Letter from Chang Qizhong, Straits Times Forum 20 Jun 08;
I WAS disturbed to read that two young orang utans were recently subjected to a trip on the Singapore Flyer, 'Orang utans fly the primate cause' (June 13).
While it is undoubtedly critically important to raise awareness on the plight of wild orang utans, this can be achieved in other ways that do not put wild animals in highly unnatural and potentially very stressful situations in the busy city centre.
Humanising animals in this way is simply counter-productive, undermining their status as wild animals, and only serves to reinforce the dangerous idea of humans having control over wild animals.
In addition, it was shocking to read that members of the public were allowed to take photos with the orang utans. Making wild animals come into close contact with humans, especially strangers, is highly unnatural and can undoubtedly be very stressful, especially for young animals.
Furthermore, if such 'photo opportunities' with wild animals are seen to be acceptable, then people are likely to also think it is acceptable to take photos with wild animals in other situations, for example on the beaches and bars at holiday resorts.
It is well known that animals used as 'photo props' in holiday resorts are commonly mistreated and usually poached from the wild as babies. It should be noted that many baby orang utans are poached from the wild specifically to be used as 'photo props', and therefore we should be doing all we can to discourage people from taking their photos with wild animals, in any circumstance. Any use of wild animals as 'photo opportunities' simply fuels the idea that it is desirable to take one's picture with a wild animal.
The Singapore Zoo, as a generally well-respected establishment, should be more careful about the activities it promotes and the message it is sending out.
