Dying in Egypt!
The animals in Egypt's zoos suffer from
injuries, untreated diseases and severe starvation
This page aims to support the campaign against the seven governmental zoos of Egypt
managed by central zoo directors (July 2012)
Listen to an interview on Wildtime Radio
Animal rights activist Dina Zulfikar talked to WILD TIME RADIO about the zoos, CITES,
the lack of green space in their country, and more.
the lack of green space in their country, and more.
Antar & Abla a love story in a cruel world
عنتر وعبلة -قصة حب فى
SAMAR, the gentle spirit at Kafr el-Shaikh zoo
SAMAR is a female tiger in Kafr El-Sheikh zoo. She has a missing canine and can't fed herself appropriately. She is one of the most kind animals ever .
سمر النمر الانثى في حديقة الحيوان فى كفر الشيخ انها تعاني من ناب مفقود ، ولم تتغذى بشكل مناسب، و هي واحدة من أكثر الحيوانات روعة وعطفا
سمر النمر الانثى في حديقة الحيوان فى كفر الشيخ انها تعاني من ناب مفقود ، ولم تتغذى بشكل مناسب، و هي واحدة من أكثر الحيوانات روعة وعطفا
The wolves
People brought these wolves to the zoo.... The animals reproduce uncontrolled and there are now more than 6 animals stacked in one small space. They are attacking each others causing severe injuries that remain untreated.
هذه الذئاب تم احضارها الى حديقة حيوان الفيوم عن طريق بعض المواطنين ويحتفظ بها بدون سيطرة على تكاثرها حتى وصل عددها الى ستة ذئاب مكدسة فى مكان واحد ضيق مما جعلها تهاجم بعضها البعض وتسبب ذلك فى جروح واصابات للعديد منها .
هذه الذئاب تم احضارها الى حديقة حيوان الفيوم عن طريق بعض المواطنين ويحتفظ بها بدون سيطرة على تكاثرها حتى وصل عددها الى ستة ذئاب مكدسة فى مكان واحد ضيق مما جعلها تهاجم بعضها البعض وتسبب ذلك فى جروح واصابات للعديد منها .
Suffering at Giza Zoo
Animal cruelty at Alexandria Zoo
الصورة من داخل حديقة حيوان الاسكندرية
Zoo-workers at the zoo in Alexandria use iron rods to irritate the lions and to make them roar in order to entertain the visitors.
استخدام الاسياخ الحديدية فى تحفيز وتهييج الاسود لجعلها تزأر لكى تسلى الزوار هو احد اكثر التصرفات قسوة تجاه الحيوانات
الصورة من داخل حديقة حيوان الاسكندرية
Photo session with cubs at the Alexandria zoo
جلسة تصوير (حديقة حيوان الاسكندرية
A camel suffering from some kind of tumor at Alexandria zoo
جمل مصاب بورم فى حديقة حيوان الاسكندرية
A camel and her baby, both with falling humps at Kafr el-Shaikh zoo
Camels have a unique metabolism that allows them to store enormous amounts of water in their bloodstream, while oval-shaped red blood cells, exclusive to the camel, tolerate both dehydration (lack of water) and osmosis (storing water). Camels can drink more than twenty gallons of water in a ten-minute period - a feat that would kill almost any other mammal - then store the water in their blood for up to two weeks.
A camel’s hump, or humps, once popularly thought to contain water, in fact contain fat, which is used as fuel when food is scarce. Metabolizing this stored fat is also how camels utilize the water stored in their bloodstream. So, the misconception that the hump contains water is not so far from the truth after all!
Camels can live without food for up to a month, by which time their hump, or humps, have become floppy and fallen to one side. However, the hump is restored when camels feed and build up their fat storage.
These pictures tell us that both mother and child suffer from severe malnutrition.
A camel’s hump, or humps, once popularly thought to contain water, in fact contain fat, which is used as fuel when food is scarce. Metabolizing this stored fat is also how camels utilize the water stored in their bloodstream. So, the misconception that the hump contains water is not so far from the truth after all!
Camels can live without food for up to a month, by which time their hump, or humps, have become floppy and fallen to one side. However, the hump is restored when camels feed and build up their fat storage.
These pictures tell us that both mother and child suffer from severe malnutrition.
Poor Bongi,
the lonely Orangutan in a single cell at Giza Zoo
Picture taken by Hatem Moushir - Giza Zoo - 30 June 2012
The story:
19 May 2010 , Al Ain Zoo gave 3 Orangutans as present to Giza Zoo, as there was no space, the Central zoos director, had to evacuate 3 chimps from chimps enclosure and sent 1 in solitary confinement in Fayoum zoo, the other 2 chimps (Fatouta and Oscar) were sent to Alex Zoo.
March 2011, one of the 3 Orangutans died, his name is Fatouta as well, reports said it died of hepatites and nefrytes (sorry about spelling).
Campaign was made, we succeeded in regrouping the chimps, Kuku the chimp was brought back from Fayoum, and the Chairperson of GOVS, ordered building new Orangutans enclosure and making tests for the remaining 2, Titi and Bongi... promises were made since June 2011, sedatives were donated to the zoo, by me, and also by Daniella De Dunno of Jane Goodall, Onlus Italy.
Up till today the 2 Orangutans are still in single cells in the chimps enclosure of Giza Zoo, as seen, no substrates, no enrichment, nothing.
The bears at Giza Zoo
Picture taken by Hatem Moushir - Giza Zoo - 30 June 2011
Comment by Dina Zulfikar:
Aug 2008, AWAR group & sub group REVITALIZE THE GIZA ZOO, made the project of: cooling the bears enclosure in Giza Zoo, we seeked the help of Smart bears society and best bear biologists in the world, we then seeked help of duct work engineering consultant Sherif Sabry, then Engineer Ahmed Fatah of Egyptian company Egitrade donated and constructed all the system, chilling water system, split units for night enclosure, with promise from Central Zoos Director they would maintain the system, as of 2009, each year we complain and complain and complain, system is not working because zoo fails to maintain system... it is not a joke, when I asked simply the vet in charge supervising, why is their no water in the tiny pool, she said, our bears do not like going in the water......!!!
In summer, weather is over 40 in Cairo !!!
Comment by Dina Zulfikar:
Aug 2008, AWAR group & sub group REVITALIZE THE GIZA ZOO, made the project of: cooling the bears enclosure in Giza Zoo, we seeked the help of Smart bears society and best bear biologists in the world, we then seeked help of duct work engineering consultant Sherif Sabry, then Engineer Ahmed Fatah of Egyptian company Egitrade donated and constructed all the system, chilling water system, split units for night enclosure, with promise from Central Zoos Director they would maintain the system, as of 2009, each year we complain and complain and complain, system is not working because zoo fails to maintain system... it is not a joke, when I asked simply the vet in charge supervising, why is their no water in the tiny pool, she said, our bears do not like going in the water......!!!
In summer, weather is over 40 in Cairo !!!
May 5, 2013
The "mysterious" death of three American black bears at Giza Zoo
The three American black bears Farah, Lulu and Nabila, died at Giza zoo during the night from Saturday, 5th of May, 2013
According to the official statement released by Gizaa zoo, the three bears mauled each other to death as they fought over a male partner. Apparently, workers and veterinarians tried to separate them, but all three bears end up dying after an hours-long battle that lasted from 3 o'clock in the afternoon until midnight. "Their fighting has lead to their death as a result of their fractures of their necks (!?), said the official statement from Giza zoo.
While it was not immediately clear under which circumstances, this tragic accident could have happened, it was clear - after the release of this rather confusing statement and those that followed - that the management of Giza zoo had something to cover up.
In the two days following the death of Farah, Lulu and Nabila, a number of inconsistencies have emerged raising questions as to the true circumstances of the three unfortunate grizzly bears' death.
On 7th of May, the Al-Watan newspaper broke the story; the three bears died because of a sedative overdose, leading to two falling over and breaking several bones, while the remaining one drowned.
Please click on the picture below, to read the entire tragic story (the page will open in a new tab).
According to the official statement released by Gizaa zoo, the three bears mauled each other to death as they fought over a male partner. Apparently, workers and veterinarians tried to separate them, but all three bears end up dying after an hours-long battle that lasted from 3 o'clock in the afternoon until midnight. "Their fighting has lead to their death as a result of their fractures of their necks (!?), said the official statement from Giza zoo.
While it was not immediately clear under which circumstances, this tragic accident could have happened, it was clear - after the release of this rather confusing statement and those that followed - that the management of Giza zoo had something to cover up.
In the two days following the death of Farah, Lulu and Nabila, a number of inconsistencies have emerged raising questions as to the true circumstances of the three unfortunate grizzly bears' death.
On 7th of May, the Al-Watan newspaper broke the story; the three bears died because of a sedative overdose, leading to two falling over and breaking several bones, while the remaining one drowned.
Please click on the picture below, to read the entire tragic story (the page will open in a new tab).
Photo sessions at Giza Zoo
They are all waiting at the front door. Once you get there, one of them will follow you asking you if you want to take picture with the baby lion or with the peacock “you can have a very nice picture of your face surrounded by peacock feathers” he said, or a picture with some exotic fox called fennec “but you have to hold him tightly as if you lose him he will run away and we can’t get him back“ he said. As part of my investigation I take my chance having photos with the peacock and the poor fennec, said Khaled Elbarky.
A baboon inhabited a 1.5m x 1.5m cage (Tanta zoo) July 2012
قرد بابون يسكن قفص مساحته 1.5 فى 1.5 متر
Update on the baboon, August 23, 2012:
The Egyptian activists informed the officials about this Baboon and how small his cage is (1.5 m x 1.5 m) and that he shouldn't be alone. They told our friends that everything is just fine and that they did what we asked for.
Sadly, nothing has changed: the poor Baboon is still lonely in the same cage.
Sadly, nothing has changed: the poor Baboon is still lonely in the same cage.
More monkeys living in a sad situation
Visitors throw everything to this poor monkey, paper, soda cans and even cigarettes
Living lonely in a dirty, little cage. Children climbing and hassling...
A dirty pond is home for five beautiful hippos in Fayoum zoo
هذه البركة القذرة هى مسكن خمسة من افراس النهر الجميلة -حديقة حيوان الفيوم
Photo session with lion cub at Giza Zoo,
June 26, 2012
Various pictures taken by Hatem Moushir
on June 30, 2012 at Giza Zoo
Video taken at Giza Zoo, June 2012
by Hatem Moushir
Puppies and sick adult dogs are kept in a wet, dark,
smelly place behind the dog house.
Dina Zulfikar wrote:
Dear Military General and Dr. Osama Selim, Chairperson of GOVS
Dear Dr. Alaa Morsy, Technical Office - GOVS
The amount of pictures of unacceptable conditions of captive animals in Giza Zoo and the 6 other governmental zoos is destroying the reputation of Egypt.
The current management is simply not providing means of care for the animals. We have been complaining and complaining, we provide evidence and pictures, we hope and ask for reforming the current system of governmental zoos of Egypt.
Please see message received by European Visitor on 8 August 2012:
Giza Zoo - 07.08.2012 - message sent by Carina Wirth
Hi Dina,
Marianne Lenner just gave me ur contact details. I am writing to you because I visited the Giza Zoo on 07.08.2012 and saw horrible things.
Puppies and sick adult dogs are kept in a wet, dark, smelly place behind the dog house. I have never seen something awful like that before. At least one of them suffers from mange. See pictures attached and also at my fb wall and ESMA and ESAF.
Can you do anything? I contacted ESMA and ESAF before. My time in Egypt was unfortunately so limited and I am back now in Europe. I really dont know what to do. If there is cash needed, I will be willing to donate. It's all I can do. Greets Carina
Sincerely,
Dina Zulfikar
Dear Military General and Dr. Osama Selim, Chairperson of GOVS
Dear Dr. Alaa Morsy, Technical Office - GOVS
The amount of pictures of unacceptable conditions of captive animals in Giza Zoo and the 6 other governmental zoos is destroying the reputation of Egypt.
The current management is simply not providing means of care for the animals. We have been complaining and complaining, we provide evidence and pictures, we hope and ask for reforming the current system of governmental zoos of Egypt.
Please see message received by European Visitor on 8 August 2012:
Giza Zoo - 07.08.2012 - message sent by Carina Wirth
Hi Dina,
Marianne Lenner just gave me ur contact details. I am writing to you because I visited the Giza Zoo on 07.08.2012 and saw horrible things.
Puppies and sick adult dogs are kept in a wet, dark, smelly place behind the dog house. I have never seen something awful like that before. At least one of them suffers from mange. See pictures attached and also at my fb wall and ESMA and ESAF.
Can you do anything? I contacted ESMA and ESAF before. My time in Egypt was unfortunately so limited and I am back now in Europe. I really dont know what to do. If there is cash needed, I will be willing to donate. It's all I can do. Greets Carina
Sincerely,
Dina Zulfikar
11 dogs are stacked in a tiny enclosure a Zagazig zoo
Why is central zoos breeding dogs, is it a pet shop?
Picture taken September 2012
Two old elephants are chained to the ground with a short chain at Giza zoo
Two elephants, one Asian and one African, who have spend their entire life in captivity are forced to live on a short chain.
Please read their story by clicking here (opens in a new tab) and please lend these animals your voice by signing the petition that you will find on that page.
Thank you very much in advance.
Please read their story by clicking here (opens in a new tab) and please lend these animals your voice by signing the petition that you will find on that page.
Thank you very much in advance.
Video report about Giza Zoo in September 2012
by Hatem Moushir
The 'food for the lions'...
These poor donkeys will become food for more than 30 lions at Alexandria zoo.
They deserve - at least - a wider enclosure, better treatment and more care
until their final day has come.
Oscar died in late September 2012 at the age of 31 years
Oscar is now the second chimpanzee who died at Alexandria Zoo after being transferred from Giza, to the vacant space for the Orangutan, on May 19, 2010. Fatouta, who was born in Giza Zoo on July 5, 1984,
died in January, 2012 at the age of 27 and half year.
While chimpanzees in the wild rarely live older than 50 years, they can live more than 60 years in captivity when being cared for properly, of course. Sadly, the chimpanzees in the Egyptian governmental zoos have died before they were even 30 years old.
Since Oscar died, too, Meshmesh, the now single remaining chimpanzee at Alexandria Zoo, is suffering from depression and we are afraid that Meshmesh, too, will die.
In the following video, recorded by Dina Zulfikar, you can see Oscar and Misho being intergrated at Alexandria zoo in October 2011 so that no chimpanzee remained in solitary confinement, which was a very good news at that time.
Present were Hilda Tresz, Behaviour Manager of Phoenix Zoo Arizona, acting on mandate of the Jane Goodall Institute.
Present were Hilda Tresz, Behaviour Manager of Phoenix Zoo Arizona, acting on mandate of the Jane Goodall Institute.
Facts about chimpanzees
Chimpanzees in the wild rarely live longer than 50 years. Captive chimps can live more than 60 years. Chimpanzees use more tools for more purposes than any other creatures except humans. In captivity, chimpanzees can be taught human languages such as ASL (American Sign Language). Chimpanzees can catch or be infected with human diseases. (Jane Goodall Institute)
Chimps are mainly found in rain forests and wet savannas. While they spend equal time on land and in trees, they do most of their feeding and sleeping in trees.
Chimps live in groups called troops, of some 30 to 80 individuals. These large groups are made up of smaller, very flexible groups of just a few animals, perhaps all females, all males or a mixed group.
Chimps sometimes chew leaves to make them absorbent and then use them as a sponge, dipping them in water and sucking out the moisture. They also use grass stems or twigs as tools, poking them into termite or ant nests and eating the insects that cling to them. They are able to wedge nuts between the roots of a tree and break the shells open with a stone.
Chimps are both arboreal and terrestrial, spending much of their daytime hours on the ground. They are quadrupedal, walking quickly on all fours with the fingers half-flexed to support the weight of the forequarters on the knuckles. They occasionally walk erect for short distances.
Chimps are agile climbers, building nests high up in trees to rest in during midday and sleep in at night. They construct new nests in minutes by bending branches, intertwining them to form a platform and lining the edges with twigs. In some areas chimps make nests on the ground.
Chimps are diurnal (but often active on moonlit nights) and begin their activities at dawn. After descending from their night nests they hungrily feed on fruits, their principal diet, and on leaves, buds and blossoms. After a while their feeding becomes more selective, and they will choose only the ripest fruit. They usually pick fruit with their hands, but they eat berries and seeds directly off the stem with their lips. Their diet consists of up to 80 different plant foods.
The female chimp has an estrus cycle of about 34 to 35 days. While in heat, the bare skin on her bottom becomes pink and swollen, and she may mate with several males. She normally gives birth to just one baby, which clings tightly to her breast and, like a human baby, develops rather slowly. An infant can sit up at 5 months and stand with support at 6 months. It is still suckled and sleeps with its mother until about 3 years of age, finally becoming independent and separating from her at about 4 years. Sexual maturity is reached between 8 and 10 years.
Chimps are among the noisiest of all wild animals and use a complicated system of sounds to communicate with each other. A loud "wraaa" call, which can be heard more than a mile away, warns of something unusual or disturbing. They hoot "hoo-hoo-hoo," scream, grunt and drum on hollow trees with the flat of their hands, sometimes for hours.
Chimps touch each other a great deal and may kiss when they meet. They also hold hands and groom each other. An adult chimp often has a special "friend" or companion with which it spends a lot of time. Female chimps give their young a great deal of attention and help each other with babysitting chores. Older chimps in the group are usually quite patient with energetic youngsters.
Information source
New research from the University of Kent has shown that serious behavioral abnormalities, some of which could be compared to mental illness in humans,
are endemic among captive chimpanzees.
The research, which was conducted by Dr Nicholas Newton-Fisher and Lucy Birkett from the University's School of Anthropology and Conservation and is published by the online journal PLoS ONE, was conducted among 40 socially-housed zoo-living chimpanzees from six collections in the USA and UK. After determining the prevalence, diversity, frequency, and duration of abnormal behavior from 1200 hours of continuous behavioral data, the researchers concluded that, while most behavior of zoo-living chimpanzees is 'normal' in that it is typical of their wild counterparts, abnormal behavior is endemic in this population despite enrichment efforts such as social housing.
Such abnormal behavior has been attributed to the fact that many zoo-living chimpanzees have little opportunity to adjust association patterns, occupy restricted and barren spaces compared to the natural habitat, and have large parts of their lives substantially managed by humans. Controlled diets and provisioned feeding contrast radically with the ever-changing foraging and decision-making processes of daily life in the wild.
To date, published literature on abnormal behavior in wild chimpanzees is sparse and rates of abnormality comparable to those described in the study have never been reported.
Dr Newton-Fisher, a primate behavioral ecologist and expert in wild chimpanzee behavior, said: 'The best zoo environments, which include all zoos in this study, try hard to enrich the lives of the chimpanzees in their care. Their efforts include providing unpredictable feeding schedules and extractive foraging opportunities, and opportunities for normal social interactions by housing chimpanzees in social groups. There are limits to what zoos can provide, however; the apes are still in captivity.
'What we found in this study is that some abnormal behaviors persist despite interventions to 'naturalize' the captive conditions. The pervasive nature of abnormal behavior, and its persistence in the face of environmental enrichment and social group housing, raises the concern that at least some examples of such behavior are indicative of possible mental health problems.
'We suggest that captivity itself may be fundamental as a causal factor in the presence of persistent, low-level, abnormal behavior -- and potentially more extreme levels in some individuals. Therefore, it is critical for us to learn more about how the chimpanzee mind copes with captivity, an issue with both scientific and welfare implications that will impact potential discussions concerning whether chimpanzees and similar species should be kept in captivity at all.'
Source
Correspondence between Dina Zulfikar and several renown organisations concerning the chimpanzees
From: Dina Zulficar <[email protected]>
To: Dave Morgan <[email protected]>; Jones David <[email protected]>; Nick Lindsay <[email protected]>
Sent: Fri, March 25, 2011 11:33:45 PM
Subject: Inquiries
Dear Mr. Dave Morgan, Mr. David Jones, Mr. Nick Lindsey
Since the misunderstanding occurred with former Central Zoos Director Dr. Nabil Sidki occurred as a result of critical review and assessment of ethical issues related to Mouza/Moza the chimp which was delivered to Giza Zoo from Sharm Breeding Center 8 April 2010 , which was made by animal advocates, local and international community and animal welfare representatives which was exposed by me – it seems that PAAZAB was not interested in resuming communication with me.
Now, after the revolution, and unrest, matters are clearly different. All work to fight corruption and rectify matters for a better Egypt .
I do learn about PAAZAB expert team efforts with zoo staff which has marked results in improving the conditions of some animals in the Giza Zoo as much as they can , however, I have to open a subject once again very clearly:and I kindly request an answer as I have been reviewing the PAAZAB standard document and clearly some items as I see are completely violated, from my point of view. I will only list very few items of the items I found non complying with the PAAZAB standard
1. Since before ( May 19) the Giza Zoo Management had to vacant 3 chimp enclosures to allow space for the 3 Orangutan new arrivals. Kuku was sent single to Fayoum Zoo
What I worry about according to what is stated in PAAZAB standard is:
8.2.12 - Animals temporarily accommodated away from others should not be separated for such a period of time, or in such a way that there would be difficulties in their re-introduction to the group or, if difficulties arise, the introduced animal should be removed and housed elsewhere. Group composition, sex ratios and the number of animals in an enclosure should be suitably catered for.
8.2.7 - Animals of social species should normally be maintained in compatible social groups. Individuals should only be kept isolated for conservation reasons, veterinary treatment and hospitalisation, for the benefit of the individual, the group, or other justifiable reasons and where such isolation is not detrimental to the individual animal.
8.2.4 - For every animal, specific requirements should be considered in relation to any possible:
a) species-specific physiological needs,
b) particular social requirements, and
c) behavioural developments over an animal’s life span and the impact and demand these would have on the animal’s environment.
Oscar and Fatouta were sent to Alex zoo, although there are only 2 enclosures open to view whilst the internal area (indoor area) consists of 3 enclosures thus allowing one of two to see the daylight per day!!
8.2.4 - For every animal, specific requirements should be considered in relation to any possible:
a) species-specific physiological needs,
b) particular social requirements, and
c) behavioral developments over an animal’s life span and the impact and demand these would have on the animal’s environment.
The 3 Orangutans
8.1.5 Institutions should not wilfully acquire and maintain animals for which they cannot reasonably provide the appropriate species' requirements as well as the requirements outlined in this standard.
In conclusion:
Kuku has been single in Fayoum since before the 19th of May, and this does not meet PAAZAB standard , nor it is any more acceptable for any or all animal welfare community in the world.
The enclosure in which Oscar and Fatouta the chimps who had been sent to Alexandria zoo since before the 19th of May, does not meet the species specific needs - indoor area has 3 cages, whilst the exhibit area where they see sunlight and view only consists of 2 cages! thus violates the PAAZAB standard and is unacceptable to any or all animal welfare community of the world.
It has been almost a year now? Long term plan which PAAZAB is working to implement is great, but the three chimps cannot remain in this status – In parallel the 3 Orangutans arrival is a clear violation to PAAZAB standard and is also unacceptable for ALL Animal Welfare People of the world, as clearly stated in PAAZAB standard again: 8.1.5 Institutions should not wilfully acquire and maintain animals for which they cannot reasonably provide the appropriate species' requirements as well as the requirements outlined in this standard.
What I suggest for a start is to send back the 3 Orangutans either to Ein Zoo, although I learnt that Ein Zoo intends to be a holding facility for Native animals only, so, it would be far better to send the 3 Orangutans to any of the PAAZAB institutions equipped with appropriate species requirements.
Would that be possible? Do you have current solutions or suggestions to the problems of the chimps and the Orangutans the subject of this email - under the current circumstances in Egypt ?
I hope I do receive an answer, I am directing my inquiries to PAAZAB as Giza Zoo is a member of PAAZAB.and I trust you have expertise in that issue.
Sincerely
Dina Zulfikar
-------------------------------
Van: Dina Zulficar [mailto:[email protected]]
Verzonden: dinsdag 12 april 2011 20:35
Aan: Gerald Dick (WAZA); Tom de Jongh; Neil Bemment (Paignton Zoo / EAZA); Bryan Carroll (Bristol Zoo / EAZA) )
CC: [email protected]
Onderwerp: SOS from Cairo - Egypt - PAAZAB are ignoring emails, we have cirtical cases
Dear Sirs
My name is Dina Zulfikar, I am an Animal Protection Advocate, and worked for long in this fiels, I have supported and called for revitalizing the Giza Zoo Project and the groups I work with have done numerous efforts to revitalize the Giza Zoo and in getting Giza Zoo aligned with PAAZAB. We have been conducting regular awareness campaigns, we have delivered complete blue prints (donated by Primarily Primates Texas) with budget analysis free to Giza Zoo for new chimps enclosure which was most needed since 2008, we had sponsors who carried the project of cooling the bears enclosure in the Giza Zoo after consulting bear biologists and smart bears society... we made many enrichment programs various in the zoo.
Since May 2010, we had confrontations with the Giza Zoo managment and seemingly resulted in blocking communication with PAAZAB, we had a big problem concerning a chimp delivered to Giza Zoo since March wrongly diagnosed with cancer and was left to die in a blocked cage, after raising the matter with PAAZAB and puttting pressure nationally and internationaly, end of July 2010 biopsy and operation was made, the chimp had benine tumours ...
Now we have critical case, WAZA is part of: the 3 Orangutans of AWPR (Al Ain Zoo) were given as present to Giza Zoo without checking or making sure that Giza Zoo has a complying enclosure. This was a wrong decision by Giza Zoo director too.. as even thinking of constructing a new enclosure for the Orangutans would mean budget, which we don't have. Anyway as a result, 3 chimps were sent to other governmental zoos, in non complying conditions, whilst the 3 Orangutans were placed in 3 cages in the chimps enclosure. One of them died end of March. Now we want the remaining 2 to be sent immediately to a complying facility which is a member of WAZA OR PAAZAB, Egypt is not a rich country.
I will have to attach hereunder the last email I sent to PAAZAB asking them again and again to find immediate soltutions, they never answered.
Saturday 16, we are holding a big protest in front of Giza Zoo fo find solutions to these critical matters. We count much on your expertise and help in finding immediate solutions to the Orangutans left , this would help us save the 3 chimps in horrible conditions.
I am also representing ESAF, Egyptian Society of Animal Friends, I am in charge of the wildlife unit.
We are sending SOS to international organizations and Animal People of the world to help us in this situation.
Sincerely
Dina Zulfikar
wildlife unit - ESAF
AWAR coordinator
Animal Rights Watch in Egypt
Report of critical cases in Giza Zoo
As situation is really critical, we are arranging a big protest in front of Giza Zoo Saturday 16, our demands are summarized in:
http://wildlife-eg.yolasite.com/protest-in-front-of-giza-zoo.php
After which we would need ALL international pressure we can get to assist our demands, the very critical and vital is: sending the remaining 2 Orangutans after the 3rd had died to any appropriate facility which meets the species specific needs and complies to standards of zoos, any member of PAAZAB or any international sanctuary. The second urgent thing we would need, is immediate return of the 3 chimps Kuku, Oscar and Fatouta who are held in completely non complying conditions.
I have sent SOS to: WSPA – BORN FREE – JGI – KARL AMMAN – PASA APES - IPPL and report send to: WAZA reporting PAAZAB for not answering to complaints and they failed to save the Orangutans and Chimps who were held in this situation since last May.
April 1st, 2011
Went today noon to the Giza Zoo, I walked through the middle gate, saw Mouza/Moza, she is fine except that people seem to throw food to her, I saw her eating bunches of bread... oranges... then walked through the bears enclosure, the chilling water system is not working, and the temperature is rising... it seems the chilling system is not fixed yet?
Went to the Chimps enclosure, saw Wahid the keeper who opened the internal cage for Ingi and Prince to come out, saw the three babies, Loza + Misho + Bobo, all fine, then went through the back, the 3 other cages, first empty, second empty, third had the orangutan, named "Titi" as I was told by the keeper, I inquired which Orangutan died, they said no Orangutan died, I said, well I know one died, they said ask the manager...
Today is Dr. Fatma Tammam day off, sure, if I ask any vet all will never give answers, anyway, I have to wait either for PAAZAB to clarify what happened, or for the meeting set the Saturday after , after 8 days, if Dr. Hassan Shafik (Chairperson of GOVS) keeps his word.
As for inquiring about what happened to the pet shop, the mobile of General Osama is still switched off, will call at night, and will try to pass by the pet shop with my husband...
March 25th, 2011 was the last time I wrote to PAAZAB, it seems I felt that something wrong would happen, the death of the Orangutan happened during last week..
As the call came from anonymous, most probably an employee in the zoo, who did not indentify himself, who seemed to know a lot... if we simply forward my email (this one to PAAZAB), again the Giza Zoo would accuse me as they did before in Mouza's case of ruining the reputation .... and may convince PAAZAB too, so we may reach no where?
What do you think? Does the ANIMAL PROTECTION organizations have the right to question PAAZAB about what happened to the Orangutan, would that be possible, the ages of the 3 Orangutans seem to be young, so the death cause must be (not normal)... can we do it this way, can we ask for governmental central labs report and not Giza Zoo lab report?
Here is the email I sent to PAAZAB, even before learning about the death of the Orangutan, also at the end of this email I will refer to the zoo links which states the ages of the Orangutans.
I have also added to this email (to all) JGI Hilda Terez and Daniela who have been trying to write to Giza Zoo several times to help the animals.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 2:53pm
8 pm,
Received anonymous call – the caller a man stated: you are dina zulfikar, you were in the zoo last Friday and was very upset about the dead orangutan here is the truth:
The Orangutan is dead, and actually the 2 others are as well infected with (liver virus), zoo Notec disease. No one is saying the truth and you will not know it unless you request that pathology is done in trusted labs and not in zoo labs. There is a lot of corruption and a lot of hidden things.
It seems some in the zoo are against each other, I take this complaint and warning very seriously. We have supposedly a meeting with Ghariperson of GOVS and Central Zoos Director Saturday, me and Mr. Sherbiny, President of Animal Friends. We will make many inquiries, but, according to the call I received, it is believed that analysis by labs of Giza Zoo regarding the death of the orangutan cannot be trusted, the anonymous told me they burried the body and covered it with cement (concrete).. and that the officials all are hiding very serious things, unless, the pathology or analysis is done in a trusted lab.
How can this be done? PAAZAB are not replying to my emails.
Sincerely
Dina Zulfikar.
Sunday April 10, 2011
I made my own investigation from reliable resources, I cannot say their names, yes, the Orangutan died of chronic hepatitis and nefrytes (I am not sure if I spell right), meaning something like kidney failure too. Samples were sent to 2 Egyptian labs, one named "Al Mokhtabar" the second belongs to Vets.¨
April 15, 2011
This is the conversation I had a conversation on facebook with Dr. Adrian Tordiffe of PAAZAB expert team which was sent to Cairo several times, the head of expert delegation PAAZAB team in Giza Zoo, after reporting the death of the Orangutan to him on facebook, I told him PAAZAB do not answer... he told me he would raise the matter with Mr. David Morgan, I never received an answer:
Verzonden: dinsdag 12 april 2011 20:35
Aan: Gerald Dick (WAZA); Tom de Jongh; Neil Bemment (Paignton Zoo / EAZA); Bryan Carroll (Bristol Zoo / EAZA) )
CC: [email protected]
Onderwerp: SOS from Cairo - Egypt - PAAZAB are ignoring emails, we have cirtical cases
Dear Sirs
My name is Dina Zulfikar, I am an Animal Protection Advocate, and worked for long in this fiels, I have supported and called for revitalizing the Giza Zoo Project and the groups I work with have done numerous efforts to revitalize the Giza Zoo and in getting Giza Zoo aligned with PAAZAB. We have been conducting regular awareness campaigns, we have delivered complete blue prints (donated by Primarily Primates Texas) with budget analysis free to Giza Zoo for new chimps enclosure which was most needed since 2008, we had sponsors who carried the project of cooling the bears enclosure in the Giza Zoo after consulting bear biologists and smart bears society... we made many enrichment programs various in the zoo.
Since May 2010, we had confrontations with the Giza Zoo managment and seemingly resulted in blocking communication with PAAZAB, we had a big problem concerning a chimp delivered to Giza Zoo since March wrongly diagnosed with cancer and was left to die in a blocked cage, after raising the matter with PAAZAB and puttting pressure nationally and internationaly, end of July 2010 biopsy and operation was made, the chimp had benine tumours ...
Now we have critical case, WAZA is part of: the 3 Orangutans of AWPR (Al Ain Zoo) were given as present to Giza Zoo without checking or making sure that Giza Zoo has a complying enclosure. This was a wrong decision by Giza Zoo director too.. as even thinking of constructing a new enclosure for the Orangutans would mean budget, which we don't have. Anyway as a result, 3 chimps were sent to other governmental zoos, in non complying conditions, whilst the 3 Orangutans were placed in 3 cages in the chimps enclosure. One of them died end of March. Now we want the remaining 2 to be sent immediately to a complying facility which is a member of WAZA OR PAAZAB, Egypt is not a rich country.
I will have to attach hereunder the last email I sent to PAAZAB asking them again and again to find immediate soltutions, they never answered.
Saturday 16, we are holding a big protest in front of Giza Zoo fo find solutions to these critical matters. We count much on your expertise and help in finding immediate solutions to the Orangutans left , this would help us save the 3 chimps in horrible conditions.
I am also representing ESAF, Egyptian Society of Animal Friends, I am in charge of the wildlife unit.
We are sending SOS to international organizations and Animal People of the world to help us in this situation.
Sincerely
Dina Zulfikar
wildlife unit - ESAF
AWAR coordinator
Animal Rights Watch in Egypt
Report of critical cases in Giza Zoo
As situation is really critical, we are arranging a big protest in front of Giza Zoo Saturday 16, our demands are summarized in:
http://wildlife-eg.yolasite.com/protest-in-front-of-giza-zoo.php
After which we would need ALL international pressure we can get to assist our demands, the very critical and vital is: sending the remaining 2 Orangutans after the 3rd had died to any appropriate facility which meets the species specific needs and complies to standards of zoos, any member of PAAZAB or any international sanctuary. The second urgent thing we would need, is immediate return of the 3 chimps Kuku, Oscar and Fatouta who are held in completely non complying conditions.
I have sent SOS to: WSPA – BORN FREE – JGI – KARL AMMAN – PASA APES - IPPL and report send to: WAZA reporting PAAZAB for not answering to complaints and they failed to save the Orangutans and Chimps who were held in this situation since last May.
April 1st, 2011
Went today noon to the Giza Zoo, I walked through the middle gate, saw Mouza/Moza, she is fine except that people seem to throw food to her, I saw her eating bunches of bread... oranges... then walked through the bears enclosure, the chilling water system is not working, and the temperature is rising... it seems the chilling system is not fixed yet?
Went to the Chimps enclosure, saw Wahid the keeper who opened the internal cage for Ingi and Prince to come out, saw the three babies, Loza + Misho + Bobo, all fine, then went through the back, the 3 other cages, first empty, second empty, third had the orangutan, named "Titi" as I was told by the keeper, I inquired which Orangutan died, they said no Orangutan died, I said, well I know one died, they said ask the manager...
Today is Dr. Fatma Tammam day off, sure, if I ask any vet all will never give answers, anyway, I have to wait either for PAAZAB to clarify what happened, or for the meeting set the Saturday after , after 8 days, if Dr. Hassan Shafik (Chairperson of GOVS) keeps his word.
As for inquiring about what happened to the pet shop, the mobile of General Osama is still switched off, will call at night, and will try to pass by the pet shop with my husband...
March 25th, 2011 was the last time I wrote to PAAZAB, it seems I felt that something wrong would happen, the death of the Orangutan happened during last week..
As the call came from anonymous, most probably an employee in the zoo, who did not indentify himself, who seemed to know a lot... if we simply forward my email (this one to PAAZAB), again the Giza Zoo would accuse me as they did before in Mouza's case of ruining the reputation .... and may convince PAAZAB too, so we may reach no where?
What do you think? Does the ANIMAL PROTECTION organizations have the right to question PAAZAB about what happened to the Orangutan, would that be possible, the ages of the 3 Orangutans seem to be young, so the death cause must be (not normal)... can we do it this way, can we ask for governmental central labs report and not Giza Zoo lab report?
Here is the email I sent to PAAZAB, even before learning about the death of the Orangutan, also at the end of this email I will refer to the zoo links which states the ages of the Orangutans.
I have also added to this email (to all) JGI Hilda Terez and Daniela who have been trying to write to Giza Zoo several times to help the animals.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 2:53pm
8 pm,
Received anonymous call – the caller a man stated: you are dina zulfikar, you were in the zoo last Friday and was very upset about the dead orangutan here is the truth:
The Orangutan is dead, and actually the 2 others are as well infected with (liver virus), zoo Notec disease. No one is saying the truth and you will not know it unless you request that pathology is done in trusted labs and not in zoo labs. There is a lot of corruption and a lot of hidden things.
It seems some in the zoo are against each other, I take this complaint and warning very seriously. We have supposedly a meeting with Ghariperson of GOVS and Central Zoos Director Saturday, me and Mr. Sherbiny, President of Animal Friends. We will make many inquiries, but, according to the call I received, it is believed that analysis by labs of Giza Zoo regarding the death of the orangutan cannot be trusted, the anonymous told me they burried the body and covered it with cement (concrete).. and that the officials all are hiding very serious things, unless, the pathology or analysis is done in a trusted lab.
How can this be done? PAAZAB are not replying to my emails.
Sincerely
Dina Zulfikar.
Sunday April 10, 2011
I made my own investigation from reliable resources, I cannot say their names, yes, the Orangutan died of chronic hepatitis and nefrytes (I am not sure if I spell right), meaning something like kidney failure too. Samples were sent to 2 Egyptian labs, one named "Al Mokhtabar" the second belongs to Vets.¨
April 15, 2011
This is the conversation I had a conversation on facebook with Dr. Adrian Tordiffe of PAAZAB expert team which was sent to Cairo several times, the head of expert delegation PAAZAB team in Giza Zoo, after reporting the death of the Orangutan to him on facebook, I told him PAAZAB do not answer... he told me he would raise the matter with Mr. David Morgan, I never received an answer:
----------------------------------
From: Tom de Jongh <[email protected]>
To: 'Dina Zulficar' <[email protected]>; "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Cc: Gerald Dick (WAZA) <[email protected]>; Neil Bemment (Paignton Zoo / EAZA) <[email protected]>; Bryan Carroll (Bristol Zoo / EAZA) ) <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 9:09 AM
Subject: RE: SOS from Cairo - Egypt - PAAZAB are ignoring emails, we have cirtical cases
First of all, I want to thank you both for bringing the fate of the Great Apes in Giza Zoo to our attention. I am writing this as EAZA Great Ape TAG Chair, also on behalf of Bryan Caroll and Neil Bemment.
You are right that this is an issue that involves PAZAAB, Al Ain ZOO and WAZA in the first place. We were informed by Gerald Dick that both Al Ain Zoo and PAZAAB are trying to establish contact with Giza Zoo, keeping Gerald Dick himself in the loop. This seems to be the right approach and we sincerely hope that these attempts will be succesfull, and will eventually lead to a much improved situation for both the orangutans and the chimpanzees.
Yours sincerely,
Tom de Jongh
Chair of the EAZA Great Ape TAG
Burgers' Zoo
Antoon van Hooffplein 1
6816 SH Arnhem
the Netherlands
tel: +31(0)263537203
fax: +31(0)264430776
To: 'Dina Zulficar' <[email protected]>; "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Cc: Gerald Dick (WAZA) <[email protected]>; Neil Bemment (Paignton Zoo / EAZA) <[email protected]>; Bryan Carroll (Bristol Zoo / EAZA) ) <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 9:09 AM
Subject: RE: SOS from Cairo - Egypt - PAAZAB are ignoring emails, we have cirtical cases
First of all, I want to thank you both for bringing the fate of the Great Apes in Giza Zoo to our attention. I am writing this as EAZA Great Ape TAG Chair, also on behalf of Bryan Caroll and Neil Bemment.
You are right that this is an issue that involves PAZAAB, Al Ain ZOO and WAZA in the first place. We were informed by Gerald Dick that both Al Ain Zoo and PAZAAB are trying to establish contact with Giza Zoo, keeping Gerald Dick himself in the loop. This seems to be the right approach and we sincerely hope that these attempts will be succesfull, and will eventually lead to a much improved situation for both the orangutans and the chimpanzees.
Yours sincerely,
Tom de Jongh
Chair of the EAZA Great Ape TAG
Burgers' Zoo
Antoon van Hooffplein 1
6816 SH Arnhem
the Netherlands
tel: +31(0)263537203
fax: +31(0)264430776
------------------------------------
Van: Dina Zulficar [mailto:[email protected]]
Verzonden: woensdag 30 mei 2012 0:01
Aan: Tom de Jongh; [email protected]
CC: Gerald Dick (WAZA); Neil Bemment (Paignton Zoo / EAZA); Bryan Carroll (Bristol Zoo / EAZA) )
Onderwerp: Re: SOS from Cairo - Egypt - PAAZAB are ignoring emails, we have cirtical cases
Dear Dr. Tom De Jongh
Dear Al Ain Zoo
Today is 29 May 2012 - the Orangutans matter which was raised last year, Giza Zoo statement 15 April 2011 - today is 29 May 2012 - the Giza Zoo stated " establishing the orangs in their new home within the next three months" up till today the enclosure is not finished, nor did the giza zoo conduct medical tests for the remaining 2 orangutans after the death of the 3rd in March 2011. Please see statement as published last April, 2011
http://zoonewsdigest.blogspot.com/2011/04/giza-zoo-statement-on-orangutans-in.html
My question is: how long will this last?
As much as I condemn Giza Zoo I condemn Al Ain Zoo for dumping the 3 Orangutans and not following up.
About the chimps, we managed to sort this; with the help of JGI, mandate Hilda Tresz of Phoenix Zoo we managed to make grouping of the chimps at Giza Zoo and Alexandria Zoo during October and November 2011. Kuku was brought back from solitary confinement in Fayoum zoo and is now grouped with Mouza the tumor chimp, whilst the 3 babies have now been grouped with Ingi and Prince. In Alexandria, Oscar, Fatouta, and Meshmesh were grouped, but in January 2012, I learnt by coincidence that Fatouta died of TB which was not included in the pathology report. I have escalated matters and reported to GOVS and Egyptian Parliament that Giza Zoo does not have or conduct tuberculine tests, nor do they have x ray to make tests for the remaining chimps.
I also have questions to PAAZAB, you help Giza Zoo in getting in more animals when already the animals in Giza Zoo need much much help. Priorities for maintaining better facility and enclosures should in my opinion come first. Bears enclosure, AWAR and REVITALIZE GIZA ZOO GROUP, donated through Egyptian company cooling system for the bears since August 2008. The zoo failed to make maintenance and system is not functioning effectively in the hot summer, plus, even the pool , the tiny one is void of water, when asking the zoo director, she questions the vet in charge of the bears, and the answer is: our bears do not like to go into the water this is why the tiny pools are emty!!!!!
Sincerely,
Dina Zulfikar
Verzonden: woensdag 30 mei 2012 0:01
Aan: Tom de Jongh; [email protected]
CC: Gerald Dick (WAZA); Neil Bemment (Paignton Zoo / EAZA); Bryan Carroll (Bristol Zoo / EAZA) )
Onderwerp: Re: SOS from Cairo - Egypt - PAAZAB are ignoring emails, we have cirtical cases
Dear Dr. Tom De Jongh
Dear Al Ain Zoo
Today is 29 May 2012 - the Orangutans matter which was raised last year, Giza Zoo statement 15 April 2011 - today is 29 May 2012 - the Giza Zoo stated " establishing the orangs in their new home within the next three months" up till today the enclosure is not finished, nor did the giza zoo conduct medical tests for the remaining 2 orangutans after the death of the 3rd in March 2011. Please see statement as published last April, 2011
http://zoonewsdigest.blogspot.com/2011/04/giza-zoo-statement-on-orangutans-in.html
My question is: how long will this last?
As much as I condemn Giza Zoo I condemn Al Ain Zoo for dumping the 3 Orangutans and not following up.
About the chimps, we managed to sort this; with the help of JGI, mandate Hilda Tresz of Phoenix Zoo we managed to make grouping of the chimps at Giza Zoo and Alexandria Zoo during October and November 2011. Kuku was brought back from solitary confinement in Fayoum zoo and is now grouped with Mouza the tumor chimp, whilst the 3 babies have now been grouped with Ingi and Prince. In Alexandria, Oscar, Fatouta, and Meshmesh were grouped, but in January 2012, I learnt by coincidence that Fatouta died of TB which was not included in the pathology report. I have escalated matters and reported to GOVS and Egyptian Parliament that Giza Zoo does not have or conduct tuberculine tests, nor do they have x ray to make tests for the remaining chimps.
I also have questions to PAAZAB, you help Giza Zoo in getting in more animals when already the animals in Giza Zoo need much much help. Priorities for maintaining better facility and enclosures should in my opinion come first. Bears enclosure, AWAR and REVITALIZE GIZA ZOO GROUP, donated through Egyptian company cooling system for the bears since August 2008. The zoo failed to make maintenance and system is not functioning effectively in the hot summer, plus, even the pool , the tiny one is void of water, when asking the zoo director, she questions the vet in charge of the bears, and the answer is: our bears do not like to go into the water this is why the tiny pools are emty!!!!!
Sincerely,
Dina Zulfikar
----------------------------------
From: Tom de Jongh <[email protected]>
To: 'Gerald DICK' <[email protected]>; 'Dina Zulficar' <[email protected]>; "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Cc: 'Neil Bemment (Paignton Zoo / EAZA)' <[email protected]>; 'Bryan Carroll (Bristol Zoo / EAZA) )' <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 4:27 PM
Subject: RE: SOS from Cairo - Egypt - PAAZAB are ignoring emails, we have cirtical cases
Dear Gerald,
Thank you for this encouraging message. It seems good to remain critical, but also positive that things are moving in the right direction.
Tom
Tom de Jongh
Chair of the EAZA Great Ape TAG
Burgers' Zoo
Antoon van Hooffplein 1
6816 SH Arnhem
the Netherlands
tel: +31(0)263537203
fax: +31(0)264430776
Van: Gerald DICK [mailto:[email protected]]
Verzonden: woensdag 30 mei 2012 15:17
Aan: Tom de Jongh; 'Dina Zulficar'; [email protected]
CC: 'Neil Bemment (Paignton Zoo / EAZA)'; 'Bryan Carroll (Bristol Zoo / EAZA) )'
Onderwerp: RE: SOS from Cairo - Egypt - PAAZAB are ignoring emails, we have cirtical cases
Dear all,
To the knowledge of WAZA Dr Mona Sadek of Giza gave a presentation at the Oudtshoorn PAAZAB meeting two weeks ago which was very well received. Also the visit of the vice-chair of the Ethics and animal welfare committee revealed that many positive changes have taken place/are taking place. The overall development seems to be quite encouraging, but I am sure things could move faster and many of us would like things to be changed at a different speed. Taking into consideration political instability and the special circumstances, with some patience more improvements will be satisfying soon.
Gerald
Gerald Dick, PhD, MAS
Executive Director
WAZA Executive Office
IUCN Conservation Centre | Rue Mauverney 28 | CH-1196 Gland | Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 999 07 90 | Fax: +41 (0)22 999 07 91
www.waza.org
To: 'Gerald DICK' <[email protected]>; 'Dina Zulficar' <[email protected]>; "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Cc: 'Neil Bemment (Paignton Zoo / EAZA)' <[email protected]>; 'Bryan Carroll (Bristol Zoo / EAZA) )' <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 4:27 PM
Subject: RE: SOS from Cairo - Egypt - PAAZAB are ignoring emails, we have cirtical cases
Dear Gerald,
Thank you for this encouraging message. It seems good to remain critical, but also positive that things are moving in the right direction.
Tom
Tom de Jongh
Chair of the EAZA Great Ape TAG
Burgers' Zoo
Antoon van Hooffplein 1
6816 SH Arnhem
the Netherlands
tel: +31(0)263537203
fax: +31(0)264430776
Van: Gerald DICK [mailto:[email protected]]
Verzonden: woensdag 30 mei 2012 15:17
Aan: Tom de Jongh; 'Dina Zulficar'; [email protected]
CC: 'Neil Bemment (Paignton Zoo / EAZA)'; 'Bryan Carroll (Bristol Zoo / EAZA) )'
Onderwerp: RE: SOS from Cairo - Egypt - PAAZAB are ignoring emails, we have cirtical cases
Dear all,
To the knowledge of WAZA Dr Mona Sadek of Giza gave a presentation at the Oudtshoorn PAAZAB meeting two weeks ago which was very well received. Also the visit of the vice-chair of the Ethics and animal welfare committee revealed that many positive changes have taken place/are taking place. The overall development seems to be quite encouraging, but I am sure things could move faster and many of us would like things to be changed at a different speed. Taking into consideration political instability and the special circumstances, with some patience more improvements will be satisfying soon.
Gerald
Gerald Dick, PhD, MAS
Executive Director
WAZA Executive Office
IUCN Conservation Centre | Rue Mauverney 28 | CH-1196 Gland | Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 999 07 90 | Fax: +41 (0)22 999 07 91
www.waza.org
---------------------------------
From: Tom de Jongh [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 30 May 2012 12:16
To: 'Dina Zulficar'; [email protected]
Cc: Gerald Dick (WAZA); Neil Bemment (Paignton Zoo / EAZA); Bryan Carroll (Bristol Zoo / EAZA) )
Subject: RE: SOS from Cairo - Egypt - PAAZAB are ignoring emails, we have cirtical cases
Dear Dina Zulfikar,
Thank you for sending an update on the animal welfare situation in Giza Zoo. The successful grouping of the chimpanzees in Giza Zoo and Alexandria Zoo are good news of course. It is sad that you also had to report again on some matters of great concern. Both Giza Zoo and Al Ain Zoo are not members of EAZA, so this is foremost a matter for WAZA and PAZAAB.
With best regards,
Tom de Jongh
Tom de Jongh
Chair of the EAZA Great Ape TAG
Burgers' Zoo
Antoon van Hooffplein 1
6816 SH Arnhem
the Netherlands
tel: +31(0)263537203
fax: +31(0)264430776
Sent: 30 May 2012 12:16
To: 'Dina Zulficar'; [email protected]
Cc: Gerald Dick (WAZA); Neil Bemment (Paignton Zoo / EAZA); Bryan Carroll (Bristol Zoo / EAZA) )
Subject: RE: SOS from Cairo - Egypt - PAAZAB are ignoring emails, we have cirtical cases
Dear Dina Zulfikar,
Thank you for sending an update on the animal welfare situation in Giza Zoo. The successful grouping of the chimpanzees in Giza Zoo and Alexandria Zoo are good news of course. It is sad that you also had to report again on some matters of great concern. Both Giza Zoo and Al Ain Zoo are not members of EAZA, so this is foremost a matter for WAZA and PAZAAB.
With best regards,
Tom de Jongh
Tom de Jongh
Chair of the EAZA Great Ape TAG
Burgers' Zoo
Antoon van Hooffplein 1
6816 SH Arnhem
the Netherlands
tel: +31(0)263537203
fax: +31(0)264430776
Meshmesh is sad and lonely..
Zentral zoos director: Please don't let poor Meshmesh die,
like the other chimpanzees did
MESHMESH, the chimpanzee of Alexandria Zoo has been suffering from depression since the death of his two roommates at Alexandria Zoo.
FATOUTA died January 2012, OSCAR died September 2012 (originally transferred from Giza Zoo, 19 May 2010 to vacant space for the Orangutans).
Since the death of the 2 dear chimpanzees, Dina had been asking Central Zoos Director and Chairperson of GOVS to take immediate action before MESHMESH dies, too. Hilda Tresz, behavior specialist who had been sent to Central Zoos and GOVS since beginning of October clearly stated: "It is necessary to move MESHMESH to Giza Zoo chimps enclosure, where other chimps are...."
Dr. Fatma Tamam promised to do something and to take decision, but time, the time factor is not on MESHMESH' side...
Please Zentral Zoos Directors: don't let Meshmesh die!
FATOUTA died January 2012, OSCAR died September 2012 (originally transferred from Giza Zoo, 19 May 2010 to vacant space for the Orangutans).
Since the death of the 2 dear chimpanzees, Dina had been asking Central Zoos Director and Chairperson of GOVS to take immediate action before MESHMESH dies, too. Hilda Tresz, behavior specialist who had been sent to Central Zoos and GOVS since beginning of October clearly stated: "It is necessary to move MESHMESH to Giza Zoo chimps enclosure, where other chimps are...."
Dr. Fatma Tamam promised to do something and to take decision, but time, the time factor is not on MESHMESH' side...
Please Zentral Zoos Directors: don't let Meshmesh die!
HURRAY !!!
Meshmesh, who lived all alone at Alexandria Zoo, has been transferred to Giza Zoo on 23rd of November, 2012
Meshmesh was transferred from Alexandria Zoo to Giza Zoo on 23 November by a team headed by Dr. Walid Shaaban, Mr. Wahid, the keeper, and a driver, as per instructions of Central Zoos Director Dr. Fatma Tamam, and deputy Dr. Fadia Abbas.
Many, many thanks at Dr Fatma Tamam, Dr Fadja Abbas, Dr Walid Shabaan and Mr Wahid,
as well as to Dr. Iman Mokhamer, Manager of Alexandria Zoo
Thank you!
Meshmesh's transfer to Giza zoo has even been covered by 'Ahram Newspaper',
the biggest newspaper in Egypt :)
Updates on Giza Zoo
Improvements have been made to the fennec fox exhibit
(pictures taken BEFORE = September 20, 2012 and AFTER = December 22, 2012)
Substrates, ceramic floors were finally covered with sand, and a small tunnel has been placed in the floors in case the foxes would like to hide.
No matter how few the changes are, yet, such small things make a remarkable difference to captive animals.
No matter how few the changes are, yet, such small things make a remarkable difference to captive animals.
Many thanks for these improvements to the vet in charge and to the keepers of the animals. Thank you!
Dina's visit from 24 February, 2013
While in some of the governmental zoos things are improving - although very slowly and only at little steps - in other zoos, such as the Giza zoo, things seem to get worse, at least in some areas.
During her visit from 24 February, Dina noticed that the conditions in the enclosure where the foxes, the dogs, the cats, the jackals and the raccoons are being kept, were disastrous!
Athough members of the group "Revitalize the Giza Zoo" together with ESMA had donated blankets, mattresses and paletts, and even the Zoo Director had brought some more pallets, during Dina's visit all was wet, cold and there was water on the ground. The poor animals had nowhere to go, nowhere to lie and to find a little comfort. There was nothing but the cold, wet concrete floor.
While one of the 3 enclosures has been fixed (see above), the two others (see below) are a chaos and need attention and improvement immediately!
During her visit from 24 February, Dina noticed that the conditions in the enclosure where the foxes, the dogs, the cats, the jackals and the raccoons are being kept, were disastrous!
Athough members of the group "Revitalize the Giza Zoo" together with ESMA had donated blankets, mattresses and paletts, and even the Zoo Director had brought some more pallets, during Dina's visit all was wet, cold and there was water on the ground. The poor animals had nowhere to go, nowhere to lie and to find a little comfort. There was nothing but the cold, wet concrete floor.
While one of the 3 enclosures has been fixed (see above), the two others (see below) are a chaos and need attention and improvement immediately!
Nothing but the cold and wet concrete floor. No dry and warm place to lie or to hide for these poor animals.
Request submitted to Central Zoos of Egypt – GIZA ZOO – by Dina Zulfikar:
We kindly ask (today Feb. 26, 2013), and renew the request submitted various times since years: Giza Zoo received many in-kind contributions, donated items from civil society since 2007 by formed "Revitalize the Giza Zoo" groups coordinating and societies who encouraged project of revitalizing the giza zoo , items donated by groups, organizations, and companies. List of all items are registered in the files of Giza Zoo and in the files of GOVS, but, we ask for this to be published in both official Giza Zoo website and official facebook group, in order to give demo example of cooperation between civil society and governmental facilities opened for the public
We kindly ask (today Feb. 26, 2013), and renew the request submitted various times since years: Giza Zoo received many in-kind contributions, donated items from civil society since 2007 by formed "Revitalize the Giza Zoo" groups coordinating and societies who encouraged project of revitalizing the giza zoo , items donated by groups, organizations, and companies. List of all items are registered in the files of Giza Zoo and in the files of GOVS, but, we ask for this to be published in both official Giza Zoo website and official facebook group, in order to give demo example of cooperation between civil society and governmental facilities opened for the public
رفع هذا الطلب منذ أعوام.... و الآن 26 فبراير 2013 نجدد الطلب إيمانا بمبدأ الشفافية و تشجيع المجتمع المدني علي التعاون مع المؤسسات الحكومية و كذلك للتوضيح للكافة نموذج التعاون الذي تم.
إيمانا بالشفافية... و جدية التعاون بين المجتمع المدني و المؤسسات الحكومية... و حفاظا علي المال العام... نطلب من الإدارة المركزية لحدائق الحيوان أن تنشر علي موقعها الرسمي كل التبرعات العينية التي قدمت إلي حديقة حيوان الجيزة بداية من 2007 إلي اليوم 2013 علي صفحتهم الرسمية علي الفيس بوك و الموقع الرسمي للحديقة. جميع التبرعات العينية مدونة في سجلات حديقة حيوان الجيزة و الهيئة العامة للخدمات البيطرية. "مشروع تطوير حديقة حيوان الجيزة" المكون من المجتمع المدني في إطار تقديم التعاون و التسهيلات قادم تبرعات عينية عديدة للحديقة منذ 2007 إلي اليوم ممثل في: نشطاء حقوق الحيوان – (الرابطات و بعض الجمعيات) و أصدقاء الحدائق التراثية و العامة الذين اشتركوا و كانوا من رواد هذا المشروع المبني علي التعاون.
إيمانا بالشفافية... و جدية التعاون بين المجتمع المدني و المؤسسات الحكومية... و حفاظا علي المال العام... نطلب من الإدارة المركزية لحدائق الحيوان أن تنشر علي موقعها الرسمي كل التبرعات العينية التي قدمت إلي حديقة حيوان الجيزة بداية من 2007 إلي اليوم 2013 علي صفحتهم الرسمية علي الفيس بوك و الموقع الرسمي للحديقة. جميع التبرعات العينية مدونة في سجلات حديقة حيوان الجيزة و الهيئة العامة للخدمات البيطرية. "مشروع تطوير حديقة حيوان الجيزة" المكون من المجتمع المدني في إطار تقديم التعاون و التسهيلات قادم تبرعات عينية عديدة للحديقة منذ 2007 إلي اليوم ممثل في: نشطاء حقوق الحيوان – (الرابطات و بعض الجمعيات) و أصدقاء الحدائق التراثية و العامة الذين اشتركوا و كانوا من رواد هذا المشروع المبني علي التعاون.
A near death lioness at Alexandria zoo
لبؤة على وشك الموت -حديقة حيوان الاسكندرية
This is the comment of Dr. Iman Mokhamer, Manager of Alexandria Zoo, made in the Facebook group Veterinarians (in Arabic الأطباء البيطريين) regarding the dying lioness:
Quick translation:
"I would like to assure all animal lovers that lions in the zoo receive great attention and care from the Vets of the zoo, also the keepers, this is done under supervision of Central Zoos Director, tests and preventative medications are given to animals, besides other preventative procedures, animals, specially wild animals, are like humans in medications, most important is: vet does his duties, always vets of the zoo are subject to dangers, despite this they never receive a thank you, all the time critics, which most are not founded.
I ask animal lovers to show some love and mercy to vets who face difficulties in their work and they never say anything, like Dr. Magdy who had an injury whilst performing his duties. I would like to grab attentions that once vets notice any danger or suspicious thing they send samples to labs of the Central Zoos, and then they agree on procedure and medication.
I ask those who take pictures not to exaggerate, and show the truth, and deal with love and encourage through positive suggestions, at the end, all work for good health of animals and general interest of people, this is what is needed and not lifting spirits of animals and making humans feel down."
First response from Gudrun Wiesflecker, BORN FREE FOUNDATION
"We have received quite a few emails about the lioness at Alexandria Zoo, reportedly in need of medical attention. Sadly, the conditions at Alexandria Zoo are quite common in many zoos in Egypt. The zoo holds many lions, but they do not seem to have the expertise or the funds to meet even their basic welfare needs, yet they allow the animals to breed, which is only adding to their problems.
The situation regarding this lioness is very concerning as it would appear that the zoo does not even have access to vital veterinary equipment. Born Free has raised our concerns with the Egyptian authorities, and also with WAZA and PAAZAB urging them to assist Alexandria Zoo, as both these organisations’ claim to promote best practice in zoos and encourage better animal welfare and husbandry."
• xIman Mokhamer
الحقيقة احب اطمن كل المحبين للحيوانات ان الاسوود بالحديقة تلاقى اهتماااام كبير من اطباء الحديقة وايضا من العمال وهذا يتم تحت اشراف الادارة المركزية حيث يتم التعامل مع جميع الحيوانات باجراء التحاليل الازمة و اعطائهم الادوية الوقائية التى ترفع المناعة وغيرها من البرامج الوقائية واضيف ان الحيوانات و الخاصة البرية منهم مثلها كمثل الانسان فى العلاجات المهم ان الطبيب يعمل واجبة على اكمل وجة و الجدير بالذكر أن الاطباء داخل الحديقة يتعرضوا دائما للاخطار وبرغم ذلك بدل كلمة الشكر نواجة هذة الانتقادات التى معظمها فى غير محلها ارجو ان يتوفر لمحبى الحيوانات ايضا بعض المحبة والرحمة ايضا للاطباااااااااء البيطريي اللذين يواجهوا الصعاب ويعملوا بصمت ولاينتظرون مقابل سوى الرحمة ومثال ذلك الدكتور مجدى اللذى تعرض للخطر اثناء تادية عملة باخلاص والفت النظر انة فى حالة ظهور اى حالة خطر او غريبة يتم على الفور ارسال العينات الى معامل الادارة المركزية والاتفاق على العلاج المناسب وارجو عند التقاط الصور عدم المبالغة وتشوية الحقيقة ويكون التعامل بمحبة وتشجيع و من لة راى يعرضة بروح طيبة وفى النهاية يكون العمل من اجل صحة الحيوانات و الصالح العام ولا هو المطلوب رفع الروح المعنوية للحيوان وخفض الروح المعنوية للانساااااااااااااااااااان ...........
Dina Zulfikar شكرا دكتور ايمان علي الرد - هل من الممكن نعرف أو نطمئن علي حال اللبوءة المريضة و الممتنعة عن الأكل و كما وصف الشهود فى حالة قيء مستمر؟ لو ممكن صورة لها اثناء العلاج نكون شاكرين....بالنسبة للجمل المصاب ممكن حضرتك تفهمينا الاجراءات التي
اتخذت؟
Quick translation:
Thanks Dr. Iman Mokhamar for replying. Is it possible to know how the lioness is, the subject lioness of the picture link attached, we know she refused to eat and as per eye witnesses report, is vomoting? Can you please supply recent picture of her during medication? As for the injured camel in the link supplied, what are the procedures taken?
Update on the lioness
July 23, 2012
It is with a very heavy heart that we must announce that we have learned from the zoo-directors that the poor lioness had died last week.
Below, the comment made by Dr Iman Mokhamer, manager of Alexandria Zoo, made in the Facebook group of the General Organization of Veterinary Services:
"To begin, I would like to wish all colleagues of GOVS a Happy Ramadan, specially the Chairperson of GOVS Military General and Doctor Osama Selim.
I would like to clarify, in regard to the picture about the lioness in Alexandria Zoo and the brutal campaign we have been subject to, that this picture was taken of the sick lioness and was used to scandalize the zoo, this was a sick case, took its time in treatment by zoo vets, and it died, and pathology was made and this is being recorded in zoo official records.
About people who took advantage of photographing her whilst we took her to the outside exhibit to enjoy some sunshine, and took pictures….. these people are not following animal welfare, they have no mercy, and they are not following honesty, they should not have taken pictures of her…
I was surprised last Friday, a lady vet accompanied by her colleague came to Alexandria zoo, paid tickets, as if they were vets, when asked about their identity they said they are from South Africa, they said they came to help, and they found nothing, and they thanked us for the good conditions and health of big cats ..they praised us for good care and information, they praised the keepers, we exchanged information, and I discovered, we zoo vets have enough and necessary information to make our superiors proud of us.
While I was in my daily tour in the zoo, I met also some animal lovers, I left them to take pictures…. I ask you all for the sake of Ramadan Holy month, to be honest, and not to lie, we work in silence under direct supervision of General Organization of Veterinary Services, and Central Zoos Director… Committees inspecting were sent to investigate, and reports are sent in time, please do not pick up on mistakes, have mercy… we, the vets face many challenges each day, we are in daily contact with animals, instead of criticizing, encourage us."
Iman Mokhamer
فى البداية كل عام وجميع الزملاء بالهيئة العامة للخدمات البيطرية بخير وعلى راسهم السيد الاستاذ الدكتور . اسامة سليم رئيس الهيئة العامة للخدمات البيطرية بمناسبة شهر رمضان اعادة اللة علينا جميعا بالخير والبركات احب اوضح انة بالنسبة لموضوع الصورة التى تم التقاطها للاسد المريض بالحديقة وتم التشنيع بها كانت فعلا لحالة مرضية اخذت وقتها للعلاج من قبل الاطباء بالحديقة ونفقت وتم تشريحها ومثبت ذلك بملفات الحديقة كون الاشخاص اللذين انتهزوا فرصه خروجها للعرض برهة لتتعرض للشمس والتقاط صورة لها هذا ليس من اصول الرفق بالحيوان ولو كان فريق العمل ليس لديهم رحمة او امانة فى العمل ماكانوا هؤلاء رؤها والتقطوا لها هذة الصورة اننى فوجئت يوم الجمعة بطبيبة بيطرية وزميل لها جائوا ومروا بالحديقة وكانهم زوار وعند سؤالى عن هويتهم افادوا بانهم من جنوب افريقيا وجائوا خصيصا للمساعدة ولم يجدوا شىء وشكروا جدا عن الحالة الصحية للاسود وعن العلاقة بين الحراس والحيوانات ووعدوا انهم سوف يردوا على هذا الشان وتم مناقشة وتبادل المعلومات بيننا واكتشفت اننا نحن الاطباء البيطريين بالحديقة لدينا المعلومات والخبرة التى تجعل رؤسائنا فى العمل يفخروا بنا بالمناسبة احب اوضح النهاردة السبت واثناء مرورى الصباحى تقابلت بمجموعة من zoo lover عند منطقة القطط والاسوود وتركتهم يكملوا الجولة فى الحديقة فرجااااء احنا فعلا فى رمضان شهر الصدق وجميع الصفات الحميدة ونحن لانكذب ونحن نعمل فى صمت تحت ادارة الهيئة العامة للخدمات البيطرية والادارة المركزية دائمى ارسال اللجان للتفتيش ويتم ارسال التقارير بانتظام لذا ارجوا من هؤلاء ان لايتصيدوا الاخطاء وياريت يجعلوا عندهم رحمة بنا نحن البطريين اللذين نتعرض للمخاطر بقربنا واحتكاكنا بالحيوانات معظم الوقت ويكون بدلا من النقض اللازع قليل من التشجييع
It is with a very heavy heart that we must announce that we have learned from the zoo-directors that the poor lioness had died last week.
Below, the comment made by Dr Iman Mokhamer, manager of Alexandria Zoo, made in the Facebook group of the General Organization of Veterinary Services:
"To begin, I would like to wish all colleagues of GOVS a Happy Ramadan, specially the Chairperson of GOVS Military General and Doctor Osama Selim.
I would like to clarify, in regard to the picture about the lioness in Alexandria Zoo and the brutal campaign we have been subject to, that this picture was taken of the sick lioness and was used to scandalize the zoo, this was a sick case, took its time in treatment by zoo vets, and it died, and pathology was made and this is being recorded in zoo official records.
About people who took advantage of photographing her whilst we took her to the outside exhibit to enjoy some sunshine, and took pictures….. these people are not following animal welfare, they have no mercy, and they are not following honesty, they should not have taken pictures of her…
I was surprised last Friday, a lady vet accompanied by her colleague came to Alexandria zoo, paid tickets, as if they were vets, when asked about their identity they said they are from South Africa, they said they came to help, and they found nothing, and they thanked us for the good conditions and health of big cats ..they praised us for good care and information, they praised the keepers, we exchanged information, and I discovered, we zoo vets have enough and necessary information to make our superiors proud of us.
While I was in my daily tour in the zoo, I met also some animal lovers, I left them to take pictures…. I ask you all for the sake of Ramadan Holy month, to be honest, and not to lie, we work in silence under direct supervision of General Organization of Veterinary Services, and Central Zoos Director… Committees inspecting were sent to investigate, and reports are sent in time, please do not pick up on mistakes, have mercy… we, the vets face many challenges each day, we are in daily contact with animals, instead of criticizing, encourage us."
Iman Mokhamer
فى البداية كل عام وجميع الزملاء بالهيئة العامة للخدمات البيطرية بخير وعلى راسهم السيد الاستاذ الدكتور . اسامة سليم رئيس الهيئة العامة للخدمات البيطرية بمناسبة شهر رمضان اعادة اللة علينا جميعا بالخير والبركات احب اوضح انة بالنسبة لموضوع الصورة التى تم التقاطها للاسد المريض بالحديقة وتم التشنيع بها كانت فعلا لحالة مرضية اخذت وقتها للعلاج من قبل الاطباء بالحديقة ونفقت وتم تشريحها ومثبت ذلك بملفات الحديقة كون الاشخاص اللذين انتهزوا فرصه خروجها للعرض برهة لتتعرض للشمس والتقاط صورة لها هذا ليس من اصول الرفق بالحيوان ولو كان فريق العمل ليس لديهم رحمة او امانة فى العمل ماكانوا هؤلاء رؤها والتقطوا لها هذة الصورة اننى فوجئت يوم الجمعة بطبيبة بيطرية وزميل لها جائوا ومروا بالحديقة وكانهم زوار وعند سؤالى عن هويتهم افادوا بانهم من جنوب افريقيا وجائوا خصيصا للمساعدة ولم يجدوا شىء وشكروا جدا عن الحالة الصحية للاسود وعن العلاقة بين الحراس والحيوانات ووعدوا انهم سوف يردوا على هذا الشان وتم مناقشة وتبادل المعلومات بيننا واكتشفت اننا نحن الاطباء البيطريين بالحديقة لدينا المعلومات والخبرة التى تجعل رؤسائنا فى العمل يفخروا بنا بالمناسبة احب اوضح النهاردة السبت واثناء مرورى الصباحى تقابلت بمجموعة من zoo lover عند منطقة القطط والاسوود وتركتهم يكملوا الجولة فى الحديقة فرجااااء احنا فعلا فى رمضان شهر الصدق وجميع الصفات الحميدة ونحن لانكذب ونحن نعمل فى صمت تحت ادارة الهيئة العامة للخدمات البيطرية والادارة المركزية دائمى ارسال اللجان للتفتيش ويتم ارسال التقارير بانتظام لذا ارجوا من هؤلاء ان لايتصيدوا الاخطاء وياريت يجعلوا عندهم رحمة بنا نحن البطريين اللذين نتعرض للمخاطر بقربنا واحتكاكنا بالحيوانات معظم الوقت ويكون بدلا من النقض اللازع قليل من التشجييع
A statement from an Egyptian activist
Manal El Sanadi:
My visit yesterday (July 22) to Alexandria with Mau Gawad Hamada and Esmeralda El Khalili, after 25 years of boycotting zoos was very depressing and very sad.
The zoo seems like a desert, a lot of empty cages and I must admit it is not too dirty. I still recall some cages of birds, colored parrots and talking ones very empty. I hated myself when I saw persian, siamese, and other cats big and babies caged in a filthy place that had a bad smell, what was more shocking for me is cats climbing the cage to get a piece of bread from my hand.
And the trip continued for 2 hours giving the carrots and bread my friends got feeding the poor very hungry animals without exception even bears.
Our hero lioness died last week, she did not make it. I heard different stories (not important) the most important that she died. Now there are like over 30 lions, lioness, puma and cubs. I cannot put all the blame on the Manager and the workers, some of the blame go to them for the lack of water and cleanliness, BUT the big problem is food. If this zoo does not get enough funds to feed the animals how and how would they do it.
Chimpanzes also need shade, ostriches too. Zebra has a donkey as a companion and he gets frustrated and mad when they took her from him (hope she is safe, they claimed that is pregnant). I must admit that most of the workers and the manager were welcoming and trying but what can they do if money is not enough.
Last important point is the space for the lions (NO SPACE) this is depressing and sad. We need funds - repeat funds - if not from the government, from other sources. This place could be beautiful and organized if it is taken care of. Sorry for not writing yesterday, could not.
My visit yesterday (July 22) to Alexandria with Mau Gawad Hamada and Esmeralda El Khalili, after 25 years of boycotting zoos was very depressing and very sad.
The zoo seems like a desert, a lot of empty cages and I must admit it is not too dirty. I still recall some cages of birds, colored parrots and talking ones very empty. I hated myself when I saw persian, siamese, and other cats big and babies caged in a filthy place that had a bad smell, what was more shocking for me is cats climbing the cage to get a piece of bread from my hand.
And the trip continued for 2 hours giving the carrots and bread my friends got feeding the poor very hungry animals without exception even bears.
Our hero lioness died last week, she did not make it. I heard different stories (not important) the most important that she died. Now there are like over 30 lions, lioness, puma and cubs. I cannot put all the blame on the Manager and the workers, some of the blame go to them for the lack of water and cleanliness, BUT the big problem is food. If this zoo does not get enough funds to feed the animals how and how would they do it.
Chimpanzes also need shade, ostriches too. Zebra has a donkey as a companion and he gets frustrated and mad when they took her from him (hope she is safe, they claimed that is pregnant). I must admit that most of the workers and the manager were welcoming and trying but what can they do if money is not enough.
Last important point is the space for the lions (NO SPACE) this is depressing and sad. We need funds - repeat funds - if not from the government, from other sources. This place could be beautiful and organized if it is taken care of. Sorry for not writing yesterday, could not.
a statement from another Egyptian activist
Manal El Sanadi activist and animal lover wrote about her second visit to Alexandria zoo, July 29, 2012 :
My second visit to Alexandria zoo with Mau Gawad Hamada and her lovely friends they had prepared food from the previous night trays for cats, carrot and peanuts.
The zoo is empty due to ramadan holy month, the visitors ar very few. We started with the two chimpanzees, they were kept inside locked in one room. I took the advise of Helen and got them bottled water thought they will be happy especially that the guards put them bananas, water melon and melon. One of them was screaming, hitting the bars jumping like crazy, they said he is happy but I thought he is miserable and complaining about something, his screams got me hurt.
The guards know us by now although I only went last Sunday, forgot to mention that we felt we were supervised from far, you do not actually see them, but you feel them. At the time we arrived to our beautiful lions there were around 5 or 6 men including their big boss outside as if they were waiting for us, as soon as we entered they were inside and magically you find fresh meat distributed to all the kingdom inside. I do not think the quantity is enough but I am not a professional. Looking around the lions are not at the same places like last week, a cage covered with metal, asking why and I was told a lioness delivered - how many true or not I only saw the mama picking her food from the bars.
Took our way to the cats cages, caged cats are almost begging us to cuddle them and feed them. Mau and her friends asked the guy to put the trays and he did. Cats and kittens are running to eat, they know the sound of the food coming. There were two ostriches in a vry tiny cage infront of the cats cages. I fed them some carrots, they were swallowing them not eating, maybe that is their way! For sure there was no space to run.
We headed to the rest of the lions, some of them were eating and the rest there was not a trace heard some voices, their guard appeared asking him about the lions, he mumbled that they are inside while disappearing again. Monkeys, that was the best part although some of them need more space, they ate carrots and peanuts. Few of them had babies?
My pleasure was to see the bears with fresh water coming from a douche although not enough but at least they had something that they did not have last week and surprisingly a guard with honey and little pieces of sweet potatoes appeared. I had the pleasure to feed them some with my own hands. Wolves disappeared and also three bears (no one to ask), the American bear is a beauty and probably the guard she had yesterday was somebody they got from March did not speak or understand our language.
Have you ever seen in your life, flamingos that live with few drops of water, that I have seen yesterday? Camels were untied, but the rope was still on their necks. They knew we were coming, some efforts were done, but the rest of the week and the lack of food and water, the disappearance of animals.... Questions I have, but that do not have replies.
My second visit to Alexandria zoo with Mau Gawad Hamada and her lovely friends they had prepared food from the previous night trays for cats, carrot and peanuts.
The zoo is empty due to ramadan holy month, the visitors ar very few. We started with the two chimpanzees, they were kept inside locked in one room. I took the advise of Helen and got them bottled water thought they will be happy especially that the guards put them bananas, water melon and melon. One of them was screaming, hitting the bars jumping like crazy, they said he is happy but I thought he is miserable and complaining about something, his screams got me hurt.
The guards know us by now although I only went last Sunday, forgot to mention that we felt we were supervised from far, you do not actually see them, but you feel them. At the time we arrived to our beautiful lions there were around 5 or 6 men including their big boss outside as if they were waiting for us, as soon as we entered they were inside and magically you find fresh meat distributed to all the kingdom inside. I do not think the quantity is enough but I am not a professional. Looking around the lions are not at the same places like last week, a cage covered with metal, asking why and I was told a lioness delivered - how many true or not I only saw the mama picking her food from the bars.
Took our way to the cats cages, caged cats are almost begging us to cuddle them and feed them. Mau and her friends asked the guy to put the trays and he did. Cats and kittens are running to eat, they know the sound of the food coming. There were two ostriches in a vry tiny cage infront of the cats cages. I fed them some carrots, they were swallowing them not eating, maybe that is their way! For sure there was no space to run.
We headed to the rest of the lions, some of them were eating and the rest there was not a trace heard some voices, their guard appeared asking him about the lions, he mumbled that they are inside while disappearing again. Monkeys, that was the best part although some of them need more space, they ate carrots and peanuts. Few of them had babies?
My pleasure was to see the bears with fresh water coming from a douche although not enough but at least they had something that they did not have last week and surprisingly a guard with honey and little pieces of sweet potatoes appeared. I had the pleasure to feed them some with my own hands. Wolves disappeared and also three bears (no one to ask), the American bear is a beauty and probably the guard she had yesterday was somebody they got from March did not speak or understand our language.
Have you ever seen in your life, flamingos that live with few drops of water, that I have seen yesterday? Camels were untied, but the rope was still on their necks. They knew we were coming, some efforts were done, but the rest of the week and the lack of food and water, the disappearance of animals.... Questions I have, but that do not have replies.
Giza Zoo add new giraffes to the starving animals
The Giza Zoo received three new giraffes from South Africa on Sunday, July 8, 2012. The animals arrived through the zoo’s upper gate on a big flatbed truck in three big crates in the early afternoon yesterday, while zoo employees buzzed around with excitement.
Animal welfare advocate Dina Zulfikar, the co-founder of the Animal Welfare Awareness Research group, said it has been years since the zoo had giraffes. The old giraffes died, she said, one of them apparently while in labor.
“Giraffes are very sensitive,” Zulfikar said.
She said it took the zoo this long to replace the giraffes because it’s illegal for zoo animals to come from the wild. They must be bred in captivity, and they must also come from geographical areas that are free of disease.
After the animals arrived, the area was closed to the public, including journalists. No interviews were made available to the press as the animals arrived, and zoo management requested that no pictures be taken of the new giraffes, or their enclosure area.
Dr. Fatima Tamam, president of the central administration for zoos, said journalists must first get permission to interview her from Dr. Osama Selim, the chairman of the General Organization for Veterinary Services under the Agriculture Ministry.
Zulfikar said the zoo has been eager to replace different species that it has been missing, including the giraffes. She said the zoo is also planning to get more elephants because the ones it has now are very old.
But she said she thinks the zoo should prioritize public education and improving its current facilities, rather than acquiring new species.
“The zoo is not functioning up to now as an educational and conservation center,” she said. “They are not providing proper living environments for the animals.”
Zulfikar said the bear and chimpanzee enclosures are both in need of drastic improvements.
“My point of view as an animal protection advocate is, maintain what you have, then you can add new species,” she said.
Zulfikar is not alone in her criticism. The zoo has been heavily criticized in international media in recent years for its treatment of the animals and their poor living conditions.
However, the zoo said it is forming a committee that would work with experts to develop the zoo according to international standards set by the World Association for Zoos and Aquariums, the zoo website said. A 2008 Reuters story said the Giza Zoo had been excluded from the association in 2004.
A zoo employee said the Giza Zoo would announce the arrival of the new giraffes on its website Monday, and that journalists would be welcome later in the week, after the new animals have had a chance to adapt to their new environment.
Source
The Egyptian media have picked the story up!
July 26, 2012
Many many thanks at our friends and readers who had posted comments on the Facebook page of Egypt's president. The media have seen the comments and are starting to report about the situation in the governmental zoos.
You can read the first article published in the Egyptian news in Arabian language (see picture) by clicking here, or see the translation link into English here!
Many many thanks at our friends and readers who had posted comments on the Facebook page of Egypt's president. The media have seen the comments and are starting to report about the situation in the governmental zoos.
You can read the first article published in the Egyptian news in Arabian language (see picture) by clicking here, or see the translation link into English here!
Another article published in bykiamasr July 28, 2012
Campaign also covered by Egyptian TV-station
July 26, 2012
An Egyptian TV-station covered our worldwide campaign addressing President of Egypt and his authorities to shut down the seven governmental zoos of Egypt or to provide the necessary care.
Our friend, Dina Zulfikar, spoke about the current worldwide campaigns, she spoke about the protection of animals applied since Ancient Egypt and all the religions in the world calling for mercy to animals.
She spoke about the governmental zoos neglecting complaints and not answering any of us, she spoke about using exotic animals as photo props and about breeding in zoos. Furthermore she explained the illegal trade resulting from this breeding and the lack of monitoring the zoo activities by the authorities, and she explained that pet shops are selling exotic animals.... she explained the whole system and ended by:
"If we are a poor country and cannot care for captive animals, we must shut the zoos down OR provide adequate care"
The CNN-interview
with Dina Zulfikar and the responsible of the governmental zoos
Dear all,
Thank you very much for your contribution. I trust this was a balanced two-part story that allowed all parties to express their points of view on the situation of the Zoos in Egypt.
The first part of the story (Dr. Tammam & Dina Zulficar interview) AIRED on Monday but is not available on the internet due to the overload of news content.
However the second part, which aired Today, is available and this is the link:
http://mexico.cnn.com/planetacnn/2011/09/12/los-animales-de-un-zoologico-de-libia-tratan-de-sobrevivir-al-conflicto
Respectfully,
Veronica Balderas Iglesias
CNN en Español/Correspondent Cairo, Egypt
Thank you very much for your contribution. I trust this was a balanced two-part story that allowed all parties to express their points of view on the situation of the Zoos in Egypt.
The first part of the story (Dr. Tammam & Dina Zulficar interview) AIRED on Monday but is not available on the internet due to the overload of news content.
However the second part, which aired Today, is available and this is the link:
http://mexico.cnn.com/planetacnn/2011/09/12/los-animales-de-un-zoologico-de-libia-tratan-de-sobrevivir-al-conflicto
Respectfully,
Veronica Balderas Iglesias
CNN en Español/Correspondent Cairo, Egypt
The CNN-article
Original article in Spanish:
Egipto, (CNN) — En semanas recientes, varios grupos de defensores de los derechos de los animales unieron fuerzas por diferentes medios, incluyendo las redes sociales, para exigir el cierre de siete zoológicos gubernamentales de Egipto.
El maltrato y el pésimo cuidado de las especies que habitan dentro del recinto son parte de algunas de las reclamaciones por parte de los activistas que iniciaron una campaña a nivel mundial.
"Lobos con heridas sangrantes, leones siendo al parecer hostigados con barras de metal, desechos fecales en los estanques de los hipopotamos", enumeró Dina Zulficar, activista por los derechos de los animales.
Los defensores detallan que los animales se la pasan encadenados y no cuentan con el espacio adecuado para su tamaño o sus necesidades.
Las autoridades del zoológico aceptaron que las especies pasan 22 horas encerrados y solo cuentan con dos horas para salir al área del jardín, bajo el argumento de ser uno de los recintos con una población extensa de leones.
"Traemos a los animales que la sociedad pide ver. Invertimos anualmente entre 6 y 7 millones de libras egipcias en la nutricion de los animales e intentamos expandir las instalaciones, siguiendo las normas internacionales, pero estas tienen su propio estilo", aclaró Fatma Tammam, subsecretaria de Estado para Zoológicos y Conservación de la Fauna.
En el sitio web lanzado por los activistas pueden apreciarse fotos de los animales con heridas en la piel, incluso enfermedades de epidermis, desnutrición y cómo son molestados con varas de metal para que se muevan.
"A los cachorros de los leones los drogan o los golpean para separarlos de sus madres para las sesiones fotográficas lo cual es inaceptable. No tienen los suficientes recursos para hacer analisis, que sirvan para detectar enfermedades como la tuberculosis", concluyó Dina Zulficar.
Los defensores por los derechos de los animales piden a través de su página web y de diferentes cartas a los directores de la Organización General de Servicios Veterinarios (GOVS, por sus siglas en inglés), Osama Selim y Alaa Morsy, que exijan condiciones dignas para el cuidado de los animales o cierren los establecimientos.
Translation into English
Egypt (CNN) - In recent weeks, several groups of advocates for animal rights joined forces by various means, including social networks, to demand the closure of the seven governmental zoos of Egypt.
Abuse and lousy care of the species that live within the grounds are part of some of the claims by activists who launched a worldwide campaign.
"Wolves with bleeding wounds, apparently lions being harassed with metal bars, fecal waste in the hyppos ponds" listed Dina Zulfikar, activist for animal rights.
Proponents detailed that they have chained animals and do not have adequate space for their size or needs.
Zoo officials agreed that the species spend 22 hours locked up and only have two hours to be in the area of the garden, on the grounds of being one of the area with a large population of lions.
"We bring the animals that society asks to see. We invest annually between 6 and 7 million Egyptian pounds in the nutrition of animals and try to expand the facilities, following international standards, but they have their own style," said Fatma Tammam Secretary of State for Zoo and Wildlife Conservation.
The website launched by activists shows photos of animals with skin wounds, including skin diseases, malnutrition and that the animals are disturbed with metal rods to make them move.
"The lion cubs are being drugged or beaten in order to separate them from their mothers for the photo shoot, which is unacceptable. They have insufficient resources to do analysis, that serve to detect diseases such as tuberculosis," said Dina Zulficar.
Animal rights advocates ask through their website and various letters to the directors of the General Organization for Veterinary Services (GOVS, for its acronym in English), Alaa Morsy and Osama Selim, to require decent conditions for the animals, adequate care or the closure of their establishments.
Egipto, (CNN) — En semanas recientes, varios grupos de defensores de los derechos de los animales unieron fuerzas por diferentes medios, incluyendo las redes sociales, para exigir el cierre de siete zoológicos gubernamentales de Egipto.
El maltrato y el pésimo cuidado de las especies que habitan dentro del recinto son parte de algunas de las reclamaciones por parte de los activistas que iniciaron una campaña a nivel mundial.
"Lobos con heridas sangrantes, leones siendo al parecer hostigados con barras de metal, desechos fecales en los estanques de los hipopotamos", enumeró Dina Zulficar, activista por los derechos de los animales.
Los defensores detallan que los animales se la pasan encadenados y no cuentan con el espacio adecuado para su tamaño o sus necesidades.
Las autoridades del zoológico aceptaron que las especies pasan 22 horas encerrados y solo cuentan con dos horas para salir al área del jardín, bajo el argumento de ser uno de los recintos con una población extensa de leones.
"Traemos a los animales que la sociedad pide ver. Invertimos anualmente entre 6 y 7 millones de libras egipcias en la nutricion de los animales e intentamos expandir las instalaciones, siguiendo las normas internacionales, pero estas tienen su propio estilo", aclaró Fatma Tammam, subsecretaria de Estado para Zoológicos y Conservación de la Fauna.
En el sitio web lanzado por los activistas pueden apreciarse fotos de los animales con heridas en la piel, incluso enfermedades de epidermis, desnutrición y cómo son molestados con varas de metal para que se muevan.
"A los cachorros de los leones los drogan o los golpean para separarlos de sus madres para las sesiones fotográficas lo cual es inaceptable. No tienen los suficientes recursos para hacer analisis, que sirvan para detectar enfermedades como la tuberculosis", concluyó Dina Zulficar.
Los defensores por los derechos de los animales piden a través de su página web y de diferentes cartas a los directores de la Organización General de Servicios Veterinarios (GOVS, por sus siglas en inglés), Osama Selim y Alaa Morsy, que exijan condiciones dignas para el cuidado de los animales o cierren los establecimientos.
Translation into English
Egypt (CNN) - In recent weeks, several groups of advocates for animal rights joined forces by various means, including social networks, to demand the closure of the seven governmental zoos of Egypt.
Abuse and lousy care of the species that live within the grounds are part of some of the claims by activists who launched a worldwide campaign.
"Wolves with bleeding wounds, apparently lions being harassed with metal bars, fecal waste in the hyppos ponds" listed Dina Zulfikar, activist for animal rights.
Proponents detailed that they have chained animals and do not have adequate space for their size or needs.
Zoo officials agreed that the species spend 22 hours locked up and only have two hours to be in the area of the garden, on the grounds of being one of the area with a large population of lions.
"We bring the animals that society asks to see. We invest annually between 6 and 7 million Egyptian pounds in the nutrition of animals and try to expand the facilities, following international standards, but they have their own style," said Fatma Tammam Secretary of State for Zoo and Wildlife Conservation.
The website launched by activists shows photos of animals with skin wounds, including skin diseases, malnutrition and that the animals are disturbed with metal rods to make them move.
"The lion cubs are being drugged or beaten in order to separate them from their mothers for the photo shoot, which is unacceptable. They have insufficient resources to do analysis, that serve to detect diseases such as tuberculosis," said Dina Zulficar.
Animal rights advocates ask through their website and various letters to the directors of the General Organization for Veterinary Services (GOVS, for its acronym in English), Alaa Morsy and Osama Selim, to require decent conditions for the animals, adequate care or the closure of their establishments.
Many many thanks @Veronique Balderas and @CNN
A zoo of problems
reported the Egypt Independent
The following article was published on September 10th, 2012 in the Egypt Independent:
A zoo of problems: Campaign calls for shutdown of government zoos
Animals in the country’s zoos suffer from injuries, untreated diseases and severe starvation, according to animal welfare group “Occupy for Animals.” The group has started a campaign on its website demanding the shutdown of seven government zoos, calling them “hell holes” that shame Egypt.
The website shows a set of photos depicting mistreated or wounded animals in zoos around the country. Among them: severely injured wolves in Fayoum Zoo, a baboon living in a small, dirty cage in Tanta Zoo, a deer severely infected by skin disease at Giza Zoo, a starving lion and a camel suffering from a tumor at Alexandria Zoo. The shocking photos have sparked anger among Internet users in Egypt and beyond.
In the wake of the campaign, users created Facebook pages such as “Help rescue animals in Egypt zoos” and “Please help us save the lions, tigers and wolves that are starving in Egypt’s zoos” to direct authorities’ attention to suffering animals.
Dina Zulfikar, one of the country’s most dedicated animal welfare activists and a member of the central zoos supervision committee, says the calls echo her own activism.
“I have been calling and lobbying to revitalize the government zoos in Egypt for years,” Zulfikar says. “I wanted the zoo authorities to close down the zoos and turn them into botanical gardens so the animals could be transferred elsewhere and be safe.”
Zulfikar says she is deeply concerned by the number of violations happening in these zoos and the lack of care and attention to the wildlife.
The animals are kept in cages with concrete floors that are not covered in leaves or sand, she says. Elephants are chained with ropes that are less than a meter long, and felines are often harassed and poked with iron rods by cage keepers so that they roar in front of the visitors.
Modern zoos, Zulfikar says, have two main roles: conservation and education. Zoos must be considered rescue centers for endangered species that are threatened with extinction or stray animals that have no place to live.
Zoos should also inform the public about animals by letting them watch how they behave, she says. But, she says, government zoos in the country are incapable of providing care for the animals and must leave the mission of protecting wildlife to the Environment Ministry, in collaboration with specialized vets.
According to Zulfikar, government zoos sell animals to private places such as circuses and private zoos without making sure these places have the minimum standards animals require to remain healthy. They also allow visitors to take photos with lion cubs and baby chimpanzees, even though these animals can transfer certain diseases to humans.
Giza Zoo could be considered paradise compared with other government zoos, because it receives the largest budget and has the most senior vets. But Zulfikar says Giza Zoo does not even have a fluoroscope device to check felines for rotten teeth, or any other tools necessary for periodic tests on animals.
Its location is very polluted, she adds, saying it is no longer appropriate to keep animals there.
Other experts agree with Zulfikar and say government zoos are not fit for purpose. Dr. Omar Tamam, natural reserves professor and head of the Monufiya University Natural Resources Survey Department, explains why government zoos fail.
“These zoos are all built on very limited pieces of land that can only be used for breeding a small number of animals,” he says. “Although Giza Zoo is the biggest one and contains more than 200 different species of animals, its 80 acres of land aren’t suitable for breeding more than 10 species.”
The country’s zoos do not provide animals with the environments they need to survive and breed, Tamam says.
“The air is polluted, the water is contaminated, the cages are narrow and the nutrition is really bad, as zoos purchase the cheapest food on the market. In addition, central zoos always send the deformed and old animals to the regional zoos,” he says.
However, Dr. Fadya Abbas, the most senior veterinarian at Giza Zoo, says the allegations are not true. She says international organizations are satisfied by the zoo’s performance. According to Abbas, the zoo has joined the African Union of Zoos and is about to join the International Federation of Zoos.
She says the animals are always provided with enough food and healthcare, and have longer lives than animals in the wild. “They eat better than people who live in slum areas,” she says.
Abbas says it’s normal for male animals to fight during mating season and wound each other, and for old animals to lose their teeth and tusks, which affects their nutrition. “We can’t provide them with dentures, but keepers help them overcome this problem by cutting the food into small pieces and putting it in with long iron rods to feed them in their mouths,” she says.
She accuses campaigners of aiming to distort the image of Egyptian zoos and deliberately taking photos of wounded animals. She also denies the allegations that keepers poke animals with iron rods to make them roar.
But Tamam says it is not normal for animals in zoos to fight and wound each other.
“The animals behavior in Egyptian zoos is totally abnormal,” he says. “Animals hurt each other in three cases: when they aren’t fed well, when they are kept in narrow places and sometimes during the mating season. However, the photos taken for the wounded wolves in Fayoum Zoo show carelessness, because wolves don’t hurt each other during mating season.”
Abbas says one of the main problems they face is that Egyptian law does not allow euthanasia of old or sick animals, unlike zoos outside the country. She says the zoo’s vets are qualified and are sometimes sent for training courses from well-known experts abroad.
Some have accused zoos of allowing illegal trafficking of animals, but Abbas refutes these claims, saying all the animals have microchips for identification to prevent trafficking. She defends the zoo’s practices, saying the animals are treated very well and the activists only focus on negative things.
“We are very sad because no one appreciate us,” she says. “We are trying to develop the zoos and make a lot of repairs and improvements, and we need people to help and support us instead of attacking the zoos and asking for them to be shut down.”
Dr. Alaa Morsy, technical office manager of the General Organization of Veterinary Services, also criticizes the animal welfare activists. He says he does not see any point in attacking government zoos.
“Every animal is exposed to be infected by diseases, and every animal dies like everything else on the planet,” he says. “When they saw the animals in cages, they considered this mistreatment because they want the animals to live in open parks, like a safari.”
He says activists don’t consider that such a park would cost billions of pounds that Egypt doesn’t have.
“If we turned it into a safari, as they want, the ticket wouldn’t be less than LE250 and the poor people would be deprived from the enjoyment of watching animals,” he says.
Morsy says all the zoos’ vets and keepers are experts who know how to deal with animals. “When animals get sick, we take all the required procedures and treat them in a suitable way,” he says.
Meanwhile, a group of animal welfare activists submitted a proposal to the government for the establishment of a national park, planned to be a conservation and rescue center in which people would be able to see animals living in their natural environments.
Because this would require land encompassing more than 500 acres, they need the government’s permission to start construction.
“This project may be a glimpse of hope for those poor animals,” Zulfikar says.
This piece was originally published in Egypt Independent's weekly print edition.
Egyptian zookeepers insult MY religion
writes Tafline Laylin - Green Prophet
September 17, 2012
Elephants, lions, and wolves are by nature free, roaming creatures that form complex social relationships. In the wild we have hunted them to near extinction and we have tethered them to cages and private homes. But animals bred or purchased by any of Egypt’s seven national zoos are especially unlucky: every day, zookeepers mete out starvation, physical abuse, solitary confinement and other forms of cruelty. And nobody seems to care.
Animal rights activists have contacted the central zoo director (I refuse to capitalize this title), the Minister of Agriculture, other zoo officials, Egyptian embassies around the world and even President Moursi with photographic evidence of emaciated lions, hippos swimming through sewage and wolves sporting bloody, raw wounds, and no one, absolutely no one has stood up to say “but this is wrong!”
A quote attributed to Gandhi floats through the blogosphere.
I don’t know if he really said this or if it even matters, but this string of words has great power to shame the people capable of ignoring the kind of vile cruelty depicted in these images by Khaled Elbarky.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress,” goes the quote, “can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
By Gandhi’s compass, Egypt’s moral progress is in its infancy.
A quote attributed to Gandhi floats through the blogosphere.
I don’t know if he really said this or if it even matters, but this string of words has great power to shame the people capable of ignoring the kind of vile cruelty depicted in these images by Khaled Elbarky.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress,” goes the quote, “can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Last week we witnessed hysterical moral indignation in the Arab/Muslim world over an absurd, incendiary film made by a thug, with fatal consequences for several innocent men.
Further analysis has unveiled a host of complex and self-serving motives behind the scene and more is yet to come, but in the meantime this terrible theater highlights the MENA region’s extraordinary hypocrisy.
Egyptian mobs demand respect for Prophet Muhammad, who devoted his lifetime to compassion, dignity and honor, but back home it’s OK to sexually harass women and condemn wild beasts to a lifetime of starvation and torture?
Don’t get me wrong. Better than most westerners, I understand that pure Islam condemns animal cruelty – nay, all cruelty – and urges followers to be custodians of all living things.
By Gandhi’s compass, Egypt’s moral progress is in its infancy.
But the zookeepers who continue to breed and purchase more elephants and other animals only to leave them chained up for 22 hours a day, even though they lack the financial resources to ensure these animals have decent habitats and food, are not behaving like real Muslims.
And the people who avenge a foolish film with murder do not deserve the respect for which they ask. How dare we demand respect when we ourselves are so disrespectful to sentient beings – human and otherwise?
I’ve seen these zoos. I’ve watched lions and tigers (in the same cage at that) whipped into submission while the crowd stood idly by. Nobody froths at the mouth demanding justice for these creatures, which are made of the same stuff as you and me and by the same creator.
Although many of the Muslims I have met during my travels are among the most enlightened and generous people on the planet, I refuse to silence my criticism of cruelty and neglect because of sensitive religious issues. Animal cruelty is wrong – in every religion.
The continued neglect of Egypt’s zoo animals is an insult to my prophets - the powerful lion, the loyal elephant, the solitary wolf - and offends my religion, which is mother nature. Nor am I alone, because if you care about Allah, God, Buddha, Jesus, Moses, or any other holy man or woman, then by extension you care about all life.
Now, for the love of God, who is going to step up to the plate and hold these torturers to account?
The information used in this Op Ed was sent to Green Prophet by animal advocate Eileen Crossman; photographer Khaled Elbarky sent the following information with his images:
- The lion, whose name is Antar, lives at the Kafr El-Shaikh zoo, where a guard constantly pokes with a long iron rod in order to get him to perform for visitors.
- Sammar the tiger lives at the same zoo. She is over 25 years old and suffers from a variety of ailments, along with extraordinary pain. The zoo refuses to put her to sleep, which would be the humane thing to do.
- The hippo lives with others at the Fayoum zoo, which lacks adequate resources to keep the water clean. As you can see, it is full of sewage that imperils the hippos’ health.
- And the wolf? On the brink of starvation, a pack of wolves at Fayoum zoo are believed to fight each other for food – leading to terrible injuries that go untreated.
- At 49, the female Asian elephant is kept on this short chain day after day, year after year at the Giza zoo.
- Lastly, this solitary baboon at Tanta zoo has spent its entire life in a 1.5 meter square cage. He/she sleeps on a bed of refuse.
We’re sorry to be the bearer of such awful news, so to cheer you up a little bit, we’d like to introduce you to Jessica – the world’s sweetest hippo. A little tender loving and hippo kisses go a long way, but we don’t recommend that you do this at home.
Source: Green Prophet
Your zoo is a prison
reported the Daily News Egypt
Egyptian public zoos suffer severe mismanagement; Daily News Egypt probes their current conditions
by Sara Abou Bakr / September 18, 2012
Two months ago a lioness at Alexandria zoo made international headlines because of the way she died; after four days struggling with pain, she stopped eating and died. Local and international animal activists were livid.
Several complaints started online, from “help rescue animals in Egyptian zoos” and “save Giza zoo animals” to calls for animals in public zoos to be transferred abroad to more humane places.
Photos of the sick lioness circulated almost a week before her death and calls to “save the Alex zoo lioness” spread online, forcing a response from Zoo Manger Iman Mokamer assuring activists that, “the case is under control they are doing the best they can,” adding they were sending the lioness for a check-up. A day later, the lioness died.
Her death raised questions about the conditions of public zoos in Egypt.
Few know that there are six public zoos beside the historical Giza zoo: in Alexandria; Beni Sweif; Fayoum; Kafr El-Sheik; Mansoura; and Tanta. These are much smaller in size, so that few people living outside the aforementioned cities and governorates, besides veterinarians and animal lovers, have even heard of them.
All zoos come under the jurisdiction of the central head of public zoos, Fatma Tamam, who also happens to be the director of Giza zoo and the conservation manager and head of managerial authority of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).
To make it simpler; in Egypt the jurisdiction of any animal-related organisation comes under the General Organization of Veterinary Services (GOVS), headed by Osama Selim.
GOVS supervises four sectors: public zoos; veterinarian quarantine; veterinarian preventive medicine; and abattoirs.
The irony is that Selim, head of the veterinary services, is also head of the Scientific Research Committee for CITES agreements. “This causes us to run around in circles when complaining about an issue,” explains Hatem Mushir, an animal rights activist.
For example, if an animal dies at Giza zoo, an activist files a complaint to the zoo director, which is Tamam. Then if he wants to file a complaint against the zoo as a whole, it is handed to the head of the Public Zoos, which is Tamam as well. If he files a complaint at the Environment Police, that too is handed to Tamam for investigation.
This empty cycle is driving activists mad. “It’s typical Egyptian mismanagement,” says Dina Zulfikar, renowned Egyptian animal rights activist. Animal rights activists took to the street in April 2011, demonstrating in front of Giza zoo demanding the separation of the zoo from wildlife management as well as the improvement of conditions for zoo animals. To no avail.
The condition of Giza zoo is criticised by many, but outside Cairo the other public zoos are in even worse condition. “They do not get the same resources nor are they given enough attention,” says Alaa Khater, head of the supervision committee in Daqhlia governorate. Khater stresses mismanagement as the source of all problems in public zoos.
“We found out that animals lack proper nutrition,” he says. They conducted several experiments to prove that the lack of adequate food was the reason for the animals’ lack of propagation and low immunity. For example, the mountain goats at Tanat Zoo did not produce any new offspring for seven years. “Now we have eight newborns after the parents were well fed,” Khater says.
He stresses that nothing was done except proper and frequent feedings. The same system was put in place for peacocks and wild chickens with similar successful results.
At Kafr El-Shaikh zoo, two lions drew the attention of Khaled Elbarky, freelance photographer turned animal rights activist, after he witnessed the conditions of the animals. Elbarky was on assignment to take photos of Egyptian public zoos as part of an international workshop. “I was not an animal activist but turned into one,” he says.
“This male lion was always poked by his keeper so he would roar to entertain visitors.” The activists talked to the zoo manager who promised to put a stop to this. He started a group on Facebook “Help rescue Animals in Egypt Zoos” two months ago, which drew over 2000 members of different nationalities.
The animals at Kafr El-Shaikh zoo are puny, injured and live under horrendous conditions, according to Elbarky. Khater agrees, saying “you only have to look at the animals to see they lack nutrition.” The size of the lions in Egyptian zoos, which are quite small compared to lions in other international zoos, has been the source of local jokes for years. Few people know that their size is mainly due to lack of proper feedings.
The importance of these public zoos is not just as places to display wild animals, “they also work as rescue centres for wildlife,” says Zulfikar. “For example, the lions confiscated from the lately arrested thug Naknoukh were sent to Alexandria zoo.” Their role as rescue centres leaves a lot to be desired.
In November 2011 a lioness cub was confiscated in Sharm El-Sheikh and given to Giza zoo. Activists donated blankets, toys and time to the cub. A month later, she died. Reports were filed and her death attributed to low immunity and her missing her mother.
This raises a question; are Egyptian public zoos equipped to handle such a task?
“The public zoos in Egypt do not even have an x-ray machine,” says Zulfikar. “Animals should be checked for tuberculosis [TB] periodically, but this is not done. The zoo also should offer [blood] tests for zookeepers as they may contract or transmit diseases.”
The transmission of disease at zoos has been always a point of contention between activists and administration. “They allow photo shoots with cubs, peacocks and others,” explains Zulfikar.
Photographers every year outbid each other to take on zoo photography as it is a very lucrative business; for a parent, it’s easily worth EGP 20 to have a photo taken of their child holding a lion cub. The fear is mainly from transmission of TB, among other diseases, from people to animals.
TB accusations are usually scoffed by zoo officials but it is a serious problem that has been going on for years. Omar Tamam, a veterinarian who used to work at Giza zoo, got his masters degree researching TB in Giza zoo animals in 1994. His research resulted in an astonishing conclusion; around 20 percent of zoo animals had at least one form of TB. No action was taken at that time by then minister of agriculture Youssef Wali.
Tamam was then asked to testify in that matter as part of a lawsuit against Wali. He complied only to be subsequently fired from his job at the zoo. He filed a lawsuit against zoo management for unlawful termination and last month, 14 years later, the court ruled in his favour.
He was awarded compensation, but so far “the ministry of agriculture is refusing to give it to me,” he says. Tamam published a book, Our Children in Danger, warning of the risk of spreading TB from zoo animals to children in particular. “The WHO [World Health Organization] has warned that children in Egypt are most susceptible to TB,” Tamam says, adding that “infected animals should be euthanised.”
This raises another problem: euthanasia is not allowed in Egypt. Animals suffering from terminal diseases, old age or other severe conditions are kept alive, which goes against every humane mandate. One such case is Sammar the tigress. “Sammar is a female tiger in Kafr El-Shaikh zoo,” says ElBakry. “She is one of the rarest and beautiful animals in Egypt zoos, she is a very old tiger over 25 years old [which] is a record for tigers.”
She is suffering from various ailments and is in a lot of pain. “In such cases animals should put to sleep to end their suffering but this not allowed in Egyptian zoos,” ElBakry says. “Besides that, she kept in very poor conditions, in a cage with a concrete floor, without companion, no medical care and daily abuse.”
Concrete floors are a major issue in public zoos; animals in their natural habitats are used to dirt, sand and soft ground in general. “Concrete causes problems, particularly in heavy animals such as big cats and elephants, as it is hard and causes arthritis and tendon inflammation to the point that they can no longer walk,” explains Yasser Hanfi, wildlife activist.
“An example is the Asian elephant at Giza zoo that can barely walk because of severe pain. They force her to walk by prodding her with a fork and people living near Giza zoo can hear her screams.”
The problem according renowned architect and animal lover Salah Zaky is lack of information and bad administration. “They have enough money and have increased the ticket price so it is not a lack of funds, but the problem is that they refuse to deal with specialists.”
An example of mismanagement is the orangutan enclosure. Three orangutans were given as a gift to Egypt in May 2010 from Al-Ain Zoo in the United Arab Emirates. One of them died out of hepatitis in March 2011, angering activists who pushed for a new enclosure more similar to their natural environment.
The zoo has since been working on this. “Al-Ain Zoo was angry and wanted to take the remaining two back,” says Zulfikar. The two orangutans until now have not been tested for hepatitis, “for fear they have been infected,” she claims.
Nor have they been moved to a new enclosure. Zaky supplied the zoo with drawings for a new enclosure, but the zoo’s management chose to ignore the advice. “It’s just a big cage with no resemblance to the orangutan’s habitat,” Zaky says.
“There is neither art nor care for what they are building resulting in an obnoxious [architectural] result for what is a historical zoo as well as [an inadequate habitat for] the animal.”
Giza Zoo is built over 80 acres and was first established in 1891. The buildings are registered as historical, including some of the cages. The additions in recent years have had less to do with aesthetics though. As Salah puts it, “they are always in a rush. In the case of the cages, they contract a blacksmith. Not even an engineer or an animal specialist; the fastest and cheapest way.”
As a result the architectural appeal the zoo has been gradually fading in recent years.
Activists trying to be helpful asked to see the public zoo’s budget to review it and possibly offer advice. After all, it is a public space owned by the people. “They refused, saying as the army does not share its budget neither will they,” Mushir says.
Zaky wonders at this attitude; “all around the world there are NGOs and specialists from civil societies who help with zoos and volunteer to make it a better place.” But how can they help when they do not even know how the available resources are spent?
Khater adds that they have filed several reports to the Administrative Oversight Authority to look into the budgets of the public zoos, “with no success”. He adds that in the last fiscal year an excess of EGP 23 million was not used by the Veterinarian Services Authority and given to the Giza zoo. They used the money to renovate buildings, contracting the army to do the work.
“Why wasn’t this money spent on animals instead?” Mushir asks. Incidents of such spending are common. Giza zoo in the past stated in newspapers that it had spent EGP three million on the elephant enclosure. “You only have to look at that enclosure to judge,” Mushir states.
Another problem is filing of animals cases. “Giza Zoo, as a central managerial authority has to record all animals according to agreements with the African Zoos Authority, including all information about the animals,” says Zulfikar. “But for example, there was a chimp that died in January at Alexandria zoo. The zoo did not have his file.”
The chimpanzee was transferred from Giza to Alexandria zoo. “I asked the zoo manger how he died and she told me it was of old age. He was only 17!” Zulfikar then asked about his file and was told by the manger he had no file when transferred. “Why not send the animal’s file with him when transferred?” Another issue is the newborns. “Do we have records for the new-borns? If so where are they? Are they sold?” The questions raised have no clear answer.
All animal rights activists agree on one thing; the importance of spreading awareness. Many would like to volunteer to help with awareness sessions at the zoos with the cooperation of the current management. One recent would be volunteer is 16 year old Hana El-Safoury, who after a visit with her school to Giza zoo wanted to help.
“We were told we do not need help and to go help in Tanta Zoo instead.” The young people wanted to help clean the zoo, spread awareness among the keepers and in general be around animals. El-Safoury, who aspires to be a veterinarian after she finishes high school, says that she feels “sick” when she goes to the zoo. “I feel severe anguish from the state of utter neglect of the animals’ needs and comfort.”
Hanfi says that to solve the problem, one has to admit that they are suffering. “They refuse to admit the zoos are having problems. You only have to read their newspaper articles and statements.”
After this admission comes the articulation of each problem and how it can be solved according to available resources. Activists say that they understand budget limitations, but argue what is happening is “resource mismanagement”.
When asked why they care so much about the zoo animals, Zulfikar says “they have given years of their lives to entertain us, how about a little gratitude and make their lives easier?”
** “A fax was sent to the Veterinarian Services Authority to set a meeting with Giza Zoo director, Fatma Tamam, as requested. Until time of print there was no response.”
Source: Daily News Egypt
Scandal and corruption in Egyptian zoos
an article by Penny Tilton published in The Examiner
September 28, 2012
Egypt, Zoos in Giza, Alexandria, Fayoum, Kafr El-Sheikh and al-Arish, are starving, torturing and abusing the animals in seven zoos, and are taking the Governments money to buy more animals.
At the Lion’s Village, owned and captained by Ahmed al-Timsah, animals are kept in cages no larger than one meter squared. The animals face dehydration, lack of food and potential death every day.
View slideshow: Scandal and corruption in Egyptian zoos
A trough in a corner of the lion cage is black with filthy water. Timsah was confronted about these conditions he stated, “every now and then, a worker puts water in a bucket and then removes it because otherwise the lions spill it.”
The Ostriches fence is low enough to let them approach and bite a person. Timsah went on to state, “Ostriches, just like camels and dogs, are all predators but they’re not dangerous.” Laughing out loud, he exclaims “Bite? Ostriches don’t bite!"
The hyena’s can only pace back and forth in their tiny enclosure. Timsah commented on the hyena’s behavior, “they’re just playing because it’s breeding period."
The monkey only has trash inside its cage to play with, and more trash can be found in the dog’s enclosure. Timsah says that “a little kid or a worker must have put the trash there, the place is usually very clean, it’s just not today.” He apologized and added, “Egyptian people are very bad, as well as the people who work here.”
The animal cages do not have locks.
Despite the state of the zoo, Dr. Abdelwahab Khaddam, who inspected it on the behalf of the Wildlife Department of Giza Zoo, insists “it’s a very good place, and as long as the animals look happy and the standards are respected, the Lion Village can have a license.” Khaddam went on to state, “it’s not that bad but it’s not very great.”
At the Kafr El-Sheikh facility in the Nile Delta, the animals are often mistreated and abused by the guards.
At this facility, a female tiger, Sammar, is malnourished, distraught, and is skin and bone. The guards feed her with a metal rod which has a little piece of meat on the end of it; and will only give it to her if the guard is paid to feed her.
Sammar is over 25 years old and suffers from a variety of ailments, along with extraordinary pain. The zoo refuses to euthanize her because of the money she brings to the zoo.
A lion, whose name is Antar, lives at the Kafr El-Shaikh zoo, where a guard constantly pokes with a long iron rod in order to get him to perform for visitors.
The hippo’s that lives with others at the Fayoum zoo, lacks adequate resources to keep the water clean. They live in their own urine and feces which builds into sewage, which imperils the hippo’s health.
The wolves are on the brink of starvation, and have to fight each other for food, leading to injuries that go untreated.
A 49 year-old, female Asian elephant is kept on this short chain day after day, year after year at the Giza zoo.
A solitary baboon at Tanta zoo has spent its entire life in a 1.5 meter square cage and sleeps on a bed of refuse.
The world-renowned photographer and writer Karl Amman, who has been researching wildlife trafficking in the Middle East for several years, confirmed in an interview that the conditions in Egypt’s zoos are appalling.
The zoos in any country are partially funded by the Government of that country, unless they are privately owned zoos. It is clear the Captain’s that are in charge of the zoos in Egypt are not using the Governments subsidies on the animals and their welfare, so where is the money going?
Groups of animal rights activist (ARA) are asking that question and more. One ARA groups,Occupy for animals (OFA) stated, “The international animal trade organization CITES has done little to intervene or sanction the country despite widespread abuse. Despite all of our previous pleas to the CITES director and after several meetings of our Egyptian activist members with the responsible authorities, nothing much has changed inside the zoos and the animals in Egypt's seven governmental zoos continue to suffer terribly.”
Other ARA groups have contacted the central zoo director, the Minister of Agriculture, other zoo officials, Egyptian embassies around the world and even President Moursi with photographic evidence of emaciated lions, hippos swimming through sewage and wolves that are bloody with raw wounds, and the animals continue to suffer.
OFA went on to state, “As a last resort, we are now petitioning the President of Egypt to intervene and to appoint a person to specifically ensure that the changes needed are carried out as soon as possible.”
Petitions to sign:
Please don't let the animals suffer in your zoos
Outlaw Inhumane Torture of Captive Animals in Egyptian Zoos
Rescue Animals In Eygpt Zoos
Stop Egypts Private Zoos!
Help rescue animals in Egypt Zoos, Facebook page.
More pictures
This article was originally published in The Examiner
Egypt, Zoos in Giza, Alexandria, Fayoum, Kafr El-Sheikh and al-Arish, are starving, torturing and abusing the animals in seven zoos, and are taking the Governments money to buy more animals.
At the Lion’s Village, owned and captained by Ahmed al-Timsah, animals are kept in cages no larger than one meter squared. The animals face dehydration, lack of food and potential death every day.
View slideshow: Scandal and corruption in Egyptian zoos
A trough in a corner of the lion cage is black with filthy water. Timsah was confronted about these conditions he stated, “every now and then, a worker puts water in a bucket and then removes it because otherwise the lions spill it.”
The Ostriches fence is low enough to let them approach and bite a person. Timsah went on to state, “Ostriches, just like camels and dogs, are all predators but they’re not dangerous.” Laughing out loud, he exclaims “Bite? Ostriches don’t bite!"
The hyena’s can only pace back and forth in their tiny enclosure. Timsah commented on the hyena’s behavior, “they’re just playing because it’s breeding period."
The monkey only has trash inside its cage to play with, and more trash can be found in the dog’s enclosure. Timsah says that “a little kid or a worker must have put the trash there, the place is usually very clean, it’s just not today.” He apologized and added, “Egyptian people are very bad, as well as the people who work here.”
The animal cages do not have locks.
Despite the state of the zoo, Dr. Abdelwahab Khaddam, who inspected it on the behalf of the Wildlife Department of Giza Zoo, insists “it’s a very good place, and as long as the animals look happy and the standards are respected, the Lion Village can have a license.” Khaddam went on to state, “it’s not that bad but it’s not very great.”
At the Kafr El-Sheikh facility in the Nile Delta, the animals are often mistreated and abused by the guards.
At this facility, a female tiger, Sammar, is malnourished, distraught, and is skin and bone. The guards feed her with a metal rod which has a little piece of meat on the end of it; and will only give it to her if the guard is paid to feed her.
Sammar is over 25 years old and suffers from a variety of ailments, along with extraordinary pain. The zoo refuses to euthanize her because of the money she brings to the zoo.
A lion, whose name is Antar, lives at the Kafr El-Shaikh zoo, where a guard constantly pokes with a long iron rod in order to get him to perform for visitors.
The hippo’s that lives with others at the Fayoum zoo, lacks adequate resources to keep the water clean. They live in their own urine and feces which builds into sewage, which imperils the hippo’s health.
The wolves are on the brink of starvation, and have to fight each other for food, leading to injuries that go untreated.
A 49 year-old, female Asian elephant is kept on this short chain day after day, year after year at the Giza zoo.
A solitary baboon at Tanta zoo has spent its entire life in a 1.5 meter square cage and sleeps on a bed of refuse.
The world-renowned photographer and writer Karl Amman, who has been researching wildlife trafficking in the Middle East for several years, confirmed in an interview that the conditions in Egypt’s zoos are appalling.
The zoos in any country are partially funded by the Government of that country, unless they are privately owned zoos. It is clear the Captain’s that are in charge of the zoos in Egypt are not using the Governments subsidies on the animals and their welfare, so where is the money going?
Groups of animal rights activist (ARA) are asking that question and more. One ARA groups,Occupy for animals (OFA) stated, “The international animal trade organization CITES has done little to intervene or sanction the country despite widespread abuse. Despite all of our previous pleas to the CITES director and after several meetings of our Egyptian activist members with the responsible authorities, nothing much has changed inside the zoos and the animals in Egypt's seven governmental zoos continue to suffer terribly.”
Other ARA groups have contacted the central zoo director, the Minister of Agriculture, other zoo officials, Egyptian embassies around the world and even President Moursi with photographic evidence of emaciated lions, hippos swimming through sewage and wolves that are bloody with raw wounds, and the animals continue to suffer.
OFA went on to state, “As a last resort, we are now petitioning the President of Egypt to intervene and to appoint a person to specifically ensure that the changes needed are carried out as soon as possible.”
Petitions to sign:
Please don't let the animals suffer in your zoos
Outlaw Inhumane Torture of Captive Animals in Egyptian Zoos
Rescue Animals In Eygpt Zoos
Stop Egypts Private Zoos!
Help rescue animals in Egypt Zoos, Facebook page.
More pictures
This article was originally published in The Examiner
Here's how YOU can help!
1) Send a message to the Chairperson of the General Organization of Veterinary
Services - Military General and Doctor: Osama Selim and other responsible persons
By signing our petition using the widget below or directly at change.org, the following message will be sent instantly to the Egyptian governmental authorities responsible for these seven zoos.
Subject: Close down all 7 governmental zoos that are nothing less than hell holes!
Greetings!
I am very concerned about the animals in your seven governmental zoos. The graphic picture evidence taken in these hell holes that are currently being circulated all over the internet show starving, sick and injured animals left without veterinary care.
These pictures prove that your 'zoos' are nothing less than real hell holes for the animals. The animals are left to vegetate in concrete cells and even their most basic needs like adequate housing, proper care, food, medical attention and mental stimulation, are not met.
The animals suffer from severe starvation, open and infected wounds, tumors and other diseases left without veterinary care. Near death lions and tigers have been pictured lying apathetic in their prison cells. Especially the situation regarding a near death lioness is very concerning as it would appear that the zoo does not even have access to vital veterinary equipment.
Your 'zoos' hold many lions, tigers and other wild animals, but they do not seem to have the expertise nor the funds to meet even their basic welfare needs, yet they allow the animals to breed, which is only adding to their problems.
The responsible veterinarians of your governmental hell holes have been contacted by Egyptian animal activists and international organizations regarding the above mentioned situation. Some of their comments showcasing their general ignorance and their absolute lack of willingness to help these suffering and dying animals, have been published and you can read these comments here: http://www.occupyforanimals.org/egypts-zoos--hell-holes-for-animals.html
We urge you now to make sure that the suffering animals receive medical attention and appropriate nutrition immediately and that - in a second instance - these hell holes are being closed down and the animals relocated to sanctuaries as it appears that you are definitely not able to meet even their most basic welfare needs.
To help you in your decision, please know that no tourist will pay to see animals in such bad shape. Images like the ones that they would be facing in your state funded hell holes, would not only let them deeply depressed, but those foreigners who will experience and thus will come to know of the extent of the animal abuse that your government is responsible for, would leave Egypt confused and with a heavy heart, rather than uplifted by its paradoxical beauty and friendliness.
I have trust in you that you will take the only right decision in this matter which is to shut down these hell holes. Until such a time, however, I regret that it will be necessary to boycott Egypt both as a tourist and by way of commerce and to encourage others to participate in a boycott as well.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
2) Please sign the following petitions, too:
3) Share this information with as many as you can!
4) Leave a comment regarding the shameful treatment of animals in Egypt's seven governmental zoos at the Facebook of Egypt's president,
Dr. Mohamed Morsy HERE!
5) Leave a comment in the official Facebook-group of the General Organization of Veterinary Services which supervises Central Zoos, HERE!
6) Here's a list of media and animal welfare organizations to contact regarding animal abuse in Egypt’s zoos
September 27, 2012
Despite all our previous pleas to the CITES director and after several meetings of our Egyptian activist members with the responsible authorities, nothing much has changed inside the zoos and the animals in Egypt's seven governmental zoos continue to suffer terribly.
As our last resort, we are now turning to the President of Egypt asking him to intervene and to appoint a person to specifically ensure that the changes needed are carried out as soon as possible.
By signing our petition, the letter that you can read below will be sent instantly to the President of Egypt.
Despite all our previous pleas to the CITES director and after several meetings of our Egyptian activist members with the responsible authorities, nothing much has changed inside the zoos and the animals in Egypt's seven governmental zoos continue to suffer terribly.
As our last resort, we are now turning to the President of Egypt asking him to intervene and to appoint a person to specifically ensure that the changes needed are carried out as soon as possible.
By signing our petition, the letter that you can read below will be sent instantly to the President of Egypt.
Email address: [email protected]
Dear Mr President,
We thank you for your time and attention to the matter of the Egyptian zoos and the conditions therein. Unfortunately, despite all our previous pleas to the CITES director, the animals in your national zoos continue to suffer terribly.
Those poor animals are forced to exist in squalid conditions, often with no fresh water and very little food. Enclosures are often strewn with discarded garbage, some of it harmful and dangerous to the animals, which is thrown in by zoo visitors and not cleared away by the zoo staff. Last but not least, the medical needs of these animals are still being ignored.
The following is a copy of the report made by one of our activist team members and as you can see, there is a lot of work that still needs to be done in order to provide these poor animals with at least the minimum requirements for a better quality of life in captivity. They did not ask to be caged and kept captive; the least we can do is ensure that their time there is not a continuous, daily misery. After all, the zoos are making money from their presence!
Report from a visit made on 19 September 2012:
- The African elephant was unchained, no substrates (sand or other)
- The Asian elephant is still chained, no substrates
- Chimps and orangutans in the chimps enclosure - no substrates of any type; no enrichment, just the concrete floors
- Fox enclosure, cat enclosure, swamp cat enclosure and raccoon enclosure: no substrates whatsoever. Foxes: 3 new or young
Fennec foxes seem to have skin problems; no medical attention has been given
- Monkey enclosure: substrates are present but one of the monkeys seems to be injured or suffering; again no medical attention
given
- Bear enclosure: many of the American black bears are missing, perhaps sold or swapped with other facilities? Where are those
bears?
- I noticed substrates in the first enclosure, fans working but not in the last enclosure. Some water, but very little; not enough to
make the chilling water system work, and basins are still not being filled with fresh water up till now.
- Zebra is still single, why? Zebras naturally live in groups!
You can see pictures and read more reports at the following link: http://www.occupyforanimals.org/egypts-zoos--hell-holes-for-animals.html
Dear Mr President, please appoint a person to specifically ensure that the changes needed are carried out as soon as possible. That these animals continue to suffer in this manner is totally unacceptable.
We would like to remind you that the director of CITES is also the director of Giza zoo, which is a total conflict of interest. While she remains in both positions, things will never improve. She is choosing to ignore all our previous direct requests, which is why we are now finally turning to you for help.
Mr President, you and your ministry are responsible for the care and welfare of these animals, and you are the ones that should be giving the orders for these changes to be made.
What happens in your zoos, is outright cruelty and blatant neglect, and is a shameful shadow over Egypt as a whole.
Animal activists from around the world are watching what is happening within the zoos and will continue to insist on these changes being made for the sake of the animals. We will not rest, and will continue contacting the media services until something is done.
Once again, thank you for your time and attention to this matter. We look forward to seeing these changes being implemented with immediate effect, so that improvements in the conditions at the zoos will soon be evident.
Yours faithfully,
[your name]
Dear Mr President,
We thank you for your time and attention to the matter of the Egyptian zoos and the conditions therein. Unfortunately, despite all our previous pleas to the CITES director, the animals in your national zoos continue to suffer terribly.
Those poor animals are forced to exist in squalid conditions, often with no fresh water and very little food. Enclosures are often strewn with discarded garbage, some of it harmful and dangerous to the animals, which is thrown in by zoo visitors and not cleared away by the zoo staff. Last but not least, the medical needs of these animals are still being ignored.
The following is a copy of the report made by one of our activist team members and as you can see, there is a lot of work that still needs to be done in order to provide these poor animals with at least the minimum requirements for a better quality of life in captivity. They did not ask to be caged and kept captive; the least we can do is ensure that their time there is not a continuous, daily misery. After all, the zoos are making money from their presence!
Report from a visit made on 19 September 2012:
- The African elephant was unchained, no substrates (sand or other)
- The Asian elephant is still chained, no substrates
- Chimps and orangutans in the chimps enclosure - no substrates of any type; no enrichment, just the concrete floors
- Fox enclosure, cat enclosure, swamp cat enclosure and raccoon enclosure: no substrates whatsoever. Foxes: 3 new or young
Fennec foxes seem to have skin problems; no medical attention has been given
- Monkey enclosure: substrates are present but one of the monkeys seems to be injured or suffering; again no medical attention
given
- Bear enclosure: many of the American black bears are missing, perhaps sold or swapped with other facilities? Where are those
bears?
- I noticed substrates in the first enclosure, fans working but not in the last enclosure. Some water, but very little; not enough to
make the chilling water system work, and basins are still not being filled with fresh water up till now.
- Zebra is still single, why? Zebras naturally live in groups!
You can see pictures and read more reports at the following link: http://www.occupyforanimals.org/egypts-zoos--hell-holes-for-animals.html
Dear Mr President, please appoint a person to specifically ensure that the changes needed are carried out as soon as possible. That these animals continue to suffer in this manner is totally unacceptable.
We would like to remind you that the director of CITES is also the director of Giza zoo, which is a total conflict of interest. While she remains in both positions, things will never improve. She is choosing to ignore all our previous direct requests, which is why we are now finally turning to you for help.
Mr President, you and your ministry are responsible for the care and welfare of these animals, and you are the ones that should be giving the orders for these changes to be made.
What happens in your zoos, is outright cruelty and blatant neglect, and is a shameful shadow over Egypt as a whole.
Animal activists from around the world are watching what is happening within the zoos and will continue to insist on these changes being made for the sake of the animals. We will not rest, and will continue contacting the media services until something is done.
Once again, thank you for your time and attention to this matter. We look forward to seeing these changes being implemented with immediate effect, so that improvements in the conditions at the zoos will soon be evident.
Yours faithfully,
[your name]
CITES employs Giza Zoo Director as the
Head of Managerial Authorities of CITES Egypt
Giza Zoo continues breeding more animals than they need - sending extra animals to individuals or institutions that don’t have the necessary facilities to care for them.
Reports are going to authorities but they ignore them. Its a heavy load always on the environmental police: At Porto Sokhna, a coffee shop (AFRICANA) holds baboons and different monkeys in deplorable conditions: no adequate care, or water even.
CITES employs Giza Zoo Director as the Head of Managerial Authorities of CITES Egypt when Giza zoo is already in a terrible state.
So we need to STOP CITES USING GIZA ZOO DIRECTOR (CENTRAL ZOOS OF EGYPT) AS HEAD OF MANAGERIAL AUTHORITIES OF CITES.
Please sign the petition using the widget above or directly at Care2 so an independent Director can be employed.
Reports are going to authorities but they ignore them. Its a heavy load always on the environmental police: At Porto Sokhna, a coffee shop (AFRICANA) holds baboons and different monkeys in deplorable conditions: no adequate care, or water even.
CITES employs Giza Zoo Director as the Head of Managerial Authorities of CITES Egypt when Giza zoo is already in a terrible state.
So we need to STOP CITES USING GIZA ZOO DIRECTOR (CENTRAL ZOOS OF EGYPT) AS HEAD OF MANAGERIAL AUTHORITIES OF CITES.
Please sign the petition using the widget above or directly at Care2 so an independent Director can be employed.
In loving memory of Mimi ♡
Beautiful little Mimi was a cute lioness cub who was rescued from a life of misery into the arms of a loving 'mum' ,
only to be taken away again and placed in one of the Egyptian zoo's where she died a few weeks later
only to be taken away again and placed in one of the Egyptian zoo's where she died a few weeks later
U P D A T E S
Update July 22, 2012
The authorities have agreed to meet our Egyptian friends in order to discuss things. The meeting is set for end of next week with the chairperson of the General Organization of Veterinary Services in their main offices.
At this meeting will be present and will be speaking for the animals:
- Dina Zulfikar,
- Khaled Elbarky,
- Hana El-Safoury,
- Shorouk Geneina
Meeting report
Dina Zulfikar says about the meeting:
While waiting for the Chairperson of GOVS to arrive we sat with technical office manager of GOVS office Dr. Essam Elbatawy.
He said that we were ruining the reputation of Egypt, and that it is not good to publicize such pictures, he directed to me: that it seems there is something personal between you and Central Zoos Director. When we sat with Chairperson of GOVS Military General and Doctor Osama Selim, he appeared to have not seen the pictures only reports by word from his office managers.
He showed us files about accomplishments of the Central zoos, renovating the museum, building the orangutans new enclosure, bringing new animals - I told him; orangutans enclosure as per statement of giza zoo manager and central director in zoonewsdigest was supposed to be finished last June, 2011. Up till now Orangutans are not transferred. He said, because the glass is not ready, it costs over half a million LE and we are still acquiring.
About the giraffes and new animals; he told me, you criticize us for bringing in giraffes, there is an allotted budged specified for bringing in new animals and it was used for the purpose.
In general he asked for helping and not criticizing, he said follow and I will grant you permissions.
I told him, what if we have complaints? He said get back to me.
I told him: you have many responsibilities, he said no it is ok After we went out, he called me in his office. I went in, he introduced me to Dr. Alaa Morsy and he told me I appointed Dr. Alaa Morsy to follow with you.
In general, we all tried to explain that the current system: not responding to calls, or inquiries, or complaints is not good.
He said complain to me !!!
While waiting for the Chairperson of GOVS to arrive we sat with technical office manager of GOVS office Dr. Essam Elbatawy.
He said that we were ruining the reputation of Egypt, and that it is not good to publicize such pictures, he directed to me: that it seems there is something personal between you and Central Zoos Director. When we sat with Chairperson of GOVS Military General and Doctor Osama Selim, he appeared to have not seen the pictures only reports by word from his office managers.
He showed us files about accomplishments of the Central zoos, renovating the museum, building the orangutans new enclosure, bringing new animals - I told him; orangutans enclosure as per statement of giza zoo manager and central director in zoonewsdigest was supposed to be finished last June, 2011. Up till now Orangutans are not transferred. He said, because the glass is not ready, it costs over half a million LE and we are still acquiring.
About the giraffes and new animals; he told me, you criticize us for bringing in giraffes, there is an allotted budged specified for bringing in new animals and it was used for the purpose.
In general he asked for helping and not criticizing, he said follow and I will grant you permissions.
I told him, what if we have complaints? He said get back to me.
I told him: you have many responsibilities, he said no it is ok After we went out, he called me in his office. I went in, he introduced me to Dr. Alaa Morsy and he told me I appointed Dr. Alaa Morsy to follow with you.
In general, we all tried to explain that the current system: not responding to calls, or inquiries, or complaints is not good.
He said complain to me !!!
Second meeting with the authorities on July 31, 2012
Second meeting with GOVS, in response to the campaigns:
This is my (Dina Zulfikar) personal documenting, sure, attendances would have their reports about the meeting published too.
Overall meeting with Dr. Alaa Morsy, 31 July 2012 – Cairo Opera House – Hanager coffee shop
Meeting was attended by:
The meeting started 9:00pm lasted till 12:00
Proposals were submitted by each:
Nardine Botros, students of grade 11, submitted proposal for: Bears enrichment (foraging) as illustrated by professional bears behavior and specialists, this proposal was submitted May 2012, but, they reached nothing, so proposal was submitted again yesterday to GOVS.
Discussion was made about the refusal of Central Zoos Management to the project submitted by Hana El-Safoury and Nardine Botros to clean the Giza Zoo, the Central Zoos claimed they have employees for this and recommended they go to Tanta Zoo, about 2 hrs from Cairo.
All attendances condemn such decision by Central Zoos and supported the projects submitted by Nardine and Hana.
Khaled Elbarky submitted overall proposals about dealing with problems in Kafr El Sheikh, Fayoum, Alex and Giza Zoo. Most of the issues, in Khaled's words are related to behavior and training of keepers. No iron rod should be used with big cats, cleaning is an important issue, mice problems in the big cats enclosure, inquiry about the Hippos enclosure is still unanswered in Kafr El Sheikh Zoo, monkey held in solitary confinement in a small improper cage….. should be delt with.
Hatem Moushir spoke about the unlikely suspicious procedures of management of Central Zoos, the questions and many unlikely things which happened during his visit, accusations about why is he taking photos of plants… flora…etc… then he spoke and explained the conditions of some animals in Giza Zoo, he presented his video as evidence, which shows the positive and the not positive side.
Dr. Yasser Adel Hanafy Osman mentioned that we must reach a middle way, cooperation of Civil Society should be welcomed, awareness and more, he offered the help of specialists form Desert Research Center in evaluating and treating the camels suffering in Alexandria Zoo.
Dina Zulfikar submitted also additional requests: no more exotic animals used as photo props, because of zoonotic disease and animals suffering, no more purchase of new animals before fixing the problems of current enclosures in all 7 zoos, adoption program submitted by Shelley Mattocks, awareness and training of keepers should be encouraged, a mechanism should be set for exchanging information and inquiries about conditions in all central zoos, enclosures floors, substrates as per direction of WAZA, PAAZAB should be applied in all zoos. Setting committee formed of civil society and central zoos to reform and cooperate.
Dr. Alaa Morsy mentioned that Central Zoos answered the GOVS about each picture submitted by our campaigns, we (all attendances) asked for making this public.
Dr. Alaa Morsy promised to submit all proposals to GOVS, and to arrange another meeting soon, to follow up.
All attendances made this clear: it is refused to be accused of ruining the reputation of Egypt for publishing such reports about deplorable conditions, we care for improving conditions of captive animals, as we get no answers, we are supported by international campaigns. The world has no boundaries, animal people animal rights people of the world unite in facing any abuse in all over the world.
- Dina Zulfikar -
This is my (Dina Zulfikar) personal documenting, sure, attendances would have their reports about the meeting published too.
Overall meeting with Dr. Alaa Morsy, 31 July 2012 – Cairo Opera House – Hanager coffee shop
Meeting was attended by:
- Khaled Elbarky
- Hatem Moushir
- Dr. Yasser Adel Hanafy Osman
- Nardine Botros
- Dina Zulfikar
The meeting started 9:00pm lasted till 12:00
Proposals were submitted by each:
Nardine Botros, students of grade 11, submitted proposal for: Bears enrichment (foraging) as illustrated by professional bears behavior and specialists, this proposal was submitted May 2012, but, they reached nothing, so proposal was submitted again yesterday to GOVS.
Discussion was made about the refusal of Central Zoos Management to the project submitted by Hana El-Safoury and Nardine Botros to clean the Giza Zoo, the Central Zoos claimed they have employees for this and recommended they go to Tanta Zoo, about 2 hrs from Cairo.
All attendances condemn such decision by Central Zoos and supported the projects submitted by Nardine and Hana.
Khaled Elbarky submitted overall proposals about dealing with problems in Kafr El Sheikh, Fayoum, Alex and Giza Zoo. Most of the issues, in Khaled's words are related to behavior and training of keepers. No iron rod should be used with big cats, cleaning is an important issue, mice problems in the big cats enclosure, inquiry about the Hippos enclosure is still unanswered in Kafr El Sheikh Zoo, monkey held in solitary confinement in a small improper cage….. should be delt with.
Hatem Moushir spoke about the unlikely suspicious procedures of management of Central Zoos, the questions and many unlikely things which happened during his visit, accusations about why is he taking photos of plants… flora…etc… then he spoke and explained the conditions of some animals in Giza Zoo, he presented his video as evidence, which shows the positive and the not positive side.
Dr. Yasser Adel Hanafy Osman mentioned that we must reach a middle way, cooperation of Civil Society should be welcomed, awareness and more, he offered the help of specialists form Desert Research Center in evaluating and treating the camels suffering in Alexandria Zoo.
Dina Zulfikar submitted also additional requests: no more exotic animals used as photo props, because of zoonotic disease and animals suffering, no more purchase of new animals before fixing the problems of current enclosures in all 7 zoos, adoption program submitted by Shelley Mattocks, awareness and training of keepers should be encouraged, a mechanism should be set for exchanging information and inquiries about conditions in all central zoos, enclosures floors, substrates as per direction of WAZA, PAAZAB should be applied in all zoos. Setting committee formed of civil society and central zoos to reform and cooperate.
Dr. Alaa Morsy mentioned that Central Zoos answered the GOVS about each picture submitted by our campaigns, we (all attendances) asked for making this public.
Dr. Alaa Morsy promised to submit all proposals to GOVS, and to arrange another meeting soon, to follow up.
All attendances made this clear: it is refused to be accused of ruining the reputation of Egypt for publishing such reports about deplorable conditions, we care for improving conditions of captive animals, as we get no answers, we are supported by international campaigns. The world has no boundaries, animal people animal rights people of the world unite in facing any abuse in all over the world.
- Dina Zulfikar -
UPDATE August 12, 2012
Dina Zufilkar:
We have a meeting set again with Dr. Alaa, appointed by Chairperson of GOVS to deal with us, meeting would be set Tuesday 8:40pm, Hanager coffee shop, Opera House, Zamalek, everyone interested is invited to attend.
We need to follow up the demands we submitted last meeting, so far, we see nothing has been released by zoo officials nor permit was given to either Nardine or Hana El-Safoury - I received the following comment now from Dr. Alaa, and he asked me to publish it:
Giza Zoo Management states they cannot unchain the elephants, because, they may run out and attack the children !!!
Basically, I replied: this condemns them and proves they know no basics about caring or needs of animals, Hilda Tresz, behavior specialist and mandate of JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE whom I accompanied and invited with the authority Oct. Nov. 2011 (being a member of the committee of reforming the Giza Zoo..... (to help in Giza Zoo and other governmental zoos, gave presentations and lectures, including providing better care for the elephants, followed in Nov. elephants were unchained, nothing was reported, elephants, 2 in solitary confinement, one African and one Asian, are over 60 years, sand substrate was brought, but, soon, they removed the sand and chained the elephants !!!
UPDATE August 13, 2012
Although IFAW had announced on their Facebook-page that they would help the animals in the Egyptian zoos, they have now said that they can't help.
According to Dina Zulfikar, the reason that IFAW is actually refusing to help is because their Egyptian representative is one of the zoo's employees - yet another messed up situation of a big conflict of interest.
When asked IFAW why they refuse to help, we have received the following answer:
Dear Ms. ......,
Neglect of animals in the Middle East is not uncommon, as there are no laws to protect them. Although IFAW provided emergency relief to the Cairo zoo during the recent political and civil unrest, regrettably, we do not have a representative in Egypt, nor the resources to have an office in Egypt.
Sadly, we are not able to mount a campaign for every deserving animal welfare issue in every country, although we wish we could. We must focus our energies and our resources on the anti-cruelty campaigns available for you to see on our website. That is the way we
feel we can do the most good for the animals.
We know of several groups working in Egypt -- Egyptian Society of Mercy to Animals (ESMA) (www.esmaegypt.org/), Born Free (www.bornfree.org.uk/) , and the World Association of Zoos & Aquaria (WAZA) (www.waza.org) .
You may also want to visit a web site called World Animal Net (http://worldanimal.net/) - it contains a directory of animal welfare organizations in most countries.
You may find other groups working in Egypt that may be able to help.
We sincerely regret that we cannot be of more assistance.
Ronnie O'Connor
IFAW Supporter Relations
UPDATE September 19, 2012 by Dina Zulfikar
Today I went to Giza Zoo with a friend.
Today I went to Giza Zoo with a friend.
- The African elephant was unchained, no substrates (sand or else)
- The Asian elephant is still chained, no substrates
- Chimps and Orangutans in the chimps enclosure - no substrates of any type or enrichment, just the concrete floors.
- Foxes enclosure, cats enclosure, swamp cats, racoons enclosure - no substrates whatsoever. Foxes (new or young 3 fenec foxes seems to have problems with their skin, no medical attention has been given.
- Monkeys enclosure; substrates are present but one of the monkeys seems to be injured or suffering, again no medical attention given.
- Bears enclosure: many of the American black bears are missing, perhaps sold or swapped with other facilities? Where are those bears?
- I noticed substrates in the first enclosure, fans working but not in the last enclosure, some water, very little which is not enough to make the chilling water system work, basins are not being filled with fresh water up till now.
- Zebra is still single, why? Zebras naturally live in groups!
UPDATE September 26, 2012 by Dina Zufilkar
Met with Chairperson of GOVS Military General and Doctor Osama Selim today, purpose was discussing my proposal how to engage in civil society in the celebration of RABIES DAY.
1. The GOVS, together with OIE, and WHO would hold workshop on Thursday at GOVS headquarters, veterinarians of Giza and Cairo would attend.
2. As we (civil society AWAR group) have brochures from WSPA with their approval to raise awareness about rabies since 2007, which was translated to arabic by Mau Gawad Hamada, Dr. Osama approved using such banners and brochures.
3. Chairperson of GOVS encourages civil society to play its role a. awareness campaign about rabies in the event of world rabies day would be held in Giza Zoo, at Nahda gate on Saturday 29 September 2012. b. all young students who proposed programs of cleanliness and enrichment campaigns are welcomed to attend and protocol would be made with them to continue enrichment and cleanliness programs in Giza Zoo c. Military General and Doctor would be attending the day with us all.
4. The Orangutans enclosure: is nearly ready, glass has been installed, remaining few things to fix well the special (glass) 5. The chilling water system of the bears enclosure was inspected and there are problems which technicians are working on fixing.
5. I was only allowed 5 minutes as the Chairperson has busy schedule and he, thankfully fitted me in.
Met with Chairperson of GOVS Military General and Doctor Osama Selim today, purpose was discussing my proposal how to engage in civil society in the celebration of RABIES DAY.
1. The GOVS, together with OIE, and WHO would hold workshop on Thursday at GOVS headquarters, veterinarians of Giza and Cairo would attend.
2. As we (civil society AWAR group) have brochures from WSPA with their approval to raise awareness about rabies since 2007, which was translated to arabic by Mau Gawad Hamada, Dr. Osama approved using such banners and brochures.
3. Chairperson of GOVS encourages civil society to play its role a. awareness campaign about rabies in the event of world rabies day would be held in Giza Zoo, at Nahda gate on Saturday 29 September 2012. b. all young students who proposed programs of cleanliness and enrichment campaigns are welcomed to attend and protocol would be made with them to continue enrichment and cleanliness programs in Giza Zoo c. Military General and Doctor would be attending the day with us all.
4. The Orangutans enclosure: is nearly ready, glass has been installed, remaining few things to fix well the special (glass) 5. The chilling water system of the bears enclosure was inspected and there are problems which technicians are working on fixing.
5. I was only allowed 5 minutes as the Chairperson has busy schedule and he, thankfully fitted me in.
UPDATE November 18, 2012
Enrichment program conducted by AIS Students
AIS school students successfully conducted an enrichment program for group 1 of chimps in Giza Zoo.
We would like to thank the central zoos management and Chairperson of GOVS for supporting our request to engage in and allow school students to play a role in enrichment programs. End of last year school students of Al Alsson conducted also a very successful enrichment program. We hope more enrichment programs by students takes place.
Background about the chimps grouped in Giza Zoo, Oct, Nov. 2011 can be read by clicking here
- Dina Zulfikar -
UPDATE November 26, 2011
Below, video by Hatem Moushir, recorded at the meetings with Central Zoos director Dr Fatma Tamam and deputy Dr Fadia Abbas and Dr Refaat. The meetings took place: Friday, October 26th, Saturday, November 3rd and Saturday, November 10th, 2012