AR2010: AR2010: “The Tragedy of Trade”“The Tragedy of Trade”

The International Primate Trade: The International Primate Trade: Monkey Business Goes GlobalMonkey Business Goes Global

Dr. Shirley McGrealDr. Shirley McGrealInternational Primate Protection LeagueInternational Primate Protection League

www.ippl.org www.ippl.org

““No Place on Earth” Untouched No Place on Earth” Untouched by the Primate Tradeby the Primate Trade

Nepalese mountaineer Nepalese mountaineer Jyamchang Bhote on Mt. Jyamchang Bhote on Mt. Everest with IPPL’s Everest with IPPL’s protest banner, May 2009protest banner, May 2009

IPPL campaigns with IPPL campaigns with WWG (Nepal) to ban WWG (Nepal) to ban native rhesus exportsnative rhesus exports

Nepal’s monkeys highlight Nepal’s monkeys highlight sustainability and sustainability and globalization issues globalization issues

““Plain” Monkeys Under Hidden Plain” Monkeys Under Hidden Threat from “Legal” ExportThreat from “Legal” Export

Primates imported into Primates imported into U.S. in 2009 (USFWS):U.S. in 2009 (USFWS):• Crab-eating macaque Crab-eating macaque

monkeys: 19,979 (90%)monkeys: 19,979 (90%)• Rhesus macaque monkeys: Rhesus macaque monkeys:

1,5961,596• Other monkeys/ prosimians: Other monkeys/ prosimians:

515515• Apes: 8Apes: 8

Can this continue, even Can this continue, even for “common” for “common” monkeys?monkeys?

International primate trade International primate trade most affected by CITESmost affected by CITES

CITES: leading international CITES: leading international treaty governing trade in treaty governing trade in endangered species (1975)endangered species (1975)

Most nations (175 out of 195) Most nations (175 out of 195) are signatoriesare signatories

Appendix II and I listingsAppendix II and I listings• II: trade permitted if animals II: trade permitted if animals

legally removed from the wild legally removed from the wild and “no detriment” to speciesand “no detriment” to species

• I: commercial trade banned I: commercial trade banned (import (import andand export permits export permits needed for transport)needed for transport)

Convention on International Convention on International Trade in Endangered SpeciesTrade in Endangered Species

Primates and AppendicesPrimates and Appendices AllAll primates are on either primates are on either

Appendix I or IIAppendix I or II Appendix I: Includes all apes Appendix I: Includes all apes

and all lemurs (as well as and all lemurs (as well as many monkeys)many monkeys)

Appendix II (less protected) Appendix II (less protected) monkey species like monkey species like macaques traded more easilymacaques traded more easily• Traded with only export permitsTraded with only export permits• Export permits easily falsifiedExport permits easily falsified• Wild-caught animals listed as Wild-caught animals listed as

captive-born to evade regulationscaptive-born to evade regulations Multinational corporations/ Multinational corporations/

research facilities exploit research facilities exploit these loopholesthese loopholes

Example 1: Monkey LaunderingExample 1: Monkey LaunderingCambodia Cambodia ► China ► China ► The West► The West

Cambodia:Cambodia: Wild-caught Wild-caught macaques transferred to macaques transferred to breeding/collecting centersbreeding/collecting centers• Wild-caught and captive-born Wild-caught and captive-born

monkeys shipped to China monkeys shipped to China • Suspect “captive born” Suspect “captive born”

documents often useddocuments often used China:China: Monkeys become Monkeys become

menu items/export itemsmenu items/export items The West:The West: Monkeys in high Monkeys in high

demand for biowarfare demand for biowarfare experimentsexperiments Cambodian monkeys

awaiting export

Example 2: Chinese NumbersExample 2: Chinese Numbers Wild-caught Wild-caught ► “Captive-bred”► “Captive-bred”

China has no native crab-China has no native crab-eating macaqueseating macaques

China claims: exported only China claims: exported only “12,244” of these “captive-“12,244” of these “captive-bred” monkeys 2004-2007 bred” monkeys 2004-2007 (CITES workshop, Nov. 2008)(CITES workshop, Nov. 2008)

But U.S. alone imported But U.S. alone imported 13,952 from China in 2007 13,952 from China in 2007 (USFWS)(USFWS)

Example 3: Outsourced to MalaysiaExample 3: Outsourced to Malaysia Research/breeding sites Research/breeding sites ► Developing nations► Developing nations

EU debates on phasing EU debates on phasing out primate researchout primate research

Pharmaceutical Pharmaceutical companies increasingly companies increasingly seeking to outsource seeking to outsource research and testingresearch and testing

Issues of welfare, legal Issues of welfare, legal recourse, etc. recourse, etc.

IPPL (UK) and BUAV protest at Malaysian High Commission

Example 4: Nepal “Monkey Farms”Example 4: Nepal “Monkey Farms” Native monkeys Native monkeys ► Western labs► Western labs

Rhesus export ban from Rhesus export ban from India/etc. since 1970s, India/etc. since 1970s, results in alleged results in alleged “shortage” of monkeys“shortage” of monkeys

Native rhesus monkeys Native rhesus monkeys sought for 2 U.S. labssought for 2 U.S. labs

Nepal cancels export Nepal cancels export plans in August 2009, plans in August 2009, 200+ monkeys released 200+ monkeys released into national park!into national park!

Former monkey holding and breeding center in Lele, Nepal

Contact the Contact the International Primate Protection League International Primate Protection League

IPPLIPPL

P.O. Box 766P.O. Box 766

Summerville, SC 29484Summerville, SC 29484

Phone: 843-871-2280Phone: 843-871-2280

Fax: 843-871-7988Fax: 843-871-7988

E-mail: info@ippl.orgE-mail: info@ippl.org

Web: www.ippl.orgWeb: www.ippl.org