14 DAY TRIAL // Conservationists are now demanding that the general public sign a petition asking that the orangutans forced by people to box each other in Thailand be rescued as soon as possible.
Apparently, the practice of making male orangutans fight each other for the purpose of human entertainment has really taken off once again in this part of the world, in spite of the fact that authorities took care of banning it back in 2004.
Thus, Global Animal informs us that Safari World (i.e. a zoo in Bangkok, Thailand), has recently organized several such shows, and has plans to do it again in the future.
In order to draw in rather large crowds, the staff at this wildlife park makes the male orangutans wear shorts and boxing gloves, so that their resemblance to human beings will be all the more striking.
On the other hand, female orangutans are asked to parade around the boxing ring wearing items of clothing such as tops and miniskirts. Moreover, they must hold banners and round cards.
The same source informs us that one such battle lasts for about half an hour, and that once the fight is over, the orangutans are returned to their cages, where they can rest and relax until they must get back in the ring.
Although conservationists are dead set on putting an end to this practice, the staff at this wildlife park claims that the fights are make-believe and that the orangutans are simply trained to act as if the blows they are receiving really knock them down.
However, greenheads cannot help but wonder if such encounters between male orangutans, which average a weight of 250 pounds (113.5 kilograms), do in fact end without any of the competitors suffering from noteworthy injuries.
Those wishing to sign the petition and lend a helping hand to this endangered species can do so here.