Gorillas going home to Cameroon

2006-09-04 16:26

Johannesburg - South Africa's National Zoo said on Monday that four gorillas in its care would be returned to Cameroon, ending a long-running dispute that captured the attention of animal welfare activists.

The final decision to send the apes to Cameroon was made by the government of Malaysia under a complex diplomatic arrangement which gave it ultimate authority over the animals.

The zoo said: "The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa was informed recently by the government of Malaysia of its decision to relocate the four infant gorillas... to the Limbe Animal Orphanage in the Cameroon.

"The four infant gorillas have adapted exceptionally well to their new home at the National Zoo.

Smuggled out of Cameroon

"The gorillas became a favourite with the thousands of visitors, who will miss them sadly," it said.

Cameroon had repeatedly called on South Africa to return the animals, dubbed the "Taiping Four", named after the Malaysian zoo where they appeared after being smuggled out of Cameroon via Nigeria.

Amid the outcry, Malaysia agreed to send the lowland gorillas back to their home continent, but not their homeland.

They arrived in South Africa in 2004.

It was not clear why the Malaysian government had switched tack and finally decided to send the apes back to Cameroon where the gorilla numbers are dwindling in the wild.

Animal welfare groups had been pushing to have the primates returned home.

Willie Labuschagne, executive director of the South African National Zoo, said: "Malaysia, as the confiscating authority, has the jurisdiction in this regard.

"They had initially okayed South Africa and I have no idea why they changed their mind."

Have wanted animals to return home

Green groups welcomed the decision, but it was not clear when the animals would be flown to Cameroon or who would pay for the transfer arrangements. The National Zoo said it was not paying.

"We're delighted, we have been wanting these animals to go back for a long time.

The decision sets the correct precedent where the country of origin requests the animals and gets them back," said Jason Bell-Leask, southern Africa director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

- Reuters