Over 4,000 were imported into France, the UK, Spain and Germany during 2014 for research.Figures released by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development reveal that there was a 33% increase to 4,486 monkeys exported to Europe (compared to 3,372 during 2013). This included 1,882 to France, 1,077 to Spain, 1,154 to the UK and 373 to Germany.

In the case of Spain, the total number of monkeys exported from Mauritius during 2014 represented a 59% increase compared to 2013 (1,077 monkeys in 2014 and 677 in 2013). Almost all the monkeys have a final destination: the breeding center of Camarles, in southern Catalonia, which is still operating despite the overwhelming opposition of animal defenders.

Mauritius is one of the world’s largest suppliers of primates for the international research industry. Tens of thousands of monkeys, many of whom were captured from the wild, are imprisoned in farms across Mauritius, where they are used to breed offspring. Denied the lush foliage of their jungle homes, these monkeys spend their lives behind bars on concrete and are exported overseas as cargo on airlines, in small wooden crates. Whilst many airlines have stopped transporting primates destined for the research industry, Air France has not, and is a major transporter of monkeys from Mauritius to the USA and Europe.

Monkeys are often used in toxicological (poisoning) research. Such testing can last for months during which the animals are dosed with chemicals or drugs through injection or forced ingestion. Others are used in neurological research which involves the implantation of electrodes and/or brain damage.

Source: www.eceae.org