An Early Day Motion (EDM 957) tabled by Caroline Lucas, calls on the Government to disassociate itself from the cruel trade in wild-caught primates for research. Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party and MP for Brighton Pavilion, said today, “The British people have a strong instinct when it comes to animal cruelty and it’s clear that this level of animal abuse will not be tolerated. The Government must therefore do more to take the lead in modern, humane medical research without animal suffering – and ban the import of wild-caught offspring.” According to the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV), almost 5,000 primates were imported for research purposes into the UK between 2008 and 2009. While the Mauritius is the UK’s main supplier of primates, the long-tailed macaque are also imported from China, Cambodia and Vietnam. The BUAV has undertaken numerous field investigations into the international trade in primates for research. Evidence obtained reveals immense suffering inflicted on primates during their capture and handling, including the separation of vertebrae in the tail causing pain and debilitation, says BUAV. BUAV’s Director of Special Projects, Sarah Kite, states: “We are delighted to receive support from MPs on this important animal welfare. We urge the public to ask their own MP to sign this EDM. The UK Government must dissociate itself from this cruel and brutal trade once and for all.”
16 NOVEMBER 2010
