Ricky Gervais joins BUAV call to airlines to stop monkey shipments

23/05/2011

Ricky Gervais has joined the BUAV’s Cargo Cruelty campaign and spoken out against airlines that transport monkeys for laboratories. 

Ricky said: “I was shocked to learn that some airlines transport monkeys to laboratories around the world. I support the BUAV’s Cargo Cruelty campaign and urge these airlines to take a compassionate stance and say no to monkey shipments.”

The BUAV’s campaign highlights the role played by major airlines in transporting monkeys destined for the research industry. Cruelty and suffering are an intrinsic part of the international trade in primates for research.

Some monkeys are taken from the wild; others are the offspring of wild-caught individuals forced into captivity for breeding. All are torn from their family groups, packed on their own into small wooden crates and travel as cargo, mainly on passenger air flights on extremely long journeys to laboratories in the USA, UK, Europe and Japan where they will suffer and most will die in experiments. 

Monkeys are highly sensitive animals and such treatment and conditions are very stressful for them. They may become ill or even die in transit. Delays, poor ventilation, noise and temperature fluctuations can add to their misery.

The BUAV has been influential in persuading an increasing number of airlines to take a stance to dissociate themselves from this cruelty. Only a small number of passenger airlines continue to be involved in this ugly business.

To find out how you can support Cargo Cruelty and for a list of those airlines which DO and DO NOT transport primates, please visit: www.buav.org/cargocruelty

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