CITES Secretariat
International Environment House
11Chemin des Anémones
CH-1219 Châtelaine, Geneva
Switzerland
email: info@cites.org

I am shocked by the findings from the investigation by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) into the trade in primates for research in Cambodia.

The methods used to catch and hold the wild monkeys were cruel and stressful. The deliberate separation of a nursing mother and her baby would have caused immense suffering and showed a disregard for the welfare of the animals. Furthermore, the conditions in which captive primates were kept failed to meet the many complex behavioral and psychological needs of these highly intelligent and social animals.

The long-tailed macaque is a protected species, classified as Appendix II under CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species). I urge you to carry out an investigation into Cambodia’s trade in macaques and, if the BUAV’s findings are confirmed, then to encourage CITES members to suspend CITES related trade with Cambodia.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
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Dansk oversættelse:

Jeg er rystet over afsløringerne af indfangning af og handel med vilde aber i Cambodia.

Metoderne, der anvendes til at indfange aberne, er hårdhændede og påfører dyrene stor angst og lidelse. Episoden, hvor jægere adskiller en mor og hendes diende unge, har uden tvivl været en dybt traumatiserende oplevelse for begge dyr, og jægernes opførsel er udtryk for total ligegyldighed over for dyrenes velfærd. Makakaber er intelligente og sociale dyr, men forholdene under hvilke dyrene opstaldes, tilgodeser på ingen måde dyrenes komplekse, psykologiske behov.

Den langhalede makakabe er klassificeret under CITES-konventionens Appendiks II. Jeg opfordrer Dem derfor til at foretage en grundig undersøgelse af Cambodias handel med makakaber. Såfremt BUAV’s afsløringer holder stik, opfordrer jeg Dem til at tilskynde CITES-medlemmer til at indstille al handel med Cambodia inden for rammerne af CITES-samarbejdet.

Jeg ser frem til at høre fra Dem.

Med venlig hilsen