BarisaLifting the export ban of long-tailed macaques will result in their slaughter for the cooking pot or being subjected to cruel experiments in laboratories

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Media Statement 
by M.Kula Segaran  
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(Petaling Jaya, Thursday): The Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid must clarify his contradictory statement that“The ban on the export of the long-tailed macaque has not been lifted, only monkeys in the cities would be caught and exported.”  He is clearly in breach of the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972. 

Long-tailed macaques are listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species(Cites). It is also classified as “Protected Wild Animals” under the our Protection of Wildlife Act 1972 (Schedule Two, Part III).  

We are deeply concerned about the paradoxical statement made by the Minister.  We would also like to question his motives for allowing protected species to be exported overseas. These poor wildlife primates will be destined for the cooking pot and be subjected to horrendous suffering in the experiment laboratories. This is clearly a cruel and inhumane act by the Minister.  

Azmi has to answer the questions:  

1. Who and which company will profit financially from the export of macaques, as well as their torture and death?  

2. What evidence has the Ministry gathered to prove that there is a serious overpopulation problem? Non-detrimental finding (NDF) provided by the Perhilitan are being suspected as it is almost impossible to determine in the wildlife inventory. Wildlife population estimates normally appear as range. 

3. If the Ministry really wants to control the monkey population, has it taken more humane methods into consideration, such as sterilization or humane culling?

4. How does the Ministry justify the extreme cruelty that we know macaques are subjected to when they are transported overseas? 

5. How will the Ministry be able to differentiate between urban and “rural” monkeys for classification of legal or illegal trade?  Such untenable classification will only lead to a growth in both legal as well as illegal trade of these primates.

Macaque habitats have been progressively destroyed due to indiscriminate development. Human always think that we are greatest living beings.  It appears that we have forgotten that the animals were here before us and they need more protection than humans. We must always look at the wild animals as part and parcel of the Mother Nature for they are god’s gift and should not to be destroyed.

(20/9/2007)