Orangutan Boxing

Photo by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/axinar/161618130/  

In my article on Bangkok Safari World I had included a video clip of the Orangutan Boxing Match. I did this to illustrate a point. There as no obvious cruelty involved in the show at all. I cannot speak for the methods of training used to reach what was, from study of the audience, extremely much appreciated.

I don't believe Orangutans should have been used. I believe it is wrong. I also knew some of the history surrounding the Orangutans here. The huge number of animals smuggled in. There were the animals which were rescued and then there were the animals which 'died' for which no bodies could be shown.

I have visited a lot of zoos in South East Asia and one of these was Koh Kong Safari World in Cambodia. It was quite obvious to me that there was a connection between this collection and Bangkok Safari World. It was also, to me very obvious that this is where the 'dead' Orangutans from Bangkok Safari World ended up. I cannot prove it of course and in spite of stating this several times I have neither seen nor heard any evidence of an investigation.

Koh Kong Safari World should not have these Orangutans. They are beyond a shadow of a doubt being held illegally as are those in Bangkok Safari World, regardless of what anybody says. Show me the evidence to the contrary and I will be more than happy to apologise.

Meanwhile there are people in both Thailand and Cambodia giving awards for conservation and we have the likes of Koh Kong, Bangkok Safari World, The Tiger Temple, Sri Racha Tiger Zoo, Phuket Zoo openly spitting in the eyes of conservation and compassionate animal care and nobody seems to give a damn. One wonders why the Taiping Four got all the attention. It was the same when Al Ain shipped off their Orangutans to Cairo Zoo. I appear to be the only person to believe it was wrong.

Watch the Koh Kong Orangutan Boxing Video before it is banned too.

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A Tightrope is Not a Life for an Elephant

It is some time ago that the authorities took a stronger hand and stopped the begging elephants on the streets of Bangkok. Without a doubt they did need to be rescued from such a life. I never saw one that was abused or starved but they were hit by traffic and fell down drains. Not the life for an elephant.

So the animals were confiscated and sent to the various 'sanctuaries', zoos and camps around the country. Some of the animals ended up in Bangkok Safari World. Although it is indisputable that this is an impressive and popular collection it is also a commercially exploitative one that does little or nothing for conservation or education (with the exception of Eggs World).

It is shows and a fun day out. I have no problem with that providing proper guidelines are followed but Safari World is guided only by the shareholders purse strings. They don't care about animals at all. The Keeping Staff are different. They DO care and there are some real professionals amongst them. They need a say in how the place is run.

I believe that Safari World has sunk to a new low in getting Elephants to walk on a Tightrope. Elephants need Elephant Care and I have no problems at all with them being properly trained. They are intelligent and the mental stimulation is a definite plus to environmental enrichment. A tightrope though is wrong. It may be clever but it is very wrong. Perhaps they would be better off on the streets of Bangkok dodging the traffic.

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