Cruel Cargo: How Airlines Keep the Primate Trade Flying

Before buying airplane tickets for your next trip, you might want to find out if your luggage is sharing cargo space with primates destined for a research lab. Depending on the airline, you could be flying with cruel cargo.

American Airlines recently joined the league of airlines that refuse to ship primates as cargo when the primates will be used in research experiments. After discussions with British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, AA updated its policy to clarify that the airline does not support research, experimentation or exploitation of primates.

BUAV is urging the remaining airlines accepting research-bound primates as cargo to adopt a transportation ban. Today, to further advance their Primate Cargo Cruelty campaign, BUAV has launched a video about the role that airlines play in promoting the research industry.

Many people are familiar with the pain and suffering primates are forced to endure in the name of science. But what kind of lives do our simian cousins lead before they become unwilling pawns?

Countries like Mauritius and Cambodia cash in on the multi-million dollar industry of capturing primates from the wild to breed and ship internationally to research facilities. The lives of these animals are not pleasant. Live-capture from the wild is stressful and dangerous, captivity in breeding facilities fraught with overcrowding and rough handling.

Then there is the trip via airplane to their destination as test subjects. Once again the primates, often long-tailed macaques, are stuffed in cramped crates with poor ventilation and minimal protection against temperature extremes. They can spend fifteen hours or more in darkness while making the trans-continental journey. Some don't reach their destination alive. Yet companies like Air Canada and Air France continue to support animal cruelty.

In Great Britain, Early Day Motion 2014 was introduced to applaud the airlines worldwide that opt out of the cruel primate trade, and urge other companies to get their no cruel cargo boarding pass. Twenty-nine Members of Parliament (MP) support the motion, which also recognizes the work of BUAV.

At the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection website, you can see where the different carriers stand on the issue. It may seem like a small step, but boycotting these airlines sends a strong message that cargo shipments of primates will not be tolerated.

BUAV, MPs and celebrities such as Ricky Gervais are using the power of consumer pressure to urge airlines to end the cruel primate trade. Take a stand with them and let airline companies know you won’t support them if they continue to support the shipping of research primates.

Photo Credit: British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection