(NP) Animal welfare campaigners shocked by primate deaths

[Guest guest]

*Press release*

 

*Animal welfare campaigners shocked by primate deaths*

 

*“Fate Monkeys Lies in Minister’s Hands’*

 

 

*Kathmandu – May 11, 2010* - The Animal Welfare Network Nepal (AWNN) is

shocked by the news about the deaths of recently released monkeys in

Shivapuri National Park. According to the campaigners the deaths are the

outcome of random releases by the government. The authorities went ahead

with the releases despite countless warnings from animal experts. “The fate

of the surviving primates lies in the hands of the Minister,” according to

AWNN.

 

According to AWNN the government ignored expert advice to release the

monkeys according to international guidelines. “What’s more, experts and

campaigners till today are denied access to the captive monkeys and

information about them”, says Manoj Gautam, executive member of AWNN.

 

The campaigners argue that the government is entirely responsible for the

deaths of the released monkeys. “Rehabilitation is a sensitive process in

which the monkeys are tested, trained, monitored and carefully prepared for

a life in the wild. An ecological impact assessment has to be made of the

release sites and local communities have to be included in the process,”

explains Gautam.

 

AWNN lobbied for the scientific rehabilitation of the captive monkeys ever

since the export of simians to US labs was halted in 2009. “We also offered

the Ministry to be involved in the management of a rehabilitation programme

and to bring in the needed technical assistance and funds,” says Gautam.

 

In October 2009 a letter of intent to rehabilitate the monkeys was submitted

to the Ministry of Forestry and Soil Conservation and Department of

Wildlife. Since in Nepal expertise in captive monkey rehabilitation is

limited, AWNN requested AAP Foundation Holland to provide the much needed

expertise.

 

The AAP team however was denied access to the breeding center. “Until today,

despite many attempts, animal welfare experts and campaigners have not been

able to visit the Lele monkeys nor get the required information,” concludes

Gautam.

 

By releasing the seed monkeys in a random, unscientific manner, the success

of a rehabilitation programme is being compromised. In order to prepare

captive monkeys for a life in the jungle, the wild caught monkeys are

essential to teach survival skills to the offspring. “Forming family groups

is a requirement for successful rehabilitation. By releasing the ‘parent

monkeys’ the government took an unacceptable risk,” says Gautam.

 

According to AWNN Nepal might still have a chance to save the remaining

captive monkeys. Gautam: “The Minister must immediately facilitate access

for experts to visit the breeding center. If enough parent monkeys are left,

then scientific rehabilitation is still possible. The sick monkeys in

Shivapuri must be treated and a proper release plan must be developed. The

lives of the remaining captive monkeys are in the hands of the Minister.”

Lucia de Vries

Freelance Journalist

Nepal - Netherlands