Free the Animals: Free the Animals: Effective Action Against VivisectionEffective Action Against Vivisection

ConferenceConferenceOctober 27-28, 2012October 27-28, 2012

The International Trade in The International Trade in Primates for LaboratoriesPrimates for Laboratories

Dr. Shirley McGrealDr. Shirley McGrealIPPL Founder and Executive DirectorIPPL Founder and Executive Director

TM

U.S. 2011 import statisticsU.S. 2011 import statistics

U.S. is a huge importer of U.S. is a huge importer of primates for research: primates for research: 18,140 in 2011 18,140 in 2011

Crab-eating macaques Crab-eating macaques are the most commonly are the most commonly imported species (89%)imported species (89%)

China remains the largest China remains the largest country of origin for U.S.’s country of origin for U.S.’s imported primates (70%)imported primates (70%)

Problems with import statisticsProblems with import statistics

Some shipments are not Some shipments are not reported to USFWS reported to USFWS

It’s unclear if USFWS inspects It’s unclear if USFWS inspects animal shipments bound for animal shipments bound for labs via military baseslabs via military bases

It’s hard to obtain comparison It’s hard to obtain comparison data from Customs and CDC data from Customs and CDC databasesdatabases

USFWS statistics represent USFWS statistics represent minimumminimum numbers of imports numbers of imports

The crab-eating macaqueThe crab-eating macaque

Macaca fascicularisMacaca fascicularis, AKA:, AKA:• Long-tailed macaqueLong-tailed macaque• Cynomolgus monkeyCynomolgus monkey

(“cyno” for short)(“cyno” for short)• Java macaqueJava macaque

Once widespread through Once widespread through much of Southeast Asiamuch of Southeast Asia

On CITES Appendix IIOn CITES Appendix II IUCN “Least Concern”IUCN “Least Concern”

The Chinese tradeThe Chinese trade

Crab-eating macaques Crab-eating macaques are not native to China are not native to China

Nevertheless, China has Nevertheless, China has become the main supplier become the main supplier to world marketsto world markets

China is suspected of China is suspected of raiding the wild monkey raiding the wild monkey populations of neighboring populations of neighboring countries and calling them countries and calling them “captive bred” “captive bred”

1977: India bans primate exports1977: India bans primate exports After IPPL uncovered primate abuse in military After IPPL uncovered primate abuse in military

experiments, India banned rhesus monkey exports.experiments, India banned rhesus monkey exports.

““Received your letter of 3Received your letter of 3rdrd yesterday evening. You are quite correct yesterday evening. You are quite correct in saying that I banned the export of monkeys on a humanitarian in saying that I banned the export of monkeys on a humanitarian basis… I believe in preventing cruelty to all living beings in any form. basis… I believe in preventing cruelty to all living beings in any form. This is the ancient Indian culture and is a part of vegetarianism.”This is the ancient Indian culture and is a part of vegetarianism.”

Morarji Desai, former Prime Minister of India, 1985Morarji Desai, former Prime Minister of India, 1985

““I now realise from Mr Desai’s letter that the International Primate I now realise from Mr Desai’s letter that the International Primate Protection League played the really key role in getting the ban Protection League played the really key role in getting the ban declared in the first place and that the ban indeed reflected Indian declared in the first place and that the ban indeed reflected Indian concern over the cruel and inhumane use of primates.”concern over the cruel and inhumane use of primates.”

Dr. Charles Southwick, conservationist, 1985Dr. Charles Southwick, conservationist, 1985

After 1977: Trading placesAfter 1977: Trading placesRhesus macaque Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)(Macaca mulatta)

Crab-eating macaqueCrab-eating macaque(Macaca fascicularis)(Macaca fascicularis)

Global exports of crab-eating macaquesGlobal exports of crab-eating macaques(Source: CITES database)(Source: CITES database)

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

Total number of crab-eating Total number of crab-eating macaques traded through 2010macaques traded through 2010

1,089,1241,089,124

2004: Project BioShield2004: Project BioShield

$5.6 billion over 10 years$5.6 billion over 10 years Focus on animal testingFocus on animal testing Stockpile and develop vaccinesStockpile and develop vaccines

• AnthraxAnthrax• EbolaEbola• SmallpoxSmallpox• PlaguePlague• H1N1H1N1

A secret plea from CambodiaA secret plea from Cambodia

““A Korea listed company Orient Bio group buy a A Korea listed company Orient Bio group buy a monkey farm in kampong chhnang province, Cambodia. monkey farm in kampong chhnang province, Cambodia. The status of the farm is very bad. Food for monkey is The status of the farm is very bad. Food for monkey is only corn or pumpkin per day. All monkey house is only corn or pumpkin per day. All monkey house is broken, a lot of sharp broken metal inside pen can hurt broken, a lot of sharp broken metal inside pen can hurt monkey. The health status of monkey is very bad. You monkey. The health status of monkey is very bad. You can see the individual cage is terrible to monkey.  A lot can see the individual cage is terrible to monkey.  A lot of monkey died every day. They only put the dead body of monkey died every day. They only put the dead body under the soil. Attached a lot of photo for you to see.” under the soil. Attached a lot of photo for you to see.”

Inside a Cambodian monkey farmInside a Cambodian monkey farm

Inside a Cambodian monkey farmInside a Cambodian monkey farm

Inside a Cambodian monkey farmInside a Cambodian monkey farm

Inside a Cambodian monkey farmInside a Cambodian monkey farm

Cambodian monkey farm, Cambodian monkey farm, capacity: 15,000capacity: 15,000

Cambodian monkey farm, Cambodian monkey farm, capacity: 35,000capacity: 35,000

Latest trend: Primates on demandLatest trend: Primates on demand

Wild-caught crab-eating macaquesWild-caught crab-eating macaques

The real face of the primate trade…The real face of the primate trade…

Photo credit: BUAV

Possible actionsPossible actions

Have protests/letters targeting Have protests/letters targeting embassiesembassies

Improve macaque PRImprove macaque PR Do undercover investigations Do undercover investigations

following inside leads following inside leads Campaign to upgrade Campaign to upgrade

macaque status from CITES macaque status from CITES Appendix II to IAppendix II to I

Ask other groups what they are Ask other groups what they are doing to protect macaquesdoing to protect macaques

Stay in touch with the Stay in touch with the International Primate International Primate Protection League!Protection League!

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

Summerville, SC 29484Summerville, SC 29484

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

Web: Web: www.ippl.orgwww.ippl.org

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

TM