Photos: Chained ‘Monkeys’ Protest Thailand’s Cruel Use of Monkeys for Coconut Milk

London – PETA Asia’s third investigation into the Thai coconut milk industry reveals that threatened and endangered monkeys continue to be tied up, beaten, whipped, and forced to pick coconuts under the threat of physical violence despite government officials’ claims that forced monkey labour has ended. That’s why three chained PETA “monkeys” stood outside the Thai Embassy in London today to call on the Thai ambassador to use his influence to end the use of monkey labour in Thailand’s coconut industry. PETA has also sent a letter to the ambassador, urging for an end to this cruel trade.

Photos are available here.

“The Thai coconut trade uses social monkeys as coconut-picking machines, depriving them of any semblance of a natural life or chance of freedom,” says PETA Senior Campaigns Manager Kate Werner. “PETA is calling on everyone to shun coconut milk and other coconut products from Thailand until the Thai government ends this cruel industry once and for all.”

Workers confirmed to PETA Asia’s investigators that monkeys are abducted as babies from their families and and  forest homes and tethered by the neck., Tand their teeth may be pulled out if they try to defend themselves. PETA Asia’s investigators found that when the monkeys aren’t being forced to pick coconuts or perform in cruel, circus-style shows for tourists, they’re kept chained by the neck to old tirestyres and boxes.

PETA Asia’s investigation linked monkey labour to HelloFresh, Chaokoh, Ampol Food, Theppadungporn Coconut Co, Aroy-D, Cocoburi, Tropicana Oil, Thai Pure Coconut Co, Ampawa, Suree, Edward & Sons Trading Co, and many other brands.

PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way” – opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk or follow the group on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Contact:

Sascha Camilli +44 (0) 20 7923 6244; [email protected]

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