DISGRACEFUL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS

MALAYSIANS OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED!

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” -- Mahatma Gandhi

The Malay Mail carried a heartbreaking report on Dec 3, 2007 of monkeys trapped in a container-contraption and left to starve in the Kiara area.

I think it is shameful that Malaysians have come to be this callous about life to this extent! What kind of people can bear to see even baby animals harmed in such a manner? It is especially shocking that there is so much hate for animals that are being depleted off their natural environment in supposedly posh areas like Kiara and that other area in Gasing where the residents are always whining about monkeys being a nuisance.

One would be right in suspecting that these very types of people, when they travel to first world countries on holidays would marvel at the way animals roam freely into residential neighbourhoods (like in the U.S. and Canada) and sing praises of how man and animals should live like that.

But back home, they see animals differently. It is a fact that animals would roam into human habitat to search and forage for food as their natural surroundings are increasingly decimated. In this respect, the local authorities should be smacked on their heads hard for not coming up with solutions that would strike a balance for the various species to live together -- i.e. create buffer zones that are planted with fruit trees suitable for the animals to feed on or have qualified officers advice the residents on the kind of activities that would provide sustenance for the animals (i.e. food suitable for animals left in designated areas at regular times by members from the residents association, where these people can take turns to do so). There is a whole world of creative solutions that can be worked out to handle and care for the animals in a more humane way. The Federal Government too has been a disgrace in this respect of forcing or making people live with animals. For a society that once took pride in living at one with nature, Malaysians have now become so detached from nature and have let hubris take over in their God-like behavior over lesser life forms.

Decision makers and residents of places mentioned above, in general, are pathetic. And they sometimes wonder why they are looked down upon when they travel or try to migrate to developed countries! With heartless mindsets like the ones showcased towards the Kiara monkeys, these Malaysians should be trapped in containers themselves!