Mystery Surrounding
The Export of Chimpanzees to China
In July 2019 18
Chimpanzees were exported to China. They had CITES
documentation but these show significant non-compliances with CITES and with the South African CITES
Regulations, 2010.
WHERE WERE THESE CHIMPANZEES BRED?
Perhaps somebody from PAAZA can answer the question.
This export has strong similarities to the Taiping Four case but less questions are being asked. Probably because it is Chimpanzees and not Gorillas,
The exporter was Hartbeespoort
Snake and Zoo Park in North West Province, but it appears that Ms.
Christa Saayman from Mystic Monkeys and
Feathers Wildlife Park in Limpopo Province, acted as the export
agent.
The importer was
Beijing Green Landscape Zoo, also known as Beijing Wildlife Park (BWP). 18 chimpanzees arrived
in China but it is understood that BWP only has 15. It is unclear where the remaining 3 are.
There is no evidence that they were returned to South Africa, but there is some information that
they may possibly have been taken to Jinan Zoo.
Chimpanzees are
listed on Annex 1 of CITES. In terms of the “fundamental principles” of the
Convention, Annex 1 species are those “threatened with extinction which are or
may be affected by trade. Trade in specimens of these species must be subject
to particularly strict regulation in order not to endanger 2 further their
survival and must only be authorized in exceptional circumstances.”
It is understood
that some of these Chimpanzees were pregnant at the time of export.
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