Environmental group Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) today called for a total ban on ownership of wildlife by holiday resorts and entertainment parks.

Its president SM Mohd Idris said that wild animal performances at these venues were not educational, but instead, demeaned the animals involved and portrayed the ignorance of the spectators.

"Often the public is unaware of what goes on behind the scene during the training of these animals. For example, it is well documented that performing elephants are initially abused and tormented to break its spirit," he said in a statement.

Another matter of concern was whether resorts and parks have the know-how and the necessary facilities to ensure the many complex needs of the animals are met, said Idris.

As such, he stressed that the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry should immediately ban the ownership of wildlife by these establishment, as their sole purpose was making a profit.

Punish smugglers

On a related matter, SAM also urged the authorities to take stern action against those found to be illegal possessing or were involved in the smuggling of seven Sumatran orangutans.

"Punishing them with harsh penalties in accordance to the crime committed will be a deterrent to resort and entertainment park owners hoping to illegally acquire wildlife," he said.

Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) announced last Friday that the DNA profiling of 58 orangutans in Peninsula Malaysia revealed that seven Sumatran orangutans were brought into the country without legal documentation .

Commercial trade in orangutans violates the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), which took effect in 1975.