Save our monkeys
Help end the cruel trade in monkeys from Mauritius for experiments
Our Save Our Monkeys campaign is raising awareness and support for the monkeys of Mauritius. We’re asking the people of Mauritius and beyond to join us in ending the cruel trade and export of monkeys for experiments.
WARNING image gallery contains graphic images that some viewers may find upsetting
Air France transports monkeys to laboratories around the world.
Warning graphic images that some viewers may find upsetting
Dead monkeys in bins in Mauritius.
Infant monkey caged.
Trapped monkey torn from her home and family.
Monkeys have strong family ties.
One of the monkey factory farms.
Infant monkey restrained by trapper.
Monkeys in the wild.
Monkey in breeding farm.
Cruelty Free International representative, Anand Nithoo and Cruelty Free International Director of Policy, Dr Nick Palmer with Mr Raj Dayal the Minister of Environment for the republic of Mauritius.
Group of monkeys awaiting their fate.
Monkey living freely in the jungle.
Mother with her infant.
The issue
Did you know that the small island of Mauritius is one of the world’s largest suppliers of monkeys for experiments? The country exports monkeys mainly to laboratories in the USA and Europe
Tens of thousands of monkeys, many of whom were captured from the wild, are imprisoned behind bars on concrete in large breeding farms across Mauritius. Their offspring are exported overseas in small wooden crates as cargo on airlines.
Find out more about this lifetime of suffering for monkeys exported from Mauritius.
Our investigations
Our investigations in Mauritius revealed the cruelty and suffering of wild monkeys torn from their families and natural homes to be either exported directly to laboratories or imprisoned in large breeding farms.
In 2012, we revealed the shocking slaughter of hundreds of monkeys on one breeding farm in Mauritius, including pregnant females and babies. The monkeys were killed, some of them simply because they were ‘surplus’ to requirements and too heavy for overseas laboratories.
In 2014, our undercover investigation in Germany uncovered the appalling suffering of monkeys exported from Mauritius. They were used in cruel experiments at a leading European research laboratory, the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics. Disturbing video footage shows monkeys with devices implanted in their brains and suffering bleeding head wounds.
Campaign highlights
In 2015, our team visited Mauritius to meet with politicians and government officials, including the Minister of Environment, Mr Raj Dayal.
We delivered our 162,000 strong petition to the Prime Minister, calling for an end to the trade in monkeys from Mauritius.
We’ve held news conferences in Mauritius and received widespread national and international media coverage.
We have widespread support from community leaders, leading religious, socio-cultural groups and NGOs in Mauritius.
We’ve raised awareness in Mauritius through public education, leafleting and street stalls.
Our appeal to the international Hindu community was accompanied by the release of a powerful song sung in Hindi calling on Hindus who worship the monkey god, Lord Hanuman, to speak out for the exploited monkeys in Mauritius.
Our campaign has received international support, including from prominent Indian politician, Mrs Maneka Gandhi and celebrities including Bollywood actor, R Madhavan.
Our travel awareness advertising campaign included an eye-catching advert which appeared in key locations across the island attracting the attention of residents and holidaymakers alike.
We attend the Mauritius Open Air Festival in London each year to engage with the Mauritius community in the UK to raise awareness and support for the campaign.
I am appealing to everyone in Mauritius to find out more about the Save our Monkeys campaign and how their monkey population is subjected to great cruelty and suffering. I was appalled when I first learnt how these sentient beings are exploited and exported from the island for the global research industry. Please help end this needless cruelty. R Madhavan, Bollywood star
Have you got 5 minutes to help the Mauritius monkeys?
Please send a polite email to your local Mauritian Embassy and tourist authority and add your name to our call to save our monkeys in Mauritius. Every email they receive helps strengthen our call for this cruelty to end – it’s that simple. Thank you!
Find your nearest Mauritian Embassy
Find your nearest Mauritius Tourism Promotional Authority
Suggested text for your email:
Dear Sir/Madam
I am writing to express my concern over the cruel trade in monkeys from Mauritius. I was shocked to learn that Mauritius is one of the world’s largest suppliers of monkeys to the international research industry, supplying thousands of monkeys every year to laboratories around the world.
I support the Cruelty Free International campaign and urge you to end the suffering that is being inflicted upon the monkeys of Mauritius. This cruel trade will only tarnish the international reputation of Mauritius as a holiday paradise.
Yours faithfully
