PETA Asia Rescues Chained Monkeys From Cruel Thai Coconut Industry

Lek and Jor were forced to race up and down trees to pick coconuts in Thailand’s coconut industry.  Lek is struggling with mobility issues after a piece of wood pierced his chest, which will be X-rayed, while Jor is receiving urgent dental treatment for his rotten teeth.

After they fully recover, the two will live out the rest of their lives in peace – no longer exploited by humans – in the PETA Asia-funded enclosures,  where they’ll be able to climb, roam, play, and bond with other monkeys.

In April, PETA Asia and WFFT teamed up to rescue another monkey, named Odd. He was found with an infected wound caused by a tight metal ring around his neck that had become painfully and deeply embedded in his skin, and he was also suffering from a lung infection. He received urgent veterinary care.

Today, Odd is safe at WFFT, where – with care and treatment – he can heal.

Monkeys Don’t Belong in Thailand’s Coconut Industry

After seeing PETA Asia’s investigations exposing the rampant abuse of monkeys in Thailand’s coconut industry, more than 30,000 stores around the world will no longer purchase products made by Chaokoh – a brand that obtains coconuts for items like coconut milk through forced monkey labour. The majority of these stores will also no longer buy any coconut products derived from monkey labour in Thailand.

PETA Asia found that many coconut farms keep monkeys tethered on barren patches of dirt for extended periods of time and force them to collect heavy coconuts. These keenly intelligent primates are sometimes reduced to circus sideshows, forced to perform demeaning tricks in front of visitors as a means of further increasing profits.

Although Odd, Lek, and Jor were rescued, countless monkeys are still bound by the Thai coconut industry’s chains. Monkeys don’t want to be restrained, punished, and forced to pick coconuts all day long – these nurturing, empathetic animals have their own interests, families, and friendships. They aren’t ours to use.

What You Can Do

Please make sure that the coconut products you purchase don’t come from companies that exploit monkeys. Urge Chaokoh to stop supporting this cruel industry by obtaining its coconuts from farms that don’t use monkeys.

Take Action!