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'Reputation of Gibraltar Govt damaged' by personal attack
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LONDON: A recent statement of the Gibraltar government referred to agreement to export a group of monkeys as ?subject to a set of preconditions demanded by the IPPL in respect of Gibraltar?s Ape Management Plan?. It is standard practice for responsible NGOs that relocation of animals only takes place if measures are established to ensure that the situation does not reoccur.
If sanctuaries regularly took in animals without taking these steps they would quickly become inundated. They would also be accused of encouraging malpractice by taking surplus animals without addressing the root of the problem.
Both IPPL and the AAP rescue centre adhere to such a policy and it is considered best practice in the field. It is due to this professionalism that both organisations are well respected internationally and AAP is an official rescue centre for the Dutch authorities. The proposal had been approved as a first draft by John Cortes, Head of GONHS, to commence negotiations and it was anticipated that he, and the Minister, would suggest some changes.
On the personal references to Helen Thirlway, Director of IPPL UK, she responds: ?Attacking a well-respected organisation and one of its spokespeople does more to damage the reputation of the Gibraltar government than it does to affect IPPL. Denigrating the person who has spoken out publicly is an attempt to damage that individual?s credibility while side-stepping the issue at hand. The government?s statement also demonstrates an intention to intimidate. The fact remains that there has still been no denial of the recent culling.?
She adds: ?The question of possible motives for this decision to cull, without prior warning to John Cortes or the other parties involved, is a valid one that remains unanswered. The NGOs that were engaged in securing the survival of these monkeys are entitled to explore the possibilities publicly when the government will not provide an answer. The government was given the opportunity to respond to our queries privately and did not do so.?
*IPPL has been established since 1973, with its UK branch set up in 1976. The organisation?s advisory board includes world-famous primatologists such as Dr Jane Goodall, Dr Colin Groves and Dr Vernon Reynolds. The founder of IPPL, Dr Shirley McGreal received an OBE for services to the protection of primates last year, and has previously been awarded the prestigious Jeanne Marchig Award. The founder of IPPL UK, Cyril Rosen, has also been awarded an MBE for his work, as well as a Conservation Medal from the PSGB (Primate Society of Great Britain).
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