Scorpion Foundation has sent two letters to Natural Resources Conservation Agencies (BKSDA) in North Sumatera asking to end cruelty to the orangutan at Medan Zoo. The first letter was sent on 22nd October 2015 (ref: 18/YSI-WLTMP). Because the BKSDA did not response to the letter, Scorpion sent the second letter on 22nd December 2015 asking again to move the orangutan from Medan Zoo. Unlike the previous letter, this time carbon copy of the letter was sent to Minister of Environment and Forestry, and some other high level officials at the ministry.
On Thursday (7 January 2016), Scorpion was invited by BKSDA North Sumatra for a meeting at BKSDA office where head of BKSDA John Kenedie told Scorpion that the orangutan at the Medan zoo was blind and would be at the Medan zoo permanently. Director of Scorpion, Gunung Gea, strongly opposed the idea to put the orangutan (Pongki) at the Medan zoo permanently. Finally, the meeting decided to check Pongki’s eyes and the result would be discussed in a follow up meeting (on Monday, 11/01/2016) with Medan zoo officers and some other NGO’s such as WCS, VESSWIC, OIC, and representatives from North Sumatra University and Medan Area University.
One of Pongki's eyes suffers from cataract but the other one is okay.
In the meeting on Monday, head of BKSDA North Sumatra John Kenedie explained to the audience that he got a phone call from Minister of Environment and Forestry asking to find a solution to the orangutan at Medan Zoo. The meeting finally decided to move Pongki out of Medan zoo for medical care, and cure of his eye.
Other news related to Pongki
http://www.scorpionmonitor.org/cruelty_to_orangutan_in_medan_zoo_must_be_ended.html
http://www.scorpionmonitor.org/ban_torture_of_orangutan.html
http://www.scorpionmonitor.org/cruelty_to_orangutan_in_medan_zoo.html
http://www.scorpionmonitor.org/smoking_orangutan.html
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Pongki will get the second chance to live in the wild. (Photo: Scorpion)
Head of BKSDA North Sumatra Mr. John Kenedie (left) and Head of BKSDA Aceh, Mr. Genman Suhefti Hasibuan (right).
Meeting at BKSDA on Monday (11/01/2016) chaired by Head o BKSDA John Kenedie. (Photo: Scorpion)
Participants of the meeting at BKSDA office. (Photo: Scorpion)
