By MATTHEW VARI
IN response to concerns raised through the media about the movement of the national iconic bird to China- Minister for Sports and National Events Justine Tkatchenko reassured the general public that the sending of birds of paradise and tree kangaroos to China’s Chimelong Zoo was that they were still owned by the state of Papua New Guinea.
He made the comments last week during a press conference at Adventure Park at 14 Mile on the outskirts of Port Moresby.
The park is home to a successful breeding program of the birds of paradise and tree kangaroos.
“Even though these animals are in China they are still the property of our government and of Papua New Guinea,” Minister Tkatchenko said.
“That is very important, and any of them that are bred in China will also still be the property of Papua New Guinea.”
“The whole idea of zoos or wildlife sanctuaries throughout the world is to preserve and to conserve our native flora and fauna.”
He said that they had sent the Paradisaeareggianabird of paradise and one species of tree kangaroo to China to conserve them for our future generations.
“Just for example if these particular birds of paradise for some particular unknown reason die out in Papua New Guinea, we still at least have a colony in China that we can pull upon to repopulate back in Papua New Guinea, with the same to be done with our tree kangaroos,” he explained.
“At the end of the day this conservation project between Chimelong Zoo in China and the Papua New Guinea government is to conserve our species to successfully breed and learn more about them.”
“Chimelong Zoo is one of the biggest zoos in the world; it has some of the biggest collection of animals from all over the world from this particular zoo.”
He also made reference to over a decade ago when the Australian government gave to Chimelong four Koalas, which the then Prime Minister of Australia John Howard went and delivered to the zoo.
“That just shows you the level of credibility this zoo has throughout the world, and at the end of the day what we are doing is making sure that our species our birds and animals of PNG are protected are conserved and looked after by professionals for the benefit of our country.”
“This is the first time that this has happened- this is a step in the right direction for the relationship between China and Papua New Guinea.”
“It is all part to do with NCDC, Department of Environment and Conservation, quarantine (National Quarantine and Inspection Authority) and of course the Adventure Park here at 14 Mile.”
He said despite the call to not export the birds or animals- conservation and preservation were paramount when considering the continuous killing of the animals and the destruction of their habitat.
No comments:
Post a Comment