Campaigners Welcome Government Order
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Kathmandu – 27 February 2009 – Nepal's animal rights campaigners welcome the government's decision to halt the export of monkeys to the US for biomedical research. They call for the rehabilitation of over 300 caged monkeys kept at a Lele breeding centre. They also request the government to pass the Animal Welfare Act and include a clause on animal welfare in the upcoming constitution.
The campaigners welcome the government’s decision to halt the export of monkeys to the US. This week a parliament committee ordered the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation to stop the process of export of rhesus monkeys for biomedical research. The Natural Resource committee concluded that according to the present laws of the country wildlife cannot be exported.
Welcome to stopmonkeybusiness.org
Thank you for your interest in the Stop Monkey Business Campaign. In Nepal, rhesus monkeys either co-habitat with humans as revered temple monkeys or live a tribal life deep in the high mountain forest. They are an integral part of the land's eco-system and culture and are worshipped by the Hindu population. However, commercial interests have led to the removal of monkeys from their natural environment. Instead of living a free life in temple compounds or in the jungle, some rhesus monkeys have been put behind bars. Here they undergo tests to benefit biomedical and possibly bio-terrorism research in the USA.
In 2003 Nepal allowed the breeding and export of rhesus monkeys for biomedical research. Two US primate centers with their Nepalese partners received a license. As a coalition of eight national and international animal welfare organisations we firmly oppose this monkey business. Please join our fight against the misuse of Nepal’s precious primates!
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