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Animal Defenders International

Christmas gift of new life for laboratory monkeys

Posted: 22 December 2009. Updated: 6 August 2010

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Three laboratory monkeys, due to die before the new year, have been saved by Animal Defenders International (ADI) and are now starting a new life at a sanctuary in the UK.

The three macaques, which had been used in neurology experiments at a major European animal research laboratory, were no longer required and were scheduled to die by the end of the year. The laboratory responded positively when ADI offered to home the animals and a race against the clock began to find a new home for the animals.

ADI has led the campaign to end experiments on primates across Europe, so the handing over of the monkeys in the past few days can be described as a remarkable Christmas truce.

“The laboratory wishes to remain anonymous, but are to be commended for giving these monkeys the chance of a new life”, said Tim Phillips, Campaigns Director of ADI.

The move takes place as the European Commission, European Parliament, and Council of Ministers agree new rules for laboratory animals, with special attention to the use of primates, which causes such concern to the public due to their intelligence and clear emotions.

Adopt: help care for our lucky lab monkeys today!

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The Monkeys

The lucky little monkeys, Bacill, Baloo and Bacillusk were handed to ADI at a European airport and flown direct to the UK. They were taken to the quarantine unit at Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary in Berkshire, which specializes in care for rescued macaque monkeys in a tranquil woodland setting.

At just 8 years old, they could live to the age of 30, so have the prospect of many happy years, in a large natural enclosure funded by ADI.

ADI will be funding the care of the monkeys for the rest of their lives: this includes construction and upkeep of the enclosures, food and nutrition, and vetenary services. We can’t do this without your help.

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"An Important Reminder"

Tim Phillips ADI Campaigns Director who collected the monkeys and brought them to the UK: “Over 10,000 monkeys die in European laboratories every year so it was incredibly moving to see these animals race out of their ADI travel crates knowing that they have decades of life ahead of them.”

“This is an especially poignant time – as these monkeys start a new life, the European Parliament, European Commission and Council of Ministers are finalising decisions on new European rules on animal experiments. Restrictions on monkey experiments and their supply from abroad have been one of the major debates this year. The monkeys we now have in our care are an important reminder to the politicians that they are not deciding the fate of test tubes and petri dishes, these are intelligent, emotional, sensitive beings.”

ADI would like to thank PBS International for its help in organising the transportation of the monkeys; and Djurrattsalliansen and Behind Closed Doors who wrote to the laboratory and alerted ADI to the monkeys.

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