Saved! Shocking images of schoolboys kicking frightened monkeys' cages and a lonely crocodile lying in a pool of green urine forces 'Zoo from Hell' to be shut down

  • Yuk Chin Mini Zoo in Tawau, Borneo, was dubbed 'Zoo from Hell' over animals' conditions
  • Cruel treatment of the animals was exposed in a MailOnline investigation
  • Shocking photos emerged of boys kicking cages of frightened monkeys
  • A crocodile was pictured languishing a concrete pool too small for it to fit
  • Now the Sabah Wildlife Rescue unit has shut down the cruel and failing zoo

By Richard Shears for MailOnline

Published: 06:31 EST, 18 September 2015 | Updated: 07:49 EST, 18 September 2015

Distressed animals living in misery at Malaysia's 'zoo from hell' have been rescued after wildlife officials raided the premises today and closed it down.

The Sabah Wildlife Rescue unit acted immediately after MailOnline exposed the shocking cruelty in which the animals were being held at Yuk Chin Mini Zoo in Tawau, Borneo.

We revealed how children from an adjoining school teased the animals, some even being photographed kicking violently at the animal cages and throwing rubbish at them.

Shocking: It was pictures like this of schoolboys kicking the monkey cages that prompted the Sabah Wildlife Rescue unit to close down Yuk Chin Mini Zoo in Tawau, Borneo, dubbed the 'Zoo from Hell'

Shocking: It was pictures like this of schoolboys kicking the monkey cages that prompted the Sabah Wildlife Rescue unit to close down Yuk Chin Mini Zoo in Tawau, Borneo, dubbed the 'Zoo from Hell'

Stopped: Children from an adjoining school would routinely go into the zoo and go from cage to cage to taunt the animals while staff there turned a blind eye

Stopped: Children from an adjoining school would routinely go into the zoo and go from cage to cage to taunt the animals while staff there turned a blind eye

Moved: Heartbreaking images like this of a lonely crocodile languishing in a concrete pool of his own urine where he was occasionally thrown a dead dog or cat to eat sparked global anger at their treatment 

Moved: Heartbreaking images like this of a lonely crocodile languishing in a concrete pool of his own urine where he was occasionally thrown a dead dog or cat to eat sparked global anger at their treatment 

Monkeys at the zoo were being held in tiny wire cages and screeched in fear as the schoolchildren tormented them while zoo staff turned a blind eye to their suffering.

We told how malnourished animals there were fed insufficient meals just three times a week and a crocodile was living in its own pool of urine in a concrete pool too small to house it.

Dead dogs and cats were occasionally tossed into its lonely compound for the starving crocodile to eat.

Investigators also saw a large bird hobbling around on what appeared to be a broken leg.

All the animals appeared to be severely undernourished, wildlife activist Mr Upresh Singh Upreshpal Singh, director of the Kuala Lumpur-based Friends of the Orangutans, told MailOnline.

He said he felt compelled to personally go to the local market and buy fish, chicken and fruit for them because they were so underfed.

News of the animals' distress spread around the world, resulting in widespread condemnation of the nearby school management who operate the zoo.

The Sabah Wildlife Department decided to act immediately after being made aware of the animals' distress following the investigation.

Squashed: The zoo was closed down this week after MailOnline revealed monkeys were living in cramped, tiny cages and only fed three times a week

Squashed: The zoo was closed down this week after MailOnline revealed monkeys were living in cramped, tiny cages and only fed three times a week

Cruel: This money was so dehydrated that when investigators visited the zoo this week it drank the whole bottle of water

Cruel: This money was so dehydrated that when investigators visited the zoo this week it drank the whole bottle of water

Mr William Baya, director of the Sabah Wildlife Department, said he had immediately ordered the Wildlife Rescue Unit to close down the zoo.

He said that while the zoo, which has been in operation for more than 20 years, with its main purpose being to educate pupils about wildlife awareness, 'there is no excuse for not keeping the animals correctly and humanely.'

If further drastic measures, Mr Baya has ordered a freeze throughout the state in the issuance of all new mini-zoo licences.

In addition, he has ordered inspections to be carried out in all similar small zoos to ensure that the animals there are being cared for properly.

The New Straits Times said today that the wildlife rescue unit had 'found the animals kept in squalid conditions.'

The rescue team has taken into its care a total of more than 50 animals and birds including crocodiles, wild boars, long-tailed macaques and otters.

'It will probably take the rescue unit at least two days to move these animals from the zoo,' said Mr Baya.

Solitary: A lonely otter is kept at the cruel zoo on his own in a bleak cage with a disgusting pool to swim in. Animal campaigner Upreshpal Singh told MailOnline:  ‘It seemed like the animals had never been fed.’

Solitary: A lonely otter is kept at the cruel zoo on his own in a bleak cage with a disgusting pool to swim in. Animal campaigner Upreshpal Singh told MailOnline:  ‘It seemed like the animals had never been fed.’

'They will all be checked medically by vets and wherever possible they will be released back into the wild.'

Said Mr Singh: 'This is a great result. I am very grateful to the Mail for getting this started.

'There is much more work to do in stopping this cruelty, but every new success is a blessing.'

 

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