KUALA LUMPUR: Animal rights activists in Malaysia believe the threat to animals is facing a litmus test with the country's new zoo policies. If the government is able to deal with those who violate the conditions of animals and the animals are treated with care, animal rights activists told Bikyanews.com Malaysia “is on the right track." But worries remain over what happens to animals when a zoo is forced to close. Following the closure of 6 zoos in Malaysia, animal rights activists and groups are worried over the future of the animals. “Now that the government is cracking down on zoos and their horrific conditions, we are all wondering where the animals will end up at this point," animal rights advocate Mohammed told Bikyanews.com from Putrajaya. The Wildlife and National Parks Department said that the zoos are being closed after they failed to comply with the new measures and are unsanitary and unsafe for the animals. They have also not complied with the Wildlife Conservation Regulations 2012, the new regulations regarding the country's zoos, which came into effect February 1. The 6 zoos to be closed are Lye Huat Garden in Kedah, Kuala Krai bird park in Kelantan, Countryview Recreation in Pahang, PD Mini Zoo in Negri Sembilan, Taman Kuang in Ajil, Terengganu, and Animal Wonderland at Mines Wonderland in Selangor. In a statement, Malaysian Nature Society communications chief Andrew Sebastian said he hoped that the animals would be returned to the wild and not transferred to another facility. “We hope more animals will be rehabilitated and released to the wild," he said in comments published by The Star newspaper. “I hope the process will be transparent and the public, together with other NGOs, will be kept informed," he said. He added that the move was a positive beginning and showed that the government was getting stricter against errant zoo operators. The closures also come as another set of regulations are to be established this month, but animal rights activists are tentatively optimistic they will make an impact. Malaysian Animal Welfare Society president Shenaaz Khan told The Sun newspaper that she believes that without a strong enforcement operation, the laws are meaningless and zoos can continue to treat animals poorly. “Under these new regulations, even forcing animals to ride a bicycle and juggle balls is an act of cruelty to animals because it is not their natural behavior," she said. But she fears that without proper government enforcement and ending permits for new zoos in order to focus on the existing zoos and their conditions, these acts will persist. The new regulations for zoos in Malaysia are in line with international standards, and have garnered the support from animal rights groups and activists, despite the worry over enforcement. They include minimum cage sizes as well as having quarantine areas and a veterinary clinic or animal hospital with a full-time veterinary on site. Shockingly, some “animal sanctuaries" in the country do not currently have an on-site veterinary to treat animal injuries. Also, zoos and other facilities must deliver vaccinations to all animals, “supply nutritious and adequate food, maintain cleanliness and keep a proper medical record of the animals, perform euthanasia when necessary, conduct wildlife shows involving the animals' natural behavior and submit a deposit to the Wildlife Department for the upkeep of animals in the event of a seizure." For the country's local activist community, it is all part of new direction for Malaysia on animal issues and anti-cruelty measures. “We have long struggled with these issues in Malaysia and finally there is some movement," Mahathir Abdul Aziz told Bikyanews.com. “I have been to these places and documented the poor conditions. Already, though I see places starting to change how they work and treat animals." Bikyanews.com
