people! Why don't we go back to the days of concrete & rusty steel cages. Do you not think that this organisation has investigated all of these issues, more than any of you can imagine. Perhaps instead of being pessimists why don't you look at the bigger picture and while you are there perhaps you could help some of these organisations to move forward and then you might understand the efforts and research that go into projects like this. One organisation i am aware of sell chocolates & have bingo nights to raise the tiniest amount of moneyto fund projects, patrol units & raise awareness like this. MAKE AN EFFORT or we can all just talk about it.
jimgritz, all but one of the posters on this thread are very well-acquainted with how zoos work (several of us do or have formerly worked in the zoo industry). The "efforts and research that go into projects like this" are well-understood.
jimgritz, I would love to have your trust for our zoo organisations, but their past is not impeccable. A little scepticism and questioning never hurts. I hope they have done the right thing for the right reasons and they probobly have, but I would still like to see more details.
The Javan/Moloch gibbon rehab and release program is well-established. The intention is to release the majority of the releasable captives back to the wild in well protected habitat. Perth Zoo has been - along with P.L./Howletts a driving force behind the whole project in tune with Indonesian conservation authorities and local primatologists.
It would be better if posters would first check their facts before going off on a limb on proposed reintroductions ...
It would be better if posters would first check their facts before going off on a limb on proposed reintroductions ...
The Javan/Moloch gibbon rehab and release program is well-established. The intention is to release the majority of the releasable captives back to the wild in well protected habitat. Perth Zoo has been - along with P.L./Howletts a driving force behind the whole project in tune with Indonesian conservation authorities and local primatologists.
It would be better if posters would first check their facts before going off on a limb on proposed reintroductions ...
Who went off on a limb? I raised questions, you answered some of them.
Isn't that the whole idea of a forum?
Your post seems to convey the message "it's all very well done!" when it still leaves a lot of questions unanswered for an unknowing person to be able to conclude the same.
I'm not saying you are not right, but i can't conclude you are right based on the information you are giving me...