Kathmandu – May 12, 2010 - The Animal Welfare Network Nepal (AWNN) is shocked by news reports about the deaths of recently released monkeys in Shivapuri National Park. According to the campaigners the deaths are the outcome of random releases by the government. The authorities opted against scientific release despite countless warnings from animal experts. “The government is entirely to blame and the fate of the surviving primates lies in the hands of the Minister,” says AWNN.
Seven animal welfare organizations coordinated by AWNN argue that the government ignored expert advice to release the monkeys according to international guidelines. “After the widely applauded ban on monkey export, Nepal had a wonderful opportunity to promote itself as a responsible conservationist. Instead it compromised the lives of these sacred creatures by releasing them in a random and careless manner,” says Pramada Shah, President of AWNN.
According to AWNN, experts and campaigners till today are denied access to the captive monkeys and information about them.
The campaigners argue that the government is entirely responsible for the deaths of the released monkeys. “Rehabilitation is a sensitive process in which the monkeys are tested, trained, monitored and carefully prepared for a life in the wild. An ecological impact assessment has to be made of the release sites and local communities have to be included in the process,” explains Manoj Gautam, executive member of AWNN.
AWNN lobbied for the scientific rehabilitation of the captive monkeys ever since the export of simians to US labs was halted in 2009. “We also agreed with the Ministry to be involved in the management of a rehabilitation programme and to bring in the needed technical assistance and funds,” says Gautam.
In October 2009 a letter of intent to rehabilitate the monkeys was submitted to the Ministry of Forestry and Soil Conservation and Department of Wildlife. Since in Nepal expertise in captive monkey rehabilitation is limited, AWNN requested AAP Foundation Holland to provide the much needed technical assistance.
The AAP team however was denied access to the breeding center. “Until today, despite many attempts, animal welfare experts and campaigners have not been able to visit the Lele monkeys nor get the required information,” concludes Gautam.
By releasing the seed monkeys in a random, unscientific manner, the success of a rehabilitation programme is being compromised. In order to prepare captive monkeys for a life in the jungle, the wild caught monkeys are essential to teach survival skills to the offspring. “Forming family groups is a requirement for successful rehabilitation. By releasing the ‘parent monkeys’ the government took an unacceptable risk with disastrous outcomes,” says Gautam.
According to AWNN Nepal might still have a chance to save the remaining captive monkeys. Gautam: “The Minister must immediately facilitate access for experts to visit the breeding center. If enough parent monkeys are left, then scientific rehabilitation is still possible. The sick monkeys in Shivapuri must be treated, local communities must be included and a proper release plan must be developed. The lives of the remaining captive monkeys are in the hands of the Minister.”