Malaysian Authorities Ignore Suffering of Eight Imprisoned Orangutans

This isn't the first time that the A'Famosa Resort in Malacca has been in the crosshairs of animal activists. The resort was previously accused of drugging a tiger to let tourists pose with it for photos. And over a year ago, when the use of orangutans in circus-type shows was banned in Malaysia (thanks to the tireless advocacy of the international group, Nature Alert), a directive was issued specifically to A'Famosa to cease its animal shows.

It should have been great news for the eight orangutans of A'Famosa. But instead of rehoming them to a sanctuary, the resort imprisoned the apes in dark, cramped cages, where they've become malnourished and suffer from stress and depression. Officials know about the conditions, but haven't done a thing about it.

"These orangutans have been locked up for 18 months straight now, in a disgusting state, their cages totally barren and they sit on cold cement everyday," said petition starter, Shiva.

According to Shiva, Perhilitan (the Department of Wildlife and National Parks) has been ignoring calls for an investigation into A'Famosa's treatment of the orangutans, but after being ignored for a year and a half, activists are turning to other government officials to step in.

"Nature Alert and thousands of people from around the world are calling on the Malaysian prime minister Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Najib Tun Haji Abdul Razak to call on Perhilitan Malaysia to immediately confiscate these magnificent endangered animals and send them to the Sepilok orangutan sanctaury in Sabah, Malaysia," said Shiva. "This will not only help the eight orangutans, but better Malaysia's tarnished reputation."

Thanks to international pressure, including hundreds of Change.org petition signers, earlier this month, Malaysian authorities finally confiscated two mistreated orangutans from the Johor Zoo. Abu was kept in solitary confinement in a dungeon-like cage; Shirley's claim to fame was picking up lit cigarettes and eating junk food that visitors threw into her cage. Both of their suffering is over now, and they're on their way to a sanctuary in their natural habitat.

Malaysian authorities stepped in to help Shirley and Abu, so why are they ignoring eight orangutans locked away by the A'Famosa Resort?

Nature Alert's chief executive, Sean Whyte, called this "the worst example of cruelty to orangutans I have seen in Malaysia."

The Malaysian government has listened to public outcry in the past. They need to hear that people around the world are concerned about these orangutans and that allowing this cruelty to continue is harming the country's reputation and its lucrative tourism industry.

Join Shiva in helping save the eight orangutans from the abuse of the A'Famosa resort.

Photo credit: YouTube