Stop Monkey Massacre: Plea to Halt Agreement with Charles River Laboratories

In a poignant and urgent appeal, the platform Stop Monkey Massacre has reached out to Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and Minister of Agroindustry Arvin Boolell, imploring them to revoke a Memorandum of Understanding with the American firm Charles River Laboratories. Mansa Daby, founder of the NGO Monkey Massacre Mauritius, has raised alarming concerns over the absence of legal frameworks governing monkey experimentation in Mauritius.

The establishment of Charles River Laboratories in the nation has raised the spectre of increased exploitation of macaques, a plight vehemently opposed by animal rights groups.

Daby is suggesting that ongoing investigations into Charles River’s overseas operations reveal troubling practices regarding the treatment of monkeys.

This controversial agreement, she argued, paves the way for preclinical tests on long-tailed macaques in Mauritius—a procedure condemned by advocates for animal rights and scientists against animal testing.

In their heartfelt letter, Stop Monkey Massacre articulates grave worries regarding animal welfare and the ethical ramifications of such testing.

They insisted that preclinical trials lead to significant suffering and loss of life among the primates used in laboratory settings.

The platform warned that the presence of Charles River Laboratories in Mauritius would likely result in the increased capture and breeding of macaques for experimentation, jeopardising their survival and exacerbating their suffering.

Furthermore, the organisation highlighted that Mauritius’s reputation as a premier tourist destination could suffer irreparably if it becomes known as a hub for animal testing.

An increasing number of travellers and businesses are now considering ethical and environmental issues, which could adversely affect the island’s appeal.

It is crucial to note that Charles River Laboratories is already facing severe criticism and judicial investigations in the United States and Canada.

In 2023, the company was embroiled in a scandal involving the illegal importation of wild macaques from Cambodia.

A covert operation by American authorities uncovered a shocking reality: 30,000 wild-caught macaques had been fraudulently labelled as captive-bred before their shipment to laboratories.

Stop Monkey Massacre further emphasises the shortcomings in Mauritius’s animal welfare laws.

They argued that the 2017 regulations governing animal experimentation lack transparency and rigorous oversight.

Currently, there is no mandatory governmental inspection of laboratories, nor are there clear standards for the housing and enrichment of animals.

There is a real fear that Mauritius could become a preferred destination for researchers looking to sidestep more stringent regulations in other countries, thus heightening the suffering inflicted on animals on the island.

The call from Stop Monkey Massacre reflects a growing urgency to protect not only the macaque population but also the ethical integrity of Mauritius as a nation committed to animal welfare.

Source: l’Express