Chain of Suffering

After desperately trying to escape, this trapped scared and bewildered monkey awaits his fate. Wild caught monkeys were apparently sold for as little as $2 US each. Indonesia continues to allow indigenous wild populations of macaques, such as these, to be plundered from its rainforests for the research industry. The Macaca fascicularis or long-tailed macaque is widespread throughout Southeast Asia. The species can live in a range of habitats, but prefers forested areas near water, including mangrove and swamp forests. This macaque was living freely in the jungles of Indonesia. Long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques are classified as Appendix II under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Threats to their survival include habitat destruction, hunting and persecution as a pest. Any trade in these primates for the research, industry will further exacerbate these losses. The BUAV investigation has uncovered the cruelty and suffering inflicted on macaques during their capture, confinement and transportation in Indonesia. At the Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) in Indonesia, young monkeys were housed in these barren metal cages, totally inappropriate for their needs. Primates require a complex, stimulating environment for their psychological well-being At one primate supply company, monkeys were kept in small pens with smooth walls and floor. The monkeys had no place to climb or hide and could only hang from the ceiling by their limbs. This would be stressful for them in addition to the stress experienced as a result of captivity and confinement. At Jakarta airport, BUAV investigators found monkeys kept in these stark conditions prior to being exported overseas to be used in experiments. Every year thousands of monkeys from Indonesia are exported around the world to countries such as the USA, Japan and China where they will suffer and probably die in research laboratories The BUAV investigation uncovered the misuse of important CITES codes that define the source of primates. Consequently wild primates such as these who are living and breeding freely in a natural environment are designated as captive-bred animals and exported for the international research industry. Wild-caught monkeys destined for the research industry were transported across Indonesia in these dilapidated wooden and wire crates. These crates were piled on top of each other in the back of an open truck. Snatched from the wild, these monkeys were crammed into small, make-shift wooden crates and transported from the trapping site. This method of transportation was carried out in a cruel way that would inflict further suffering on wild animals who were already stressed and bewildered by being removed from their homes and family groups. Wild monkeys were caught in bamboo traps like this one. The trap is primed with fruit such as bananas. As the monkey pulls on the bananas, the bamboo frame collapses trapping the monkeys inside. After capture, wild monkeys were held in cramped small wooden crates at dealers' premises. Such conditions would be extremely stressful for the monkeys and likely to cause ill health, injuries and even death.

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