Contact Charles River Laboratories and ask them to meet with Born Free USA as a matter of urgency! Call the lab at (781) 222-6000 or send an email to askcharlesriver@crl.com.
On March 16, Born Free USA and PETA, supported by 40 experts in primatology and animal protection, wrote to Charles River Laboratories, where the monkeys are currently being held, to ask for a meeting to discuss the future of the monkeys. With the lab’s cooperation, our chances of succeeding are vastly increased! Below is a sample message you can use and modify to express your concern for the monkeys:
“I am calling upon Charles River Laboratories to do the right thing by the 1,000+ juvenile long-tailed macaques held by them and to work with the government to facilitate their relinquishment to sanctuary care. Charles River claims that it was unaware that the monkeys in question may have been captured illegally from the wild. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature recently announced that this species of monkey is now endangered, in large part because of their removal from the wild for use in primate experimentation. This is Charles River Laboratories’ opportunity to put things right. If the monkeys are returned to Cambodia, these endangered animals are likely to be recycled into the same smuggling ring through which they entered the U.S. Charles River has the resources to guarantee the lifelong care of these monkeys and has a unique opportunity to provide restitution for the harm that has already been caused. PETA and Born Free USA are standing to ready to meet with you to find a way forward for these monkeys. “
Urgent Action Needed to Save More Than 1,000 Monkeys!
Right now, more than 1,000 juvenile monkeys who were stolen from their wild homes in Cambodia and illegally imported to be exploited in U.S. laboratories are being handed back to the very people responsible for their suffering.
Born Free USA has been in talks with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since September of last year offering sanctuary alternatives for these animals, repeatedly stating our desire and willingness to provide lifetime sanctuary for these young monkeys. We were hopeful we could come to an agreement until we were informed that the monkeys will be loaded onto planes and sent back – likely to be recycled back into the corrupt system that led to their capture from their wild homes in the first place. We are deeply concerned that these monkeys will end up back in the hands of laboratories.
The government had the opportunity to do the right thing and allow us to rescue these monkeys from harm, but they have chosen the path of least resistance and washed their hands of them.
