Srilanka Will Sell 1 Lac Monkeys to China:
Sri Lanka is reportedly considering exporting 100,000 toque macaques to China, one of its major creditors, in a bid to address the country’s dire financial situation.
The toque macaque is endemic to Sri Lanka and considered an endangered species by the IUCN Red List. Although Sri Lanka currently prohibits the export of live animals, the proposed transaction could proceed if approved. Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera stated that China wishes to house the monkeys in its zoos, but no financial details were provided.
Monkeys are often view as pests in Sri Lanka due to their crop-damaging and occasionally aggressive behavior towards humans. Sri Lanka recently removed a number of animals from its protected list, including all three monkey species, wild boars, and peacocks, allowing farmers to slaughter them.
However, some animal rights organizations, such as the Environmental Foundation in Sri Lanka, have expressed concern about the proposed sale, arguing that a comprehensive population survey should be conducted first. Furthermore, they questioned the purpose of the transaction, whether it was for meat or medical research. The dwindling habitats of wild animals due to agricultural expansion are believed to be a contributing factor to the increase in human-animal conflicts in Sri Lanka, particularly with monkeys and elephants.
