Malaysian groups oppose monkey trade

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NGOs against lifting of monkey trade ban

 

By Elizabeth John, New Straits Times

 

26 August, 2007

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Animal lovers and non-governmental

organisations are expressing their concern over

the lifting of the ban on trading in macaques and

the decision to export them. They feel the

decision was made without enough thought for the possible consequences.

 

The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and Sahabat

Alam Malaysia (SAM) said that other options to

control the macaque population, especially in urban areas, were not considered.

 

MNS said it was concerned that lifting the ban

would fuel the illegal wildlife trade in the country.

 

It said rules and regulations should have been

clearly defined before the Natural Resources and

Environment Ministry decided to lift the 23-year ban in June.

 

The group acknowledges that some macaque

populations have become a problem in urban areas,

but they feel the move is premature .

SAM said the ministry and the Wildlife Department

should not forget the abuse many exported macaques suffered before the ban.

 

The NGO said it has had meetings with the

ministry to discuss humane control of monkey

populations, but its proposals have not been taken into account.

 

Among others, it had suggested sterilisation as a

means of controlling the monkey population and a

proper assessment of problems caused by the

animals with a plan to address them.

 

SAM said it was shocked that the ministry had

decided to go straight for the export option

despite advice on the contrary. Others said the

ministry should do more to address the root of the macaque problem.

 

" If the root of the problem is people feeding the

macaques ­ teaching them that humans equals food

­ then more should be done to educate the

public, " said Traffic Southeast Asia’s Chris R. Shepherd.

 

Shepherd pointed out that there should be a lot

more than a population survey before capturing

and exporting the primates. Information is also

needed on how many good habitats there are in the

country where macaques can be successfully

relocated. " Macaques can adapt but they can’t just live anywhere, " he said.

 

He also called for a strong effort to ensure that

the lifting of the ban does not accelerate the illegal trade in macaques.

 

 

Dr. Shirley McGreal, Founder

International Primate Protection League

POB 766, Summerville SC 29484-0766, USA

Ph. 843-871-2280 Fax. 843-871-7988

E-mail: smcgreal, Website www.ippl.org

 

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