Indonesian Conservation Media Center

Orangutans, INSANE in confinement

PRESS RELEASE:

INSANE in confinement
Orangutans condition at the Indonesian zoo.
For the broadcast.

Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP) urged the Department of Forestry for oversee maintenance of serious orangutan at the zoo. This push is based on COP research showing that almost all orangutan at the zoo in Indonesia is currently in bad condition. The managers tend to ignore the principles of animal welfare, which was agreed by zoo associations such as the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (waza) and All Indonesia Zoos Association (PKBSI) namely :
1. free from hunger and thirst.
2. free from physical discomfort.
3. free from injury, illness and disease.
4. free to express normal behavior.
5. free from stress and pressure.

COP assesses the 28 orangutans at the zoo in Surabaya, Solo, Yogyakarta, Bandung and Jakarta. The assessment was conducted only in orangutans the exhibits, not including orangutans are hidden, used for the show or in a period of quarantine. COP spent 30 000 seconds to assess each individual animals.

Generally, the zoo in Indonesia is still using cage  for orangutan barred to visitors to display. Some garden animals have left the force and replace the barred cage with an open cage-like islands (enclosure). Almost all the orangutans are locked in the cage bars, his condition worse compared with those placed in the enclosure. They do not have access water to drink, minimal social interaction with other orangutans and empty cages without playing facilities.

"It's easy to recognize symptoms of stress in orangutans because of similar to humans. COP documented the various symptoms of stress and crazy like body banging, spitting food and eat it again, licking own nipples, drink urine and spend time with bed and sat staring without expression" said Drh. Luki Wardhani, COP Captivity Researcher. According to him, this is often caused by orangutans poor quality of life.

"The zoo as an institution for ex situ conservation should treat animals as a valuable living specimen, not treat them like this now. Zoo orangutans tend to exploit for entertainment and jokes for visitor" said Seto Hari Wibowo, COP Captivity Campaign Manager.

For further information please contact:
Seto Hari Wibowo, Captivity Program Manager at telephone number
0818333446446. Email: seto.wibowo @ ...
Drh. Luki Wardhani, Captivity Researcher at the telephone number 08,155,509,748.
Email: luki.wardhani @ ...

Photos and video please contact:
Hery Susanto, Picture Desk on telephone number 0819816911 / 021 7395877
Email: hery.susanto @ ...


Wahyuni MANGOENSOEKARDJO
and orangutan

COP I Centre for Orangutan Protection
World Trade Centre Complex
Wisma Metropolitan II, 6th Floor
Jalan Jenderal Sudirman Kav.29
Jakarta 12920 INDONESIA
T / F: +6221 7395877
E: Yuyun @ ...
www.cop.or.id