Caught in the act!

In many ways. ...

A chain of events over the last 2 days has shed more light onto the plight of 'My Monkey Robbie' and his fellow prisoners at 'Neverland' in Luxor. Neverland brings to mind, the wonderful Theme Park , that Michael Jackson had created for deprived Children. This was Worlds apart from the dream Michael had.

A spot visit to this 'Zoo' which is nothing more than a coffee shop and I refuse to call it a zoo from now on, found the animals, once again in dirty cages, full of faeces and rubbish. Water was either nonexistent or filthy. More importantly, there was very little evidence of food - AGAIN.

The Swamp cats had a few bones in their 'Cage' The Fallow Deer with his antlers sawed off, suddenly had antlers? He looked sick and breathed heavily in the 40 degrees Luxor heat. Where was the previous stag? This was a new one? His head laid down in the sand that was his bed, his toilet and the place where he ate his food. His very own Faeces was at the tip of his nose, where no-one had cleaned his prison for days on end.

The Ostrich (2) had a bigger area to roam. The massive hole in his neck (Caused by the sharp metal fence) had now healed up and the children happily threw rubbish at them and made them angry by flapping their arms. Signs of unhappiness were evident as the wonderful plumage was rapidly disappearing. Flesh not unlike a plucked turkey was so clear.

The 6 peacocks were still huddled together and also devoid of their spectacular plumage that we are all so accustomed to see.

Robbie, my monkey and his companions, had the odd banana skin in their cages, was that breakfast and lunch? They were happily or unhappily being fed tissues, fruit juice boxes and anything else children could find on the floor around the small cages and there was a lot.
Parents smiled as they looked on and the monkeys accepted the soiled rubbish and ate it. I had to intervene at this point and that is all I shall say on the matter!

Lots of calls were made to Dina Zulfikar an animal activist in Cairo. She was instrumental to our mission to help the animals and vowed to be with us throughout.
As a result of speaking with her, the Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency (EEAA) have been informed, the Ministry of Agriculture and also the Veterinary Services, all of which will be pay a visit to the coffee shop in the next day or so (Insha'Allah)

Egypt has many, many issues that need correcting and controlling. Laws need to be enforced and education is paramount on many counts. Animals are at the back of the queue, with regards respect, change and protection. But with the help and knowledge of those that care and want to make change, we strive and will continue to speak for the animals. They were after all, here before us.