The Hindu : Goodall anguished at ill-treatment of chimps

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 12, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Goodall anguished at ill-treatment of chimps

By Ramya Kannan and P. Oppili

Jane Goodall

Chennai Jan. 11 . The three chimpanzees rescued in the city on Thursday from the Great Royal Circus had an unexpected supporter today, in none other than Jane Goodall, internationally acclaimed researcher who has documented chimpanzees for over two decades.

Briefed about the condition of the chimps rescued from a circus and shown pictures, Dr. Goodall, currently in Bangalore on her first visit to India, expressed her anguish over their ill-treatment, in a telephonic interview.

"I have a lot of experience in rescuing chimpanzees around the world, but this bunch of chimps, whose pictures I have seen, are by far the worst," Dr. Goodall said. The three were badly hurt and showed signs of abuse, she said. "They look like skeletons and it is very shocking that they should be treated so callously in circuses."

While commending the rescue operations carried out by the People For Animals and the police, Dr. Goodall said she hoped the fourth chimpanzee, still in captivity, would also be rescued soon.

The Jane Goodall Institute is actively running a campaign to ban use of elephants and chimpanzees in circuses throughout the world. "I do hope that this will be followed in India as well.''

Dr. Goodall, known in scientific and animal rights circles for her work on chimpanzees, started working in Gombe National Park, Tanzania. She also won the National Geographic Society's prestigious Hubbard Medal for "extraordinary study of wild animals and for tirelessly defending the natural world we shape".

Today, P.C. Tyagi, director, Arignar Anna Zoological Park, where the rescued chimps are being quarantined, said the condition of the female chimp, Lakshmi, was very bad. The zoo veterinarian who checked the limbs of the injured ape had told him that both her hind limbs were paralysed.

``Our first priority now is to treat the bed sores, only after which the treatment for the injured limbs can be taken up,'' said Mr. Tyagi. At the quarantine area, the injured chimp was kept in moderately sunny surroundings, which would help the animal to relax for sometime. The chimpanzee was able to sit for a few seconds and then lay down, changing its position very often.

The zoo authorities were planning to provide a `suspender' for it, which would help heal the bed sores. The other two chimps, Ganga and Shiva, were comfortable in the new environs and were enjoying their stay.

This morning, the animal keeper from the circus, who stayed for a couple of days at the zoo disappeared. Fearing that the chimpanzee would attack strangers, the zoo animal keepers were not venturing into its enclosure. Even while changing the bed for the injured, one of them called the animal by its name to divert its attention.

When the zoo authorities called the chimps by name, they responded readily, said Mr. Tyagi. Vegetables such as carrots, bananas, cabbage, tomato and bread were being given to them twice a day.

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