Pakistan says preemptive strikes thwarted planned militant attacks from Afghanistan    Egypt courts Indian green energy investment in talks with Ocior Energy    Egypt raises fuel prices, imposes one-year freeze amid cost pressures    Egypt, India hold first strategic dialogue to deepen ties    Egypt: Guardian of Heritage, Waiting for the World's Conscience    Egypt, Qatar sign MoU to boost cooperation in healthcare, food safety    EGX ends week mostly higher on Oct. 16    Egyptian Amateur Open golf tournament relaunches after 15-year hiatus    Egypt, UK, Palestine explore financing options for Gaza reconstruction ahead of Cairo conference    Egypt will never relinquish historical Nile water rights, PM says    Egypt explores cooperation with Chinese firms to advance robotic surgery    Fragile Gaza ceasefire tested as humanitarian crisis deepens    Avrio Gold to launch new jewellery, bullion factory in early 2026    AUC makes history as 1st global host of IMMAA 2025    CBE, China's National Financial Regulatory sign MoU to strengthen joint cooperation    Al Ismaelia launches award-winning 'TamaraHaus' in Downtown Cairo revival    Al-Sisi, Burhan discuss efforts to end Sudan war, address Nile Dam dispute in Cairo talks    Egypt's Cabinet hails Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit as turning point for Middle East peace    Gaza's fragile ceasefire tested as aid, reconstruction struggle to gain ground    Egypt's human rights committee reviews national strategy, UNHRC membership bid    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile actions, calls for global water cooperation    Egypt unearths one of largest New Kingdom Fortresses in North Sinai    Egypt unearths New Kingdom military fortress on Horus's Way in Sinai    Egypt Writes Calm Anew: How Cairo Engineered the Ceasefire in Gaza    Egypt's acting environment minister heads to Abu Dhabi for IUCN Global Nature Summit    Egyptian Open Amateur Golf Championship 2025 to see record participation    Cairo's Al-Fustat Hills Park nears completion as Middle East's largest green hub – PM    El-Sisi boosts teachers' pay, pushes for AI, digital learning overhaul in Egypt's schools    Syria releases preliminary results of first post-Assad parliament vote    Karnak's hidden origins: Study reveals Egypt's great temple rose from ancient Nile island    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Egypt reviews Nile water inflows as minister warns of impact of encroachments on Rosetta Branch    Egypt aims to reclaim global golf standing with new major tournaments: Omar Hisham    Egypt to host men's, juniors' and ladies' open golf championships in October    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Fighting for animal rights in Malaysia
Published in Bikya Masr on 20 - 01 - 2013

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


Clic here to read the story from its source.