Based on these numbers, the researchers calculated the farms would have needed to breed almost double their stock to about 103,000 macaques to support the roughly 33,000 exported in 2020. If you are looking at the actual origins of where these body parts are coming from, then it is difficult to know how many macaques were involved in that trade, said Kite, who previously managed undercover investigations into primate labs. This is not just a national issue since this is an international trade. Thank you so much for reading. The animals were reportedly captured from the wild in Cambodia and falsely labeled as captive-bred. It also denied that any of its exported monkeys had been captured from the wild. As Cambodia leads the global macaque market, the depth of the allegations against its government and largest monkey farm have cast doubt over the entire trade. As a country, Cambodia traded more than 33,000 live macaques in 2020, more than half of the recorded global macaque trade that year. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) revealed on Tuesday the discovery of over 20,000 endangered black-shanked douc langurs and about 1,200 endangered yellow-cheeked crested gibbons in Cambodia, mostly in Mondulkiri province's Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. Washington, DC 20036 And some experts in the biomedical community are suggesting moving the breeding of this species of macaque to the United States and collecting more genetic and pedigree information on the monkeys that come from overseas. We removed some macaques from the Angkor Wat area because they were too vicious and caused problems for tourists and the roofs of the temples. Homeland Security Agent Ricky Patel stated in the release that federal agencies will continue leveraging all of our authorities to stop people and organisations from violating our laws regardless of where they reside in the world.. The shipments that arrive in the U.S. hold enormous value: One, of 396 long-tailed macaques on Nov. 11, 2020, was worth more than $1 million, the indictment states. Facebook 'Nuisance monkeys' relocated from temples to zoo to protect tourists Wed, 30 December 2020 Mom Kunthear The Apsara National Authority (ANA) captured 16 macaque monkeys that had been living in and around the Bayon Temple compound. But who plans for a monkey attack at Angkor Wat! While not the top importer by quantity, the UK most frequently imported specimens, with nearly 20 shipments from 2018 to 2021. Cambodia now exports the largest share of cynosmore than 29,000 in 2020, the vast majority of which were shipped to the United States. Females are typically between 19 and 23 in (48-58 cm) and weigh around 16.5-20 lb (7.5-9 kg). She says wild-caught monkeys carry viruses that could infect other animals theyre housed with or humans. The pipeline is likely not sustainable. All Rights Reserved. While Cambodia has farmed macaques for years with the first shipment exported to the U.S. in 2005 the Kingdom cornered the market during the pandemic. Nearly 30,000 entered the country last year, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which regulates the import of nonhuman primates. The move upended the . Adding to the researchers doubt is how farms more than doubled exports after 2019, when just under 14,000 monkeys were traded. And if its not real, then they are doing something quite questionable, said Regina Warne, lead author of the study. Siem Reap is the gateway for the Angkor Wat temple complex about four miles away. The species is nomadic and roams through the forest, eating fruits, flowers, grains, and insects foraged from trees and on the ground. But nothing like what really happened. U.S. Our paper is asking more questions than providing answers. Primatologists worry about the effect of removing macaques from their habitats on such a large scale, and are concerned for Southeast Asias ecosystems. Southeast Asia Globe is member-supported publication featuring in-depth journalism that promotes a more informed, inclusive and sustainable future. That was a while ago. There is no legal approval for any person to do any wild captures. Nuisance monkeys relocated from temples to zoo to protect tourists, Hun Sen honoured as patron of Buddhist fellowship, PM offers appreciation to workers on Intl Labour Day, Japan plans fireworks display to celebrate ties anniversary, Westerdams return a symbol of Kingdoms care for, Kantha Bopha treats over 70,000 kids in Apr, PM warns extremists who threaten election process, Manet praises medics for Covid-19 sacrifices, Third round of ministry, NGO consultative meetings May 3. Looming walls topped with barbed wire dissected rice fields around Vanny Bio Research in Cambodia, concealing the wildlife breeding operations within. Dear all beloved viewers, Our channel was created to document the daily lives of monkeys habitating in Angkor Archaeological Area, approximately 8 km from Si. All rights reserved. Have you ever had an unexpected incident good or bad involving animals on a trip? On top of that, Canadian labs bought an additional 159 live monkeys from the U.S. that originally came from Cambodia. This blog was created to inspire your travels and to explore experiences in fascinating locations. One of the only public documents with information about in-country breeding facilities is a leaked 2014 letter from the CITES Management Authority in Cambodia, which until recently was led by the indicted Omaliss. The database rarely specifies the part of the macaque. According to him, Cambodia has the highest population of pileated gibbons in the world, with approximately 35,000 individuals. Science and AAAS are working tirelessly to provide credible, evidence-based information on the latest scientific research and policy, with extensive free coverage of the pandemic. Nothing like the great monkey attack of Angkor Wat. She concluded the number of live macaques involved in the specimen trade could be huge.. China used to be the main supplier of cynosexporting approximately 30,000 in 2018but the country shut off its supply during the pandemic, which experts have attributed to the trade war with the United States and Chinas desire to beef up its own biomedical industry. In a specific 2018 example, the court document alleges that Omaliss and Kry agreed to receive cash payments in exchange for taking wild macaques from national parks and protected areas and delivering them to a breeding facility, as well as providing false CITES export permits for 3,000 monkeys. I urge everyone to take precautions to protect them, to stop hunting and trapping all wildlife, and to refrain from trading or eating wild meats, he said. Its completely illegal.. I love your monkey attack story monkeys are really something else! The world is a village. Rich types of monkeys at the temple complex of Cambodia. That was a wild experience. Indictment of monkey importers could disrupt U.S. drug and vaccine research. Another video featuring still images and captions claimed that the ANA took a total of 40 adult and juvenile macaques to be slaughtered. Donate any amounttoday to become a Pulitzer Center Champion and receive exclusive benefits! America is the centre of the global trade in primates for research, said Sarah Kite, co-founder of the animal rights group Action for Primates. The statement ended with a ministry promise to seek justice for our officials., The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina did not respond to requests for comment. The trade of threatened primates like long-tailed macaques, is legal on the condition that requirements by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, are met. You plan for many unexpected incidents on a foreign trip. Get more great content like this delivered right to you! However, it is quite difficult to question the legitimacy of a particular animal that has the correct CITES documentation, said Daan van Uhm, a criminology professor at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, who has studied the E.U. Still, he says, the main priority should be stopping this illegal trade, both for the science and the animals themselves. If this is the reaction from the supply side, then we think there needs to be much stricter controls on the demand side, says Eric Kleiman, a researcher at the Animal Welfare Institute, an animal advocacy group that has closely followed the issue. The monkeys reproduce at a rapid clip so officials plan to neuter 500 of the animals in the next two months. The U.S. imported the highest number of live macaques from Cambodia during each of the years corruption is alleged, totaling nearly 70,000 monkeys, according to trade data. Please make a tax-deductible gift today. According to an ANA notice on December 28, in addition to causing disturbances involving tourists the monkeys had posed a risk to the temples by inadvertently knocking stones loose and causing other minor damage that could become a problem if it accumulated over time. 90/13 6 Tommy Resort, Ko Pha-ngan Sub-district, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani 84280, Thailand Ko Phangan, Surat Thani, Thailand 84280. As we left, the woman told us that monkeys in Cambodia sometimes get frisky if you feed them, especially the monkeys at Angkor Wat. A welcome sign stated that the farm would not accept any interview from any media.The owners and managers of this facility, as well as two Cambodian government officials, were indicted by U.S. prosecutors for wildlife trafficking in November. After a day of temple hopping we caught a traditional dancing show and dinner at one of the local hotels and headed back to the guest house. Learn more about Angkor Wat before you arrive in order to maximize your trip. This is all a for-profit trade. As the Cambodian government remains tight-lipped, conservationists wonder if the charges will spark change. Those listed in mass are probably tissue from organs such as the brain, liver or muscles. More than 100 wild monkeys caged in plastic carriers were seized off a pickup truck in Prachinburi province. Thats easier, faster, and less expensive than building up a bigger pipeline.. The donation was made a month before the Kingdoms general elections which following the dissolution of a main opposition party in 2017 fell firmly into the hands of Prime Minister Hun Sen, whose 37-year rule of Cambodia has made him the longest-serving prime minister in Southeast Asia. These events deepened pre-existing doubts about Cambodias macaque exports. Story Cambodias dominance of this trade, which spiked during the Covid-19 pandemic, leaves researchers boggled and pointing at the countrys murky monkey business. But there is really no difference between the two trades. As the start of a global supply chain that connects multiple countries, a disease outbreak in a farm as large as Vanny Bio Research could have international consequences. The adults are silvery grey and their young are a distinc. "It eats a wide variety of fruits, leaves, flowers, and insects.". Shuffled among alleged transactions is mention of a 2018 internal accounting document from Vanny Bio Research that reflects a $10,000 donation made to the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party at the request of Omaliss. They walked toward our room and the monkeys dispersed long enough for us to get to the main road with our bags. Cambodia Monkey Style 14.7K subscribers 2 530 views Streamed 2 years ago Wildlife Monkey : Cambodia monkey ( Adorable macaque monkey ) Monkey Style : monkey Living by Natural Life. He wrote measures would include inspection of facilities, as well as making sure that monkeys are born on the farms and are not suspected of being wild-caught. "According to a study conducted by the environment ministry and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS Cambodia) in 2020, within the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary the number of pig-tailed macaques has increased from 733 in 2010 to at least 1,473 in 2020," he said. Former Hwang Colleague Faked Monkey Data, U.S. Says. They are found in Cambodias protected areas, particularly in the Cardamom Mountains, where they live in dense and semi-dense forests. Cambodias Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has issued a diplomatic note to the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh requesting clarification about the arrest and for the release of Mr. Kry and for him to stay at the Cambodian Embassy in Washington, Nao shared. Our paper is asking more questions than providing answers. there are a lot of new baby were born in temple area. Now is the new season . We decided to walk straight through them making a lot of noise and waving our arms. It depends who you ask, For flying insects, night light hampers upright flight, A new test can pick out Parkinsons disease patients before their symptoms begin, Inflammation could drive lung cancer risk linked to air pollution, Biological syringes could change how drugs are delivered, Indictment of monkey importers could disrupt U.S. research, U.S. blames massive hack of research data on Iran. Specimens recorded in volume are usually liquids, which he says are likely blood or spinal fluid. Copyright 2022 The Phnom Penh Post. One. There are knock-on consequences for any trade involving the U.S. and its import and export of macaques for research.. Welcome to Monkey LIVE group That is one group made for VOs and viewer easier to share videos monkeys in Cambodia to each other and faster News about happen or happiness of monkey domestic.. Monkeys Life in Cambodia The only difference is that the stump-tailed macaque is larger and has a bright pink or red face than the Macaca leonina. So, illegal trade and trafficking of the species is against the law., Your support ensures great journalism and education on underreported and systemic global issues, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW The indicted Vanny Bio Research is Cambodias largest monkey exporter in recent years. Those listed in mass are probably tissue from organs such as the brain, liver or muscles. "There is no exact number of stump-tailed macaques in the world." At the time, Masphal Kry, deputy director of wildlife and biodiversity, was on his way to an international meeting about trade regulations for endangered species. Is Cambodia and Angkor Wat on your bucket list? Adding to the researchers doubt is how farms more than doubled exports after 2019, when just under 14,000 monkeys were traded. The alleged crimes committed include capturing wild macaques from protected areas in Cambodia, falsifying export permits, as well as offering and accepting bribes, according to the court document. Wild populations of long-tailed macaques, as well as the health and well-being of the American public, are put at risk when these animals are removed from their natural habitat and illegally sold in the United States and elsewhere, said Edward Grace of the U.S. The species is easily distinguished as female or male, with females being white with a head bag and a black chest, and males being black when they are three to four years old, except for white hair on their arms, legs, and around the genitals. The need for cynos has indeed grown, especially during the pandemic. The outbreak of Covid-19 led to a boom in global imports and exports as nations raced to develop vaccines. Known trade of long-tailed macaques from Cambodia (2004-2020) Data annually submitted to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, tracked the steady rise of Cambodia's contributions to the monkey trade since the early 2000s. The company did not respond to a request for comment but in a public release strongly denied any wrongdoing. Males measure between 20 and 26 in (52-65 cm) tall and weigh between 22 and 27 lb (10-12.2 kg). Some people think Angkor Wat is just the main temple that graces the Cambodian flag but it is actually a complex covering over 400 square miles with many other temple complexes. America is the centre of the global trade in primates for research, said Sarah Kite, co-founder of the animal rights group Action for Primates. Mom KunthearPhnom PenhPublication date 30 December 2020 | 21:55 ICT. Pheaktra went on to say that the pig-tailed macaque is on the International Union for Conservation of Natures (IUCN) Red List of threatened species. He stated that the increase in population numbers for the pig-tailed macaque species demonstrates the successful implementation of the Wildlife Sanctuary Protection and Conservation Plan, which is partially funded by the sale of carbon credits in the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. As in the live trade, CITES tracks the import and export of specimens, which are officially defined as any readily recognisable part of an animal. Besides the ecological impacts to the dwindling number of wild monkeys, veterinary scientists say mixing poached animals with the farmed population could pose a global public health risk by potentially exporting diseases to foreign labs. Covid showed us that if you have an emerging disease occur in a country, like Cambodia, the chance of this spreading around the world is very high.. They had actually been stalking us. As the deputy director of wildlife and biodiversity for Cambodias Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, this was part of his job. All have heard the saying DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS To many Disney films, and others portraying wild animals as cute, cudley, and friendly, AGIAN DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS Have a safe trip. The prevalence and profit of the live trade often overshadows the specimen market, which lengthens the supply chain for Cambodian monkeys. At the time, Masphal Kry, deputy director of wildlife and biodiversity, was on his way to an international meeting about trade regulations for endangered species. It is unclear if any tangible policy or regulation changes have taken place within Cambodias farms. But vicious and aggressive ones pose a risk to humans. Pheaktra stated that conservation groups and law enforcement officials have worked hard to prevent wildlife trafficking crimes. On your way to these adventures I hope to provide you with useful information to help you get there. Animal advocacy groups are pushing to ban further monkey imports until more is known about their provenance. For the stump-tailed macaque, the ministry recorded 56 remaining groups of this globally endangered species in Cambodia in 2020, each of which has between 50 and 60 members. contact@pulitzercenter.org, Stories by Campus Consortium Reporting Fellows, Deep Dives: Ocean and Fisheries Reporting, Underreported Stories in Sub-Saharan Africa, Science Misinformation: Journalism in the Age of Truth Decay, Bringing Stories Home: Local Reporting Grants, COVID-19, Vaccines, and Global Health Inequities, OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAMPUS CONSORTIUM MEMBERS, indicted by U.S. prosecutors for wildlife trafficking, Cambodian Official Arrested on Wildlife Trafficking Charges Could Serve as Wake-Up Call for Primate Trade, Fallen Forest: Cambodias Political Reforestation Unlikely To Survive, Alleged Corruption in Cambodia Monkey Farms Taints Global Wildlife Trade. But its unclear how large that profit margin is. We will take stricter measures to make sure that all farms comply with the national laws, as well as CITES requirements, wrote Thuok Nao, the new chairman of the CITES Management Authority in Cambodia, in an email to Southeast Asia Globe. Hi, my name is Hout Nanin. Cambodia is a ratified party of CITES. Not being accustomed to spending time around a couple of dozen hungry macaque monkeys, some tourists were alarmed and complained to park authorities. Next morning was out last in Siem Reap. Monkey Business is a short video about wild monkeys roaming around the streets and paths near Angkor Wat. Buyukmihci, who founded the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights, said the units used to measure the specimens provide clues. Thuok Nao, who works with Omaliss at the ministry and the CITES Management Authority of Cambodia, wrote in an email that the Cambodian government is trying its best to respond to this incident.. The primate industry, worth an estimated $1.25 billion, is overseen by a UN trade convention known as CITES, which legalises the commerce through a permit system, animal welfare regulations, breeding requirements and other rules. [I told them] these monkeys are no longer afraid of people because people have been feeding them. We arrived exhausted in Siem Reap around 9 PM with our hassle-free Cambodia visas on arrival. He said only the most troublesome animals had been removed. The monkeys were darted by experienced animal handlers from the Animal Rescue and Treatment Office and no lasting harm was done to them. Suddenly the woman that checked us in the first day showed up with a large dog of unrecognizable pedigree. In the morning we were in a rush to get out and see Angkor Wat but right outside the house, I saw a monkey holding her baby. By notifying the local authorities directly, they are able to take steps to protect the macaques and other wildlife in the Angkor complex. In what Kite called an ironic tragedy, the November indictment followed the arrest of an official from the Cambodian Forestry Administration which enforces CITES within the country in the U.S. for wildlife trafficking. Representatives from the Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Alliance, Fauna Fauna & Flora International, Conservation International and WWF-Greater Mekong all declined to comment on the subject, pointing to its political sensitivity. Kosal denied rumours that had been spread about the death of two of the monkeys. They are a huge part of the ecosystem, Hansen said. To see such a rise in such a short period of time, it is almost astounding to the point where you almost have to ask: If it is real, they are doing something incredible. This could magnify the potential illegality within the primate trade since one monkey is likely sliced and diced into multiple types of specimen, from blood to brains. Apparently traveler harassment was only a morning thing. They are wild animals and need to be moved into the forest for their own good, but also because they have bitten tourists and could damage the temples. U.S. charges drug researchers with sending trade secrets to China, but will case stand up? Clearly the mother monkey had alerted her cohorts to the presence of two human patsies that gave away food. The Forestry Administration and the Apsara National Authority (ANA) have collaborated to relocate several particularly aggressive long-tailed macaques from the Angkor Archaeological Park to protect tourists and the temples. China Globalisation Governance Ideology Justice Politics, Culture Education Health Migration Rights, Climate Energy Nature Pollution Resources Urbanisation, Economics Innovation Corruption Sustainability Startups, indicted by U.S. prosecutors for wildlife trafficking. By now Im screaming get it off!get it off!. According to Ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra, the number of rare pig-tailed macaques in the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary in Mondulkiri province has increased to over 2,000 in the last ten years, despite the fact that their global population has decreased. Government officials have steadfastly denied the corruption charges. That may be whats fuelling the alleged illegal trade in Cambodia. AAAS is a partner of HINARI, AGORA, OARE, CHORUS, CLOCKSS, CrossRef and COUNTER. These events deepened pre-existing doubts about Cambodias macaque exports. Largest monkey farm in Cambodia meets demands for monkey specimens and live animals for years before being charged for wildlife trafficking. The irony and tragedy for the macaques is that the same person supposed to protect and conserve the species has been indicted for the very opposite plundering the wild populations.. Most cynos are used by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. A video posted on YouTube late last month showed monkeys being put into cages by men wielding metal rods. But none of them was tortured or killed. These can be hit or miss but Ive found most to be clean, comfortable and centrally located which is really all you need. They have been released into the forest near Tnort Chum communes Prey Khla village, in Pursat provinces Krakor district. In February, researchersstudiedglobal trade statistics and calculated that on average an individual macaque was worth upwards of $2,000. As Cambodia leads the global macaque market, the depth of the allegations against its government and largest monkey farm have cast doubt over the entire trade. At the age of six, gibbons become adults. The city looks like a mini-southeast Asian version of Las Vegas. Next. In total, the indictment alleges that 2,634 wild-caught macaques with a declared value of $9.3 million were illegally brought into the U.S. Nao told RFA that only he had the authority to sign . In general, watchdogs such as Transparency International have long found corruption to be endemic in Cambodia, routinely listing it among the worst in the world on its annual Corruption Perceptions Index. We peeked out our window and heard a screech pierce the morning calm. Demand for the species skyrocketed after the outbreak of Covid-19. We only removed the most active and mean macaques that were causing issues for tourists and the temples. But nothing like what really happened. In 2014, the CITES Management Authority in Cambodia submitted a letter to the CITES Secretariat, which is one of the only public documents with information about the then six breeding facilities in the Kingdom. Whistleblowers and others in possession of sensitive information of public concern can now securely and confidentially share tips, documents, and data with the Pulitzer Centers Rainforest Investigations Network (RIN), its editors, and journalists. According to CITES data, Cambodia maintained this high level of export in 2021, trading 31,000 macaques. Evercore estimates the average prices of lab monkeys in 2019-20 was between $4,000-$7,000. Last year, Inotiv purchased the major research animal supplier Envigo (under fire recently for a series of animal welfare violations at one of its beagle breeding facilities), making it the worlds largest supplier of nonhuman primates for research. For an unknowable number of these potentially trafficked animals, or at least bits and pieces of them, the U.S. was just a layover. Come see the world with me! Suite #615 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science. You have to be very very careful when youre around them because they will attack and they are very unpredictable and very territorial. Alarm bells have been ringing globally since 2008, when conservationists warned that long-tailed macaque populations were declining, yet the monkey remained a species of least concern until 2020, when the IUCN, the global wildlife conservation authority, listed it as vulnerable. Thailand is also thought to have a sizable population of this species. According to the DOJ indictment, two high-ranking employees of Vanny Resources Holdings, a Hong Kong-based company that breeds monkeys for research, paid millions to black market suppliers and Cambodian wildlife officials to capture thousands of cynos from national parks and other protected areas of Cambodia, and to fake their paperwork to indicate the animals had been bred in captivity. Cambodias dominance of this trade, which spiked during the Covid-19 pandemic, leaves researchers boggled and pointing at the countrysmurky monkey business. Thats because labs there routinely dissected Cambodian macaques to re-export hundreds of shipments of dismembered body parts to Canada and across Europe. We provide an element of an answer because the numbers provided to CITES do not match with Cambodias farming capabilities.. Flashing neon lights are everywhere advertising luxury hotels, elaborate shows, and sumptuous buffets. But the nearly 50-year-old system is infamous for legal loopholes and data deficiencies. We ran to the road pursued part way by a troop of monkeys. In July, the macaque was uplisted from vulnerable to endangered on theRed List of Threatened Species, which listed biological use as primary main threat. The company did not respond to a request for comment but in a public release strongly denied any wrongdoing. In the morning we were anxious to head back to Angkor Wat but when we left the house we saw two huge Cambodian monkeys blocking our entrance to the road. The indictment, which carries multiple felony charges, will likely exacerbate the shortage of these monkeys, used in everything from drug safety testing to vaccine research, says Dave OConnor, a virologist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, who studies infectious disease in cynomolgus macaques. Vanny Bio Research has declined several requests to tour its two breeding facilities in Cambodia.