Melbourne Zoo has become embroiled in a diplomatic stoush between Australia and Malaysia, with Malaysia questioning the zoo's ability to properly care for orang utans.
But the facility has hit back, saying the comments are simply a reaction to the controversial palm oil labelling campaign.
Malaysia's Palm Oil Council chief had visited the enclosure, saying animals 'were shivering and making noises which I recognised as distress calls. I felt very sorry for these poor animals, their distress screams appeared to be ignored by the zoo.'
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Malaysian plantation minister Bernard Mompok, part of a delegation meeting in Canberra, agreed that Mebourne Zoo's orange great apes are unhappy.
'To my mind the zoos are mis-treating the Orang Utang', he said.'
Those caring for the orang utans are appalled, saying the care is humane - and the enclosures replicate the animal's natural environment.
Melbourne Zoo has been a vocal part of a controversial campaign. It's backed a Federal Australian bill supporting compulsary labelling of palm oil products and that, they say is what's motivated the Malaysian criticism.
It's estimated two milliom hectares of forrests are cleared in Malaysia and Indonesia each year, and the orang utan is threatened.
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