NGO 4 Tipalat: Monkeys Suffer in Terrible Transport Conditions

In a heart-wrenching exposé, Linley Moothien of the NGO 4 Tipalat has bravely highlighted the harrowing conditions faced by monkeys in transit. During a press conference held on 7th March, he painted a chilling picture: monkeys crammed into tiny cages, stacked upon one another inside aircraft. These unfortunate creatures are forced to endure such journeys for hours, sometimes nearly two days at a time, without access to food.

Moothien’s words carried a weight that was hard to dismiss.

“These monkeys suffer hour after hour in these cruel conditions,” he asserted, using distressing footage to underscore his points.

“But it doesn’t end there. Upon arrival, they must endure further hours of agonising transport by truck before they reach their final destination.”

In a particularly shocking revelation, he shared how during layovers, monkeys are often left exposed on the tarmac, at the mercy of rain or snow, before being loaded onto another flight.

He decried these practices as flagrant violations of the Animal Welfare Act, forbidding the transport of animals in a manner that subjects them to distress or confines them in cages that restrict their movement.

“The government is taking steps in the right direction, yet I am here to bring forward irrefutable evidence that current laws are being breached,” Moothien declared vehemently.

He also raised alarms about the over-exploitation of these monkeys, whom he sees as a neglected natural resource.

Mansa Daby from the Monkey Massacre platform also took the floor to shed light on the recent flights carrying monkeys from Mauritius.

One notable flight left the island on 24th February, with some monkeys disembarking in Brussels, others in Scotland, and the remainder shipped to England.

“These monkeys were sent to the Charles River laboratory, which has acquired Noveprim. In simpler terms, the company buys and sells to itself. So, where is the profit in this?” she questioned.

Another flight departed Mauritius on 2nd March, with the last shipment arriving in the United States on 6th March – a mere four days post-departure.

Throughout this time, the monkeys endured the distressing conditions shown in the recordings.

Daby further disputed the notion that long-tailed macaques were introduced to Mauritius by the Portuguese or Dutch, asserting instead that this species is endemic to the island, exhibiting behaviour markedly different from other macaques.

Arvin Boolell, the Minister of Agro-Industry, offered his perspective on the escalating debate, emphasising the need for a calm discourse.

“These exports are governed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

If regulations are not adhered to by exporters or laboratories, sanctions are inevitable.

For instance, transporters are prohibited from overcrowding these animals,” he clarified.

He also reiterated that captured animals are not exported, only their offspring are sold for scientific research, ensuring they remain free of diseases.

“We strictly follow biosafety protocols to prevent disease transmission and ensure the animals’ welfare,” he insisted.

Additionally, Boolell highlighted the crucial role of monkeys in scientific research. “In health contexts, in vitro experiments alone are insufficient.

Regrettably, these animals are necessary to develop treatments for certain diseases. We all long for an alternative, but this is our current reality,” he stated.

The minister noted that this industry generates revenue for the state through taxes, which will be increased to fund enhanced animal welfare initiatives.

He reassured that the process of phasing out these exports is ongoing but cannot occur overnight.

For now, the number of exports is frozen and there are no plans to increase it.

Moreover, Boolell remarked that discussions with NGOs are on the rise, with more meetings scheduled in the coming days.

The aim is to modernise the laws to reflect present-day challenges.

Beyond monkey exports, the minister announced a review of methods for capturing stray dogs, indicating that net trapping will soon be replaced with anaesthetic darts.

He also assured that plans for an animal shelter and hospital will soon come to fruition.

Source: l’Express