We're in the New York Times!

Shirley McGreal
May 2005

I thought you'd like to know that IPPL's work on the ongoing "Taiping Four" gorilla smuggling case was mentioned in a good article in the "New York Times" today (10 May 2005--see the text and link below). I was interviewed for the story last week and was pleased with the result. There are also photos of the gorillas on the Times' Web site.

I hope that you will consider forwarding this story to friends: it would be great if the piece made the Times' "Most E-mailed" stories list, as many more people read these articles. (Go to http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/10/international/africa/10gorilla.html and log on; then click on the "E-mail This" icon to send it to individual friends.)

Please also consider writing a Letter to the Editor, in order to draw greater attention to the plight of these four young gorillas and their sad journey through the underworld of animal trafficking. Among some points to consider are:

• South Africa facilitated the original smuggling deal by issuing transit permits, so that the four baby gorillas could be easily transported from Nigeria through South Africa to Malaysia--and now South Africa is benefiting from this crime by displaying the animals;
• Cameroon's Limbe Wildlife Centre, in the Taiping Four's home country, already provides excellent care to 14 gorillas rescued from poachers;
• demand for gorillas by unethical zoos hurts the species, because poachers kill mothers and protective adults to procure babies for international trade.

It is best to make your point in your own words; use past issues of "IPPL News" or check our Web site if you need extra information.

To e-mail a letter to the editor, write to letters@nytimes.com. You may also send your letter to:

Letters to the Editor
The New York Times
229 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
fax: (212) 556-3622