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[Josh Greenman <joshg1973 AT yahoo.com>]

http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20040605-010059-6695r.htm

Orangutan gets dumped from TV in Japan

Tokyo, Japan, Jun. 5 (UPI) -- Concerns about protecting endangered species 
has resulted
in an orangutan getting fired from a Japanese TV program, the Mainichi Times 
reported
Saturday.

NTV network officials said Chika-chan, a female orangutan serving as a 
co-host for a
variety show since April, will no longer appear because her presence violates 
the
Washington Treaty on trafficking in wild animals.

Orangutans are designated as a "most endangered" species and importing them 
into Japan
for commercial purposes is illegal.

Exceptions can be made for animals to be used in circuses, traveling zoos and 
zoological
exhibitions, but Tokyo says Chika-chan does not qualify for any of those 
exceptions.

"Appearing on television is not one of the exceptions where an endangered 
animal can be
imported for commercial reasons," a spokesman from the Ministry of Economy, 
Trade and
Industry said Friday.