Statement from the director of one of the two Nepal monkey labs

[Guest guest]

This is appalling. Shirley

 

" Dr. John L VandeBerg " <jlv

Re: Nepal scheme

Shirley McGreal <smcgreal

 

The project that I am establishing in Nepal is

being funded by NIH. The goal of the project is

to develop a breeding colony of rhesus monkeys in

order to produce progeny for exportation to the

U.S. These monkeys will help fill the critical

shortage of rhesus macaques for biomedical

research ­ a shortage that has caused a two- to

three-year delay in some research projects and

holds up the development of potential new

vaccines and treatments for life-threatening

diseases, including AIDS and tuberculosis which

are major killers in Nepal and in many other countries.

 

In addition, this breeding colony will be a

potential source of monkeys that could be used to

repopulate areas of Nepal in which rhesus monkeys

might become threatened in future decades.

 

All monkeys being used to stock the facility are

obtained in Nepal under permit and oversight of

Nepali government officials. A specified number

of monkeys may be collected from each of several

locales, determined by the government as being

areas where monkeys are overpopulated and where

their large numbers cause problems for human

habitations or agricultural enterprises.

 

The location where each monkey is collected is

recorded and reported to Nepali government

authorities. The Nepali staff have purchased or

are about to purchase a GPS for identifying the

exact location of each monkey's acquisition.

 

Sincerely,

 

John L. VandeBerg