Urge the Thai Ambassador to Help Stop Monkey Labour

A recent PETA exposé of Thailand’s coconut industry revealed that monkeys are still being forced to spend long hours climbing trees and picking coconuts. Please urge the ambassador of Thailand to Australia to use her influence to help stop this cruelty!

Read Less -

Monkeys Kidnapped and Abused

Endangered pig-tailed macaques are often kidnapped as babies from their natural habitat. Handlers put rigid metal collars around the monkeys’ necks and use chains and leashes to choke and control them. Sometimes, their canine teeth are removed so they can’t defend themselves.

After months of physical abuse and intimidation, the sensitive animals learn to comply. Investigative footage showed trainers striking small monkeys, dangling them by the neck, and whipping them.

Forced to Pick Coconuts

Once training is complete, the forced labour begins. Monkeys are coerced into climbing tall trees to pick coconuts. They are frequently bitten by ants and stung by hornets, sometimes fatally. They sustain broken bones when they fall – or are violently yanked – from trees. When the macaques aren’t being forced to work, they’re kept chained on barren patches of dirt or confined to cramped cages, often without access to food or water. They suffer from extreme psychological distress from this joyless life of captivity and abuse.

Never Buy Coconut Milk From Thailand

Because the industry and the Thai government continue to mislead and deceive consumers about their cruel practices, there’s no way to guarantee that any Thai coconut milk is free from abuse. The only solution is to reject all coconut products from Thailand.

Never buy these products, and urge the ambassador of Thailand to Australia to help stop this cruelty.

You may use the provided text, but as personalised letters always work best, your e-mail will carry more weight if you write your own customised message and subject line. (Remember to keep things polite!)

View Message +

Her Excellency

Arjaree

Sriratanaban

Thai Embassy

Dear Ambassador:

I was appalled to learn that threatened and endangered pig-tailed macaques are still being abused and forced to pick coconuts in Thailand. As PETA Asia’s third and latest investigation into the Thai coconut industry proves that rampant abuse of primates is still going unchecked – despite assurances to the contrary from the government.

Monkey-training facilities often pay farmers to capture these animals as babies – even though it’s typically illegal – and either confine them to small, barren cages or keep them chained with rigid metal collars around their necks. Through intimidation and physical abuse, they are trained to obey their handlers and are then sold to coconut pickers who force them to spend long hours climbing tall trees and twisting off heavy coconuts. They can sustain broken bones when handlers jerk them violently to the ground. When they aren’t being forced to work, they’re kept tethered, often without food, water, or protection from the elements.

Instead of working towards a transition to monkey-free harvest methods – such as planting shorter trees with coconuts that are easier to reach – farms, brokers, manufacturers, and the Thai government are misleading the public. One broker admitted to PETA Asia investigators that with no oversight, coconut pickers simply lie. Brokers continue buying coconuts picked by monkeys and selling them to companies that make coconut products, and the companies and the government tout an “audit system”, even though it relies primarily on coconut producers’ word.

Since the release of PETA Asia’s first two investigations into the industry, nearly 40,000 stores around the world have pulled products tied to monkey labour from their shelves. Until monkeys are no longer forced to pick coconuts, more will certainly follow. Instead of denying the use of monkeys or touting unreliable “audit systems”, Thai leaders and the coconut industry must institute change.

Please use your influence as the ambassador of Thailand to Australia to help end this abuse by calling for the monkeys to be retired and humane, non-animal harvesting methods to be implemented.

Sincerely,
{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}
{user_data~EMail Address}

Take Action Now

Fields with an asterisk(*) are required.

First Name

Last Name

E-Mail Address

Country

Sign up for e-mail including:

Opt-In to PETA E-News

PETA Australia E-News and other special announcements

Our collection, storage, use and disclosure of personal information is guided by the Privacy Act and the Australian Privacy Principles. More information about our privacy policies and practices is available in our privacy policy. That policy also details how you may access, seek correction of and pursue complaints regarding the personal information we hold about you. If you have any queries about these procedures or any aspect of our work, please contact us on (08) 8556 5828 or at [email protected] or write to us at PO Box 20308, World Square, Sydney NSW 2002. Current subscribers: You will continue to receive e-mails unless you explicitly opt out here.

IMG Source

Urge the Thai Ambassador to Help Stop Monkey Labour

Monkeys Kidnapped and Abused

Forced to Pick Coconuts

Never Buy Coconut Milk From Thailand

Take Action Now

Thank You—Now Take the Next Step!