Some Guys Spoil all the Fun

(12/15/2012)

The Bali Livestock and Animal Health Department is recommending that zoos in Bali intensify artificial insemination programs in order to increase the size of their animal collections.

The recommendation from officials has been put forth to help zoos deal with the absolute prohibition against animal import and export of pets and other animals put in place several years ago to help Bali deal with the ongoing rabies epidemic.

The chief of the Animal Health Department, Putu Sumantra, confirmed the prohibition on importing or exporting any animals into or out of Bali while the threat from rabies remains. Meanwhile, no Bali department is prepared to confirm any animal is free of rabies.

Quoted by Beritabali.com, Sumantra said: “Because Bali is under an animal quarantine animal imports are forbidden. According to provincial rules, until Bali is free of rabies no animal can be imported to Bali or exported from the island.”

Putu Sumantra said the one solution to the current blockade is artificial insemination as a means to develop the animal collections at the several zoos and animal parks operating in Bali. This allows the importation of new stock from zoos outside Bali, thereby ensuring a healthy genetic diversification is maintained.