Guest guest Posted December 26, 2000 Report Share Posted December 26, 2000 http://www.asahi.com/english/asahi/1225/asahi122504.html Asahi Shimbun December 25, 2000 Japanese monkeys captured as pests by companies working for local authorities are being illegally bred and sold for research, an Asahi Shimbun investigation has found. Under the Law Concerning Protection of Wildlife and Game, the breeding, delivery or receipt of Japanese monkeys without a prefectural government license is prohibited. However, the investigation-the first to reveal the illegal supply route of monkeys for research-found that companies in Kumamoto and Gifu prefectures assigned by local authorities to capture Japanese monkey ``pests,'' have then been breeding them without permission. Among their customers, the investigation revealed, were a number of universities and research facilities, including Osaka and Kanazawa universities, who have bought monkeys for research. The investigation found that a company in Kugino, Kumamoto Prefecture, had about 130 monkeys crammed into small cages on its premises. There were also bodies of dead monkeys on the company's property. According to sources involved, that company had been authorized by various local authorities to capture the monkeys to prevent them damaging crops-receiving between 20,000-30,000 yen for each animal. The company has then been selling the monkeys and their offspring for research, at between 150,000 and 200,000 yen each-which is less than half the price of legally bred Japanese monkeys, the sources said. The company stated that it needed to sell more than 100 monkeys a year to return a profit, and that its annual turnover is in the tens of millions of yen, they said. Meanwhile, the company in Ijira, Gifu Prefecture, is currently breeding about 50 monkeys without the appropriate license, having received its stocks free after the animals were captured by local authorities in Gifu and Mie prefectures. The company then sells its monkeys for research through animal dealers to universities and research facilities. The investigation revealed that among the factors fueling this illegal trade in Japanese monkeys is the fact that some prefectures would not issue licenses for monkeys captured as pests to be bred for experimental purposes. In addition, authorized breeding facilities would have to be maintained to certain standards; and if a license was obtained, an annual renewal fee of more than 3,000 yen per monkey would have to be paid. However, it appears dozens of research institutions, mostly in Kanto or Kansai, have purchased Japanese monkeys from the companies which were operating illegally. The monkeys have been used for research into a number of areas, including neurosurgery, surgery, dentistry and ophthalmology. Commenting on the findings of the investigation, the Environment Agency said it is treating the matter seriously, as using and distributing for profit wildlife which had been captured for pest-eradication purposes was likely to lead to unnecessary and illegal capture. Both Gifu and Kumamoto prefectural authorities indicated they will speedily conduct investigations into the activities of the companies engaged in the illegal breeding and distribution of the Japanese monkeys. ------------------------- Copyright 2000 Asahi Shimbun. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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