11/27/07 Investigation Reveals New Monkey Suffering

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International pressure mounts on Malaysia to reinstate monkey trade ban

Animal Friends and other animal protection and rights organizations across Europe have launched a campaign to oppose the lifting of the ban on the export of primates from Malaysia. The European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE), which represents groups in 17 countries and thus Croatia too, believes it is very important not to lift the monkey trade ban. Therefore, Animal Friends sent a protest letter to the Malaysian Embassy in Zagreb with request from Malaysia to maintain the important monkey trade ban.

The ban on export has reportedly been lifted because of increasing "conflicts" between the monkeys and people in urban areas. Experts, however, disagree entirely that this action is necessary or even effective.

At the same time, an investigation carried out in Malaysia by UK ECEAE member The BUAV (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection), has found new evidence of monkey suffering at a holding facility in Pontian where captured wild monkeys are kept in poor conditions.

The film shows a rundown facility containing hundreds of wild monkeys packed into wire mesh cages. The investigation revealed the monkeys had been caught using crudely made traps that were found on site. These cruel and unnatural conditions are extremely stressful for wild animals and lead to disease and injuries; indeed, dead monkeys were found on the cage floors.

Primates are highly intelligent, social animals with complex behavioral and psychological needs and their export for the food and research industries causes them to experience immense suffering. The BUAV has for many years highlighted the cruelty and suffering involved in the international trade in primates for research. BUAV investigations have shown that the capture and confinement of wild monkeys results in stress, anxiety, disease, injuries and even death.

Conflict between human beings and wildlife over habitat is a growing issue facing many governments. However, there are ways to control monkey populations that are not only humane but are also more effective. The BUAV’s veterinary consultant, Dr Ned Buyukmihci has already submitted a paper to the Malaysia Natural Resources and Environment Minister, offering suggestions on effective means of controlling the conflicts humanely, primarily through educating the public to adopt behavior that does not encourage monkeys by providing a food source for them along with reproduction control and relocation.

Animal Friends is concerned that Malaysia, at a time when there is growing international concern over the plight of primates in areas such as research, is planning to once again allow its primates to be exported after it implemented such ban in 1984. Malaysia should protect its indigenous population of monkeys by refusing to allow their export for any use.

Therefore Animal Friends sent a protest note to the Malaysian Embassy in Zagreb and also invite the Croatian public and politicians to express their opposition to this policy by implementing a legal ban on primate experiments.

Pontian, Malaysia 1Pontian, Malaysia 2 [ 118.65 Kb ]Pontian, Malaysia 3 [ 157.79 Kb ]Monkey export cages [ 69.63 Kb ]Monkey traps [ 179.14 Kb ]

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