Animal groups oppose plan to export macaques

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Animal groups oppose plan to export macaquesBy : Elizabeth John Email to friend Print article KUALA LUMPUR: Animal protection groups across Europe have launched a campaign to oppose Malaysia's plan to export urban long-tailed macaques. The 15-member coalition has asked members to write letters of protest to the government, members of parliament and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.The European Coalition to End Animal Experiments will, over the next few weeks, also send specially designed postcards to Malaysian embassies in Europe."At a time when there is growing international concern over the plight of primates in areas such as research, it is disheartening to learn that Malaysia is planning to once again allow its primates to be exported," said Michelle Thew. Thew heads the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV), which is a member of the coalition. BUAV is an animal rights group that campaigns for an end to animal experiments in Britain and overseas.The group, along with others from

Spain, Germany, Denmark and Portugal, said they would urge the government to maintain the 1984 ban on macaque export.Groups from France, Norway, Croatia, Ireland and the Czech Republic will also take part in the campaign.The group said it had sent the ministry suggestions on humane and effective solutions to the human-macaque conflict, three months ago. Its veterinary consultant, Dr Nedim Buyukmichi, had suggested that the problem be addressed by educating the public to adopt behaviour, which did not encourage monkeys to come into contact with humans.This should be coupled with reproduction control and relocation programmes, said Buyukmichi, who is also an Emeritus professor of veterinary medicine at the University of California.The ministry had, in the past, said that these methods had failed."We are disappointed that those responsible do not appear to be listening to the results of scientific studies that have shown that

trading and exporting monkeys is not going to solve the problem," said BUAV's special projects adviser Sarah Kite."It seems that reasonable, practical solutions are being dismissed as non-workable when in fact experience in other countries shows that these are proven humane methods that will help to deter monkeys from urban areas," Kite said in response to questions from the New Straits Times.The ministry announced its plan to export urban monkeys in August, citing increasing cases of attacks and disturbance by macaques as the reason for lifting the 23-year-old export ban.The decision has received support among residents affected by macaque attacks but also earned protest from a section of the public and non-governmental organisations.So far no permits have been issue for the export. According to European Commission figures, about 12 million animals were used for testing across the EU in 2005.More than 60 per cent were

used in research and development of human and veterinary medicine, dentistry and in biological research.Non-human primates account for 0.1 per cent of the total number of animals used.France used the most non-human primates - 3,789 in 2005.