Sunday March 22, 2009
Group expresses concern over state’s plan to set up Tiger Park
GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (Mycat) is concerned over the state government’s plan to set up a Tiger Park in Relau.
In a press statement, Mycat said the news was disappointing as the state government had clearly gone against the Government’s commitment of protecting and doubling the 500 tiger population in the wild following the recently released National Tiger Action Plan.
“Building zoos and wildlife parks always sound simple and exciting but, in reality, this is far from the truth and have far more negative implications.
“Malaysia already has more than 40 zoos and monitoring these is a huge task for the authorities, who already hold the responsibility of protecting wildlife in the wild,” the statement said.
Recently, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng defended his proposal to start the tiger park, saying the state needed a new eco-tourism project.
He said the state government planned to create the park on a 40ha plot owned by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) known as the Pondok Durian Cap Kaki.
To this, Mycat also said housing and feeding large numbers of these carnivores would be financially draining as tigers were expensive animals to keep in captivity.
“Feeding alone will cost about RM30,000 per animal per year. What will happen if Penang, or the private company contracted to execute this project, runs out of money to maintain the tigers?
“Will the state then suggest that the reasonable thing to do would be to trade in some of its tigers to keep the park functioning, just as the tiger farms in China are attempting to do?” the statement asked.
Related story:
Let’s save our tigers; Leave them in the forests
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