Malaysia: Call to abandon the plan for Malacca bird park

The Star 18 Oct 11;

SAHABAT Alam Malaysia (SAM) is unequivocally opposed to the plan for the largest bird park in Southeast Asia sited at the Botanical Gardens in Ayer Keroh Malacca when zoos and animal establishments in Malaysia are widely known and reported to be in an appalling state.

State governments, councils and individuals may aspire to have the largest, biggest or grandest zoos and aviaries but do they know, or care, about the basic care and welfare of animals and their requirements?

Judging from the past, the lack of ability to run zoos or bird parks may cause many of the birds to be reduced to a spectacle of abuse or neglect, and many may die.

The question everyone or every animal welfare group should ask is where, and how, are the birds to be sourced. Sourcing for 6,000 birds from 300 species to fill the largest aviary will fuel the trade in live birds that not only enriches the pockets of traders and poachers, but may cause more than half of those caught to die as a result of the birds being packed into crates and transported over long distances.

These profiteers have little concern for wastage of bird life and can literally get away with murder.

The other question we need to ask is why undertake to house such a huge collection of birds knowing that space would be shockingly inadequate.

The Malacca government needs to recognise that animals and birds have a basic need for the appropriate amount of space, and no amount of behavioural enrichment can compensate for the spatial needs of the birds.

SAM fails to see the need for an aviary in the middle of a botanic garden. The botanic garden itself is good enough to be a major tourist attraction with its wide variety of plant species, considering the immense beauty and variety that the plant kingdom offers.

The garden is also a place which attracts native birds. It can be an idyllic oasis for free-roaming birds in the centre of the city.

Constructing an aviary within the gardens is a cruel attempt to bring nature to people where we can see birds in flight and chirping away, when in reality the birds are living under captive conditions only to be displayed for man’s amusement.

Life in captivity can never be adequate for the fulfillment of any species or individual, since the best habitat for animals is in their natural environment. All species are born free, and detention or isolation, whether of birds or humans, is an expression of cruelty and inhumanity.

This brings to mind the question of staffing and a host of other issues:

> Will the staff be experienced and qualified to care for the different exotic birds that have special needs?

> Will the bird park have the ability or expertise to manage and train inexperienced staff?

> What will be the level of veterinary care and hygiene standards?

> Are resources available to upgrade exhibits?

> Will the bird park be able to keep up with a variety of environmental enrichment?

> Will it have the expertise for managing such a large and diverse aviary?

SAM calls on the Malacca government to abandon its plan for the establishment of the largest bird park in Southeast Asia.

SAM would also urge the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry and the Department of Wildlife to stop the issuing of new licences for upcoming zoos and to continue monitoring all existing zoos in order to reform the wild animal industry.

S.M. MOHD IDRIS,
President,
Sahabat Alam Malaysia.