Trafficked Monkeys in Danger

The fate of 1000 illegally trafficked monkeys into a US animal lab is currently is in limbo, with the animals at risk of being killed or returned to wildlife traffickers in Cambodia.

Having undertaken numerous investigations over the last 15 years into the capture of wild caught monkeys in Cambodia and documented the dreadful conditions in primate factory farms in that country, (as well as the rest of south east Asia) Tracks are appalled at the thought of illegally trafficked monkeys returning there. 

The monkeys were imported by Charles River Laboratories in the USA which buys, sells, and tests on animals. From our experience of investigating the trade in Cambodia we believe it was likely that the company has been prevented from experimenting on the macaques in US laboratories because they cannot prove the animals are captive-bred.

Last week the Fish and Wildlife Service in the States announced the monkeys would instead be transported back to Cambodia where they were originally trafficked from. 

To prevent this from going ahead, PETA stationed individuals outside the Charles River Laboratories’ Houston facility, while thousands of additional activists contacted the US Fish & Wildlife Service, urging the agency to release the animals to Born Free USA’s sanctuary. PETA also pledged $1 million to help fund the sanctuary placement.

Please support PETA’s and Born Free USA’s efforts to secure the release of these monkeys. Click here for more details. The Guardian newspaper report on the issue can be found here.