British Organization Calls on Mauritius to End Cruel Primate Trade

by Pamela Black · 2011-04-14 09:41:00 UTC
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Mauritius is a small island nation off the coast of Africa that is becoming known for more than its sandy beaches and tourist hot-spots. The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection has uncovered evidence of the cruel capture and breeding of wild primates to be sold for research experiments.

Located approximately 560 miles east of Madagascar, Mauritius has become the second largest supplier of long-tailed macaques for use in research. The primates are abundant on the island. Since they are not indigenous, they are openly persecuted. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has listed long-tailed macaques under Appendix II, which warns that even though the species is not threatened with extinction now, if trade continues to be loosely regulated, the species could become endangered.

Wild-caught macaques are either sold directly to other countries for research or, the more likely scenario, are kept on breeding farms to produce captive-born babies for sale to research companies. The $40.7 million a year industry exports to countries across the world, including the U.S., Europe and Israel. This translates to as many as 10,000 macaques annually.

For nations like the United Kingdom, wild-caught adult primates are illegal to be imported for research. However, their offspring are not. This loophole is one aspect of BUAV’s fight to Stop the Baby Trade.

Breeding farms use baited live traps to capture macaques from the forests. Mishandling and appalling living conditions are the norm. Trappers will routinely grab macaques by the tail and swing them around before cramming them into undersized cages.

Mauritius then ships the primates as cargo on passenger airlines that include Air Canada and Air France. Again, the macaques are packed in crates that severely limit moving space for the final hours before their destination to the research labs.

This cruel industry does not live up to the “oasis of peace and tranquility” image that Mauritius’s tourism authority paints for the island. BUAV is urging the Prime Minister of Mauritius to end the primate trade. Join them by signing the petition to end primate capture and export in Mauritius.

Photo Credit: Pavel Sigarteu

Pamela Black has nearly a decade of experience with animal non-profit organizations and has a Masters' degree in Animals and Public Policy.

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