International Trade of Primates For Research

TheBUAV*, 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.”


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 on +44 207 700 4888 or sarah.kite@buav.org"

Source