While imported pandas from China are given VIP treatment in Malaysia, Katarina, an orangutan who spends her days alone in squalid and deplorable conditions, is given quite the opposite treatment at the Kuala Lipis Zoo in the state of Pahang.

Katarina is a victim of the illegal wildlife trade. She was kept as a pet and after she became too big to handle was given up to the Lipis Zoo, three years ago. She is estimated to be between 10 and 12 years old.

According to Upreshpal Singh, director of Malaysian orangutan group Friends of the Orangutans, Katarina must be sent to Matang Wildlife Sanctuary in Sarawak immediately,

“Visitors can freely feed her junk food and throw cigarettes at her. There is no supervision of visitors and the zoo is not in a state to meet the needs of Katarina, as it is also severely underfunded. Many other animals are also suffering there. She is the only orangutan there and needs to be moved  to Matang very soon so that she can start to exhibit natural behaviours in an environment more suited to a subadult orangutan.”

Orangutans are mostly solitary animals in the wild, but should live in a social group in captivity. Katarina’s lonely and miserable life is taking a big toll on her mentally.

Upreshpal Singh added, “Great apes must never be force to live alone in captivity. The treatment Katarina receives is truly shameful. We have also received many complaints from Katarina supporters around the world, asking the government to transfer her to Matang.”

At least RM60 million (US$18 million) has been spent on the two pandas from China. While they receive daily enrichment without fail, Katarina receives none. And her night cage is completely void of any bedding nor enrichment tool and she is forced to sit on cold concrete everyday for at least 12 hours after the zoo is closed.

Upreshpal Singh concluded, “After suffering for many years, it is time she is relocated to the Matang Wildlife Sanctuary next week, where the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) provides excellent captive care for orangutans at its sanctuary. We kindly ask Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to help get Katarina moved.”

Friends of the Orangutans submitted their petition for Katarina consisting of almost 14,000 signatures to Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, and Prime Minister Najib on Friday, Jan 6, 2015.