KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun yesterday assured that Sabah’s exotic wildlife will remain at its natural habitat in the state.
He described it as irresponsible to shift the state’s iconic wildlife such as the proboscis monkeys, orang utan and rhinos elsewhere as the animals’ survival rate would be compromised if they were taken away of their ‘home’.
Masidi was commenting on Malaysian Zoological Association president Datuk Ismail Hutson’s statement recently that efforts were being made to get animals from Sabah to be relocated to Zoo Negara in Hulu Kelang, Kuala Lumpur.
“We may consider some animals, but to ask for iconic animals from Sabah is really out of the question.
“We are talking about orang utan or probably proboscis monkeys, or even rhinos which we also do not have enough (in Sabah).
“It is not because we do not want to give, but we want to, as far as possible, retain them at their natural habitat. Sabah understands the special needs of these animals so it will be irresponsible for us to send them outside the state knowing that the chances of survival could be very much compromised,” he said.
He described it as irresponsible to shift the state’s iconic wildlife such as the proboscis monkeys, orang utan and rhinos elsewhere as the animals’ survival rate would be compromised if they were taken away of their ‘home’.
Masidi was commenting on Malaysian Zoological Association president Datuk Ismail Hutson’s statement recently that efforts were being made to get animals from Sabah to be relocated to Zoo Negara in Hulu Kelang, Kuala Lumpur.
“We may consider some animals, but to ask for iconic animals from Sabah is really out of the question.
“We are talking about orang utan or probably proboscis monkeys, or even rhinos which we also do not have enough (in Sabah).
“It is not because we do not want to give, but we want to, as far as possible, retain them at their natural habitat. Sabah understands the special needs of these animals so it will be irresponsible for us to send them outside the state knowing that the chances of survival could be very much compromised,” he said.
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Sabah’s exotic wildlife will remain in Sabah
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