Disclosure: travelswithtalek.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Most of the macaques live in the areas around Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Baksei Chamkrong temples and near the Tonle Om river. The world is a village. Apparently traveler harassment was only a morning thing. The 102 monkeys were in poor condition, some with wounds and . Previous. OConnor suggests one solution: ensuring that all captive-bred animals have extensive pedigree records, which could be kept in a global registry. 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. Copyright 2022 The Phnom Penh Post. To confirm our screening processes are (and were) solid, we have plans in place to conduct the necessary audits to ensure excellence and provide transparency.. It is a vast complex of massive temples built between 1130 and 1150 as a Hindu structure dedicated to the god Vishnu. Photos by Anton L. Delgado for Southeast Asia Globe. Macaques are actually both a predator, a prey and a seed disperser. Sek Seng, deputy chief of the Animal Rescue and Treatment Office under the Forestry Administration, said the monkeys will be temporarily kept at the Phnom Tamao Zoo. The video was captioned with unverified claims of blood on the floor of a cage and that one of the macaques had been killed. 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. The alleged smuggling ring is part of a global, billion-dollar wildlife trade industry, which in Cambodia has long been under suspicion oftrafficking wild macaquesthrough the legal trade of captive-bred monkeys.Bribes for ministry officials reached tens of thousands of dollars over the years, indicated a U.S. court document, which also noted a hefty donation from Vanny Bio Research to Cambodias ruling political party at the request of the now-indicted director general. Thats easier, faster, and less expensive than building up a bigger pipeline.. Angkor Wat is such a massive tourist draw that Siem Reap has its own airport. Still, he says, the main priority should be stopping this illegal trade, both for the science and the animals themselves. 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 . (Rhesus macaques, another heavily used monkey species in U.S. biomedical research, are mostly used by the academic community, which largely obtains them from national primate research centers.) As we left, the woman told us that monkeys in Cambodia sometimes get frisky if you feed them, especially the monkeys at Angkor Wat. WWF-Cambodia said more than the others but not by much. 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. Come see the world with me! Those listed in mass are probably tissue from organs such as the brain, liver or muscles. Animal advocacy groups are pushing to ban further monkey imports until more is known about their provenance. 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. 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. Southeast Asia Globe is member-supported publication featuring in-depth journalism that promotes a more informed, inclusive and sustainable future. A family of cynos in the wild in Cambodia. The company did not respond to a request for comment but in a public release strongly denied any wrongdoing. Ancient Angkor Empire Paradise on Earth, How to visit the most secret temples of Cambodia, Things you should know before entering Cambodia, International Union for Conservation of Natures, Wisconsin National Primate Research Centre. On your way to these adventures I hope to provide you with useful information to help you get there. Cynos are also the main monkey species imported to Europe for research. Due to the risk of the activities, this is a global concern, said Anna-Lise Chaber, a public health expert and lecturer at Australias University of Adelaide, who recently published a study on the primate trade. 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. 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. Mom KunthearPhnom PenhPublication date 30 December 2020 | 21:55 ICT. It is unclear if any tangible policy or regulation changes have taken place within Cambodias farms. The findings of a 2023 study highlight the incredulity that Cambodia is meeting market demands legally. Who is Monica Bertagnolli, Bidens pick to lead NIH? 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 world is a village. Please make a tax-deductible gift today. But there is really no difference between the two trades. They have been released into the forest near Tnort Chum communes Prey Khla village, in Pursat provinces Krakor district. The monkeys had been disturbing tourists recently and there was some concern that their presence could damage the temple ruins by causing wear and tear on them over time. They are a huge part of the ecosystem, Hansen said. Primatologists worry about the effect of removing macaques from their habitats on such a large scale, and are concerned for Southeast Asias ecosystems. Omaliss did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Thailand is also thought to have a sizable population of this species. Cambodia is a ratified party of CITES. All rights reserved. That could be accomplished by designing studies that require fewer animals, and working with regulators to require fewer of these animals for research such as drug safety studies. Im thinking of visiting Southeast Asia this year. Copyright 2022 The Phnom Penh Post. 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. In 2019, Cambodia exported the most primates it had ever shipped in a single year, sending 14,931 overseas for $34 million - an average cost of just over $2,271 per monkey, according to the. The companies running the facilities are not named in the indictment, but in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last week, Inotiv disclosed that its principal supplier of nonhuman primates was the target of the DOJ probe, indicating that the company gets most of its monkeys from Vanny. Though the actual number of cynos in the wild is unclear, the International Union for Conservation of Nature downgraded the status of the monkeys from vulnerable to endangered this year, citing growing demand from the research industry as a factor that could incentivize illegal trade. Facebook. By booking through these sites, the small commission we earn at no cost to you helps us maintain this site so we can continue to offer our readers valuable travel tips and advice. 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. All told the area is larger than the 5 boroughs of New York City combined! A version of this story appeared in Science, Vol 378, Issue 6623. We arrived exhausted in Siem Reap around 9 PM with our hassle-free Cambodia visas on arrival. 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. Next morning was out last in Siem Reap. I think [the indictment] is going to constrict the pipeline even more, says a U.S. consultant on industry and academic monkey research who has worked in the field for decades but asked not to be named because of concerns of damaging relationships with his clients. 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. 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. U.S. charges drug researchers with sending trade secrets to China, but will case stand up? Each macaque was allegedly worth $220 of tea money, a colloquialism used in the Kingdom to refer to a bribe. 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. 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. Your support ensures great journalism and education on underreported and systemic global issues, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite #615 Nothing like the great monkey attack of Angkor Wat. Monkeys at Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province. According to Pheaktra, the Apsara National Authority, Wildlife Alliance, and Forestry Administration released four pileated gibbon families into the Angkor Archaeological Parks forests in order to protect and conserve the species. If found guilty, the defendants face jail time of up to five years for conspiracy, up to 20 years for smuggling and fines of up to $250,000. Yes, youre right! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. You need more than a day to see the entire complex comfortably so a three-day pass at $40 is actually a bargain. "We saw a complete change in the pattern of the global trade in macaques throughout the pandemic," said Kite, co-founder of animal rights group Action for Primates. The authorities are continuing to search for more macaque monkeys thought to be present in the Angkor Park area to join the 16 already in custody, first at the zoo and then at their new home in a sanctuary. And if its not real, then they are doing something quite questionable, said Regina Warne, lead author of the study. This is not just a national issue since this is an international trade. It's illegal to own macaques, and most other wild animals, as pets in Cambodia. 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. But who plans for a monkey attack 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. Thats likely a conservative estimate, they said, based on factors including infant mortality and fertility rates. This should raise alarm bells. We need to consider what species are actually making the world go round, which species are helping to conserve, preserve and regenerate natural areas.. Regardless, the pandemic surge of macaque exports shocked researchers. But its unclear how large that profit margin is. She was probably the ringleader. Thailand is also thought to have a sizable population of this species. Not being accustomed to spending time around a couple of dozen hungry macaque monkeys, some tourists were alarmed and complained to park authorities. 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. Government officials have steadfastly denied the corruption charges. Nearly seven in 10 of those monkeys landed in the U.S. 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. You plan for many unexpected incidents on a foreign trip. Cambodia now exports the largest share of cynosmore than 29,000 in 2020, the vast majority of which were shipped to the United States. I imagined exotic vistas, imposing stone carvings peeking from lush junglesand yes, maybe a couple of Angkor Wat macaque monkeys. Another video featuring still images and captions claimed that the ANA took a total of 40 adult and juvenile macaques to be slaughtered. By now Im screaming get it off!get it off!. We are asking: Is the legal trade serving as a loophole for illegal trade? said Chaber, who co-authored the study with other University of Adelaide researchers. Male stump-tailed macaques tend to be larger than females, a trait known as sexual dimorphism. By WA Admin | March 13, 2020 | Categories: In the News, Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team | Tags: animal abuse, animal rescue, apsara, filming, Forestry Administration, macaque monkeys, macaques, Ministry of Environment Cambodia, monkey, monkey rescue, monkeys, vos, Wildlife Alliance | 2 Comments Share This Story, Choose Your Platform! 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. 12,893 people . We nervously joked that we could never leave the room and would simply have to learn Cambodian and order take out forever. 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. 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. 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. These are all basic enforcement requirements mandated by CITES. Looming walls topped with barbed wire dissected rice fields around Vanny Bio Research in Cambodia, concealing the wildlife breeding operations within. The indictment of several members of an alleged international monkey smuggling ring is sending ripples through the U.S. biomedical community. They would quarantine them there and observe them for any signs of illness. The adults are silvery grey and their young are a distinc. They typically live in small groups of two to five people, which include the mother, father, and children. Knowingly or not, the labs re-exporting these specimens could be further laundering macaques poached from the wild in Cambodia, enabling importers to look past the Kingdoms alleged corruption. About $80,000 are alleged to have changed hands between Vanny Bio Research to ministry officials, according to the 27-page court document, which accuses Omaliss and Kry of overseeing these transactions, as well as organising the capture and delivery of thousands of wild macaques. Regarding this case, our authorities are searching for the identity behind those YouTube accounts to question them to take legal action, he said. Last July, the species was uplisted from vulnerable to endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species, which cited biological use as a key threat. 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. It is more in the responsibilities of the country of origin to delve into the legitimacy of the trade.. These guys were playing for keeps. Macaques such as these are prime targets for a growing network of international wildlife trade, fuelled by growing Covid-19 vaccine demand. 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. It usually weighs between 8 and 12 kg. 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. Representatives from the Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Alliance, Fauna & Flora International, Conservation International and WWF-Greater Mekong all declined to comment on the subject, pointing to its political sensitivity. Is Cambodia and Angkor Wat on your bucket list? BTW, if you are getting ready for your trip, make sure to take advantage of these useful,money-saving linksto book your trip: I personally use, and can recommend, all the companies listed here and elsewhere on my blog. 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. Evercore estimates the average prices of lab monkeys in 2019-20 was between $4,000-$7,000. 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 toSoutheast Asia Globe. Though these are wild animals they are clearly used. The United States is a leader in the global fight against the illicit trade in wildlife and views the trafficking of protected wildlife as a threat to good governance and rule of law while destabilising our environment, wrote Stephanie Arzate, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh. His superior, Forestry Administration Director General Omaliss Keo, was also charged in the indictment but remains free in Cambodia. The company did not respond to a request for comment but in a public release strongly denied any wrongdoing. I swear I am not making this up. The letter stated Cambodias six operational monkey farms had a total stock of nearly 56,000 macaques in 2014, a year when the Kingdom exported barely 5,000. Wed love to connect with you on any of the following social media platforms. The pipeline is likely not sustainable. Washington, DC 20036 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, When South-East Asias Forests Fall Silent, Waiting for Bilou's Melodious Screech Again (bahasa Indonesia), Documentary: Destruction of Sipora Primate Habitat, Cambodian Officials Charged with Wildlife Trafficking, a Wake-Up Call for Global Monkey Trade. Its completely illegal.. Masphal Kry was en route to an international meeting about trade regulations for endangered species. 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. The outbreak of Covid-19 led to a boom in global imports and exports as nations raced to develop vaccines. But its unclear how large that profit margin is. The alleged crimes are said to have begun on an unknown date, but began at least as early as December 2017 and continued through January 2022. Now, when people dont feed them the monkeys get upset and steal the food anyways and even bite people. The ministry dug its heels in by stating that macaques are not caught from the wilderness and smuggled out and that rules and regulations had been respected. Bookending this ongoing trade relationship, which began with the first-recorded export of 200 macaque specimens in 2000, is a Maleth Aero flight that had a cargo of more than 700 live long-tailed macaques and departed Phnom Penh the same day the indictments were announced. We asked for everyones cooperation to safeguard the public, the temples, and the monkeys themselves, he said. Additional reporting by Sophanna LayThis article was produced in collaboration with Kontinentalist, with the support of The Pulitzer Centers Rainforest Investigations Network. The largest one, which spans 40 hectares, is a stones throw away from a provincial Forestry Administration building. The billion-dollar legal industry draws heavily on the long-tailed macaque species to provide monkeys for medical experiments. There have always been concerns about the validity of these captive-breeding claims., A Januaryreporton the status, threats and conservation of the regions primates stated that it is likely that many of the recipient research facilities, which do not prioritise animal welfare, are laundering wild-caught primates through legal trade., The indictment also accuses the defendants of illegally purchasing long-tailed macaques from black markets in Cambodia and Thailand to bolster the purported breeding operations.. The monkey attack was the major topic of conversation that the entire day of temple tripping. Flashing neon lights are everywhere advertising luxury hotels, elaborate shows, and sumptuous buffets. A U.S. warrant has been signed for Omaliss arrest, as of early November. We dont know to what extent any other companies or countries may be involved in this.. The prevalence and profit of the live trade often overshadows the specimen market, which lengthens the supply chain for Cambodian monkeys. Youre not growing it in a test tube. Your tax-deductible contribution plays a critical role in sustaining this effort. Aggressive macaques removed from Angkor Archaeological Park, 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. 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. . I so want to go to Cambodia and meet those macaques. They had actually been stalking us. The ANA emphasised that no monkeys would be harmed or killed as a result of this operation. 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. When you think of Cambodia you think of the temples of Angkor Wat but you dont think of a monkey attack! What you will find are thoughts on how to immerse yourself in local culture, food, history and people. Have you ever had an unexpected incident good or bad involving animals on a trip? Animal rights activists angry as over 1,000 macaques imported from Cambodia in 2020 for research Canada has approved the import of roughly 2,500 non-human primates annually from the U.S., but. An indictment in U.S. law is considered an accusation and defendants are innocent unless proven guilty. No units of measurement were noted. The monkey was later killed by local authorities who feared it might attack again. 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. 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. The city looks like a mini-southeast Asian version of Las Vegas. We will take them there first so that specialists can observe them and take care of their health. 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. 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. Anything that happens within the American import and export trade will have repercussions on the supply chain throughout the world.. The monkeys started to amass in the clearing in front of our room. The findings of a2023 studyhighlight the incredulity that Cambodia is meeting market demands legally. Whether they might potentially have been wild caught, Kite said. And those were just the ones that we could see! Last July, the macaque was uplisted from "vulnerable" to "endangered" on theRed List of Threatened Species, which cited biological use as a key threat. But in what conservationists call an ironic tragedy, Kry was apprehended in New York for smuggling endangered wild monkeys into the United States. Cambodias exports of long-tailed macaques to the U.S. date back to 2000 and this industry has boomed since then. I love your monkey attack story monkeys are really something else! The letter stated the capture of wild monkeys was outlawed in 2010, following the issuing of permits for nearly 37,800 macaques to be taken from the wild between 2003 to 2009. ANA spokesman Long Kosal said when they decided to intervene and capture the monkeys, they went to the officials at the Forestry Administration who readily agreed to help with the effort. Required fields are marked *. According to the Wisconsin National Primate Research Centre, they prefer to live in the highlands or in evergreen tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, but they also thrive in colder climates at elevations of up to 4km above sea level. 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.. 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. The final destination Washington, D.C. The fact you have government officials involved, surely must raise question marks as to what could be happening in other facilities in Cambodia, said Sarah Kite, who is a part of a primate transportation monitoring network.
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