Chain of Suffering

Location:
Indonesia
Uncovered:
the shocking trade in monkeys that violates international animal welfare guidelines and breaches Indonesia's own legislation.

Exposed - Indonesia's Shocking Trade In Primates For Research

Animal Campaigners Call On Cites To Take Action After In-Depth Investigation

The BUAV, an international animal protection group, is calling for Indonesia to be suspended from the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The call comes following a major, in-depth investigation carried out by the BUAV that has revealed a disturbing trade in primates from Indonesia for the international research industry. The full findings due to be released in a report on April 14th conclude that Indonesia is breaching its own wildlife legislation, as well as failing to comply with CITES regulations and violating international animal welfare guidelines.

This call comes as Indonesia announces a staggering three-fold increase (15,100) in the number of wild monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) allowed to be trapped in 2009 for the research industry.

BUAV's investigation follows the chain of cruelty and suffering inflicted on monkeys during their capture, holding and transportation within Indonesia, their export overseas and eventual fate in the research laboratory. Each year, thousands of monkeys, packed into small wooden crates, are shipped as cargo by Philippine Airlines, Korean Air and China Southern Airlines to research facilities around the world, including the USA, China and Japan.

Major findings show:

  • The official Indonesian "ban" on the export of wild-caught primates for research is a sham. Through a lack of enforcement by the Indonesian authorities and the use of misleading source codes for CITES export permits, the BUAV believes that wild-caught monkeys continue to be exported and end up in the international research industry. In some cases, wild-caught monkeys have simply been removed from one location in Indonesia and placed on islands under conditions no different from their original homes. Subsequently, wild primates who are living and breeding freely in a natural environment are being designated as captive-born animals by the Indonesian authorities in an apparent attempt to avoid the restrictions that would otherwise be placed on the trade by CITES and by its own legislation.
  • A lack of validity and objectivity of monkey population surveys that have been conducted. Interviews with at least one official from LIPI, the Indonesian Scientific Authority, show that certain population surveys have been conducted by third parties based on speculation, on the counting of monkeys in protected areas and the use of scientifically invalid extrapolation methods. These surveys have been used by the authorities as the basis for deciding whether and how many macaques can be taken from the wild.
  • Major breaches in international animal welfare guidelines set by the International Primatological Society. These included wild-caught monkeys kept in appalling conditions at dealers' premises; monkeys crammed into makeshift and dilapidated transit crates on trucks; and poor conditions at primate supply and breeding companies where monkeys were kept in barren concrete pens that were inappropriate for their complex behavioral and psychological needs.
  • The Indonesian authorities failing in their obligation under CITES by granting export permits for primates who will undoubtedly suffer greatly and unnecessarily during transportation. In recent years, some of the primates exported from Indonesia to the USA have been subjected to extremely long transit times sometimes as much as four days.

The fate for many of the monkeys at their final destination - the research laboratory - is one of pain, suffering and usually death. As one example, in the USA, monkeys originating from Indonesia were forced to consume alcohol. This was often combined with the surgical mutilation of female monkeys or deliberately feeding the animals a diet that would cause atherosclerosis. Other monkeys shipped to Japan, were slowly poisoned for over a year with a toxic metal before being killed.

BUAV Chief Executive, Michelle Thew states: "In addition to the unacceptable cruelty and suffering that is inflicted on Indonesia's indigenous primate populations in the name of research, the BUAV investigation has uncovered serious concerns regarding the implementation and enforcement of both Indonesian law and CITES regulations. The BUAV calls on CITES to suspend Indonesia's membership while it carries out its own investigation. To what extent CITES itself is aware of the practices taking place within Indonesia must also be urgently addressed."

ENDS

The BUAV has been campaigning for over 100 years to achieve a world where nobody wants or believes we need to experiment on animals. We are committed to achieving our aims through reliable and reasoned evidence-based debate. We are proudly non-violent and respect the quality of life for all - animals and people

For further information, copies of the report, photographs and video please contact
Sarah Kite at sarah.kite@buav.org

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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