[Greens-Media] FOI search * zoo mislead public on blackbuck sale to Shooters Party member

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
31 August 2009


FOI search * zoo mislead public on blackbuck sale to Shooters Party
member

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.