[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 131 (Monday, September 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                CONCERN OVER THE TREATMENT OF ORANGUTANS

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                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 19, 1994

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring your attention to 
House Committee Report 103-551 to the Interior appropriations bill. I 
am pleased to learn of concern expressed in the bill regarding captive 
orangutans and the Department of the Interior's lack of enforcement of 
its forfeiture powers of those animals taken or possessed in violation 
of the provisions outlined in the international Endangered Species Act. 
In passing this bill, the Congress clearly intended to protect 
endangered species, such as the orangutans, which are taken or kept in 
violation of any provisions of the ESA, as evidenced by 16 U.S.C. 
1540(e)(4)(A).
  The forfeiture powers of the Department of the Interior should be 
exercised with regard to those orangutans which are currently in the 
possession of Bobby Berosini, a Las Vegas entertainer, who in 1989, was 
videotaped beating the animals on numerous occasions. Aside from this 
obvious form of harassment of these animals, which in itself is illegal 
under ESA provisions and would alone be grounds for seizing the 
animals, this individual no longer has any right to continue to 
maintain these animals. He was originally permitted to take these 
animals for the purpose of conducting a breeding program which he 
failed to do in 13 years, and for which the Department of the Interior 
revoked his Captive Bred Wildlife permit.
  I call on the Department of the Interior to address these concerns.

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