Shillong, July 1: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday put to rest controversy surrounding relocation of hoolock gibbons from their current location, announcing the government has taken “no such decision.”
“The government has not decided to shift the hoolock gibbons (Huro) from their current location. It is incorrect that we are shifting them, though the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has proposed it,” Sangma said in a statement.
There has been an outcry from animal rights activists on the proposed relocation of these primates in Silsotchigre, about 35 kms from Tura in Garo Hills, to the State Zoo at Umtrew, Ri Bhoi.
Sonja Wildlife Rescue Centre founder, Florian Magne, a French national, has been at the forefront of this protest, claiming sending the primates to the state zoo would mean a certain death. Magne’s objective is to release them back to the wild – a highly debatable move, others say.
State authorities said, since the hoolock gibbons have been rescued as pets and have been taken care of by humans for a long time, releasing them back to the wild is risky and raises serious questions about their survival in the wild.
Moreover, the rescue centre is not approved by CZA and doesn’t conform to laid norms. Authorities moreover added the state Zoo is technically approved and recognized by CZA.
Nevertheless, these issues have been put to rest by Sangma who added the government has not taken any decision on relocation, but the “CZA has only proposed this move.”
Referring to the press statement earlier issued by the state authorities on the subject, Sangma said: “press release only clarifies that current location is not as per CZA specifications.”
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