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FOI search – zoo mislead public on blackbuck sale to Shooters Party member
Monday 31 August 2009
Documents obtained by the Greens under FOI reveal that Taronga Western Plains Zoo did not carry out the safeguards it claimed to have followed when endangered blackbucks were sold to a member of the Shooters Party, Greens MP and animal welfare spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said today. (SMH, page 1, 31 August 2009)
"The documents released to the Greens reveal that animal welfare was not the priority of zoo officials when organising the sale of these endangered animals," Ms Rhiannon said.
"The Greens submitted the FOI application after receiving information that the zoo had sold blackbuck antelope to Bob McComb, who owns the Dongadale Deer Park.
"The documents obtained by the Greens show that commercial interests of the zoo were given priority over animal welfare.
"The Environment Minister Carmel Tebbutt and zoo officials were wrong to claim the sale contract specified the antelopes must only be used for breeding. The sale contract stipulated that the zoo accepted no responsibility for the animals once they left its care.
"What's missing here is any evidence that the zoo inspected Mr McComb's Deer Park, as claimed, or investigated his background before they sold him the animals.
"By conducting such a poor investigation of Mr McComb's background, the zoo has effectively let the fox guard the hen house.
"Considering Mr McComb has been very public in his support for commercial safari parks any check of his background would have alerted zoo officials to the possible reason a member of the Shooters Party was interested in buying these animals.
"When the Greens disclosed the mismanagement of endangered antelopes at Western Plains Zoo we called on Minister Tebbutt to undertake an urgent review of the protocols and standards governing the sale or exchange of zoo animals.
"Minister Tebbutt has now announced such a review is being undertaken and in the meantime the sale of zoo animals to private operators has been suspended.
"This review should also cover why the endangered blackbuck were not sent to India where their numbers are dwindling. The management of this antelope species highlights that where there is successful breeding of an endangered species the offspring are virtually never returned to their natural habitat but are used in trade between zoos and private operators," Ms Rhiannon said.
For information: Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568.
