CLICK HERE TO send an e-mail that asks your senators to co-sponsor the Great Ape Protection Act (GAPA), S. 3694. This important legislation would end invasive research on chimpanzees who remain in laboratories, release federally owned chimpanzees to permanent sanctuaries, and end federal funding for the breeding of federally-owned chimpanzees, affecting more than 1,000 animals. Below are talking points related to this alert.

• The Great Ape Protection Act will save taxpayers $20‐25 million annually.
• The U.S. is the only nation in the world that is known to still use captive chimpanzees for large-scale invasive research.
• Although chimpanzees are our closest genetic relatives, physiological differences make chimpanzees poor models for human health research
• Chimpanzees used in research suffer from post‐traumatic stress disorder and depression

For more ways to help primates, visit our GET ACTIVE page.

Grey langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) are on patrol in India this week, in association with the impending Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Feeling threatened by rampant wildlife near their accommodations, some visiting teams began to threaten to pull out of the games if something wasn’t done quickly to alleviate pest problems in the city. Snakes, wild dogs, and small troops of monkeys are apparently causing quite a disturbance for the athletes, entering rooms for cover or to steal food and sometimes even attacking people in the streets. Solution? Employ large, aggressive langurs that are perfectly capable of driving wildlife away from villages where the athletes are staying. Utilized in India for a variety of purposes, langurs are incredibly intelligent and apparently well suited for such security detail. At time of printing, it is still undetermined as to whether they will be provided with pepper spray and batons.

Ah, animal pests–raccoons routinely overturning trash and strewing it across the sidewalk, armadillos digging for grubs and wreaking havoc on the lawn, or perhaps wild rabbits regularly visiting the homegrown garden, quickly munching the best produce you worked so hard to grow. Wild animals invade, and the turf wars begin. Some people simply exterminate at will. Others attempt catch and release projects, involving long drives into the country to find a spot far enough away to dump the pesky critter. A few of us shrug our shoulders, pick up the trash or shredded vegetables and just admit defeat.

What about when these pests are primates? Are human responses any different? The October issue of the American Journal of Primatology focuses on ethnoprimatology: the study of the issues that arise when humans and nonhuman primates interact with each other.

Negative human-nonhuman primate interactions are becoming more of an issue in many places, since ongoing habitat destruction is increasingly shrinking the areas where primates can safely range and forage. Several species of primates have adapted to their loss of personal space by routinely utilizing food grown by humans or rummaging through morsels left behind in city trash bins.

Loss of crops and increased risk of disease transmission are two of the most common problems that local people face in dealing with territory overlaps with nonhuman primates. Monkeys that destroy crops and display little or no fear of people are described by their human neighbors as “greedy,” “lazy,” and even “evil.” Some farmers exterminate these animals at will, even when laws exist that ban primate hunting.

Assuming that you love primates, which is probably why you ever decided to peruse a site entitled “iloveprimates.com,” the thought of monkeys being killed or viewed in such a negative light might be disturbing. However, the fact that farmers attribute human morality to the primates is interesting in its own right. Some of the more destructive primates are viewed as bitter enemies and are assigned human traits often viewed by societies as “sins.” However, other less invasive primates are described in a positive ways, with valuable characteristics such as humility, friendliness, and honesty. And, despite garnering the hatred of so many people, even the “sinner” primates are fed during the dry season by the same humans that subsequently blaze guns a few months later.

Humans seem to have an instinctual fondness for these animals so similar to ourselves, but this similarity can also cause feelings of uneasiness and a sense that primates are acting maliciously against us when they take food or display aggression. Are other animals really capable of malice? What exactly happens to cause an animal to be considered a pest?  Fun ideas for future discussion and debate!

Primary Source: Perceptions of nonhuman primates in human–wildlife conflict scenarios (Hill, C.M. and A.D. Webber)

Long, gray cape shimmering in the sunlight, a male Hamadryas baboon sits perched upon a rock, lackadaisically chewing on a grass stalk and monitoring his harem. The females in his group are closely bonded to him, and they stay near to him with their youngsters in tow. Juveniles also play nearby, bouncing from spot to spot, grappling and chasing each other for hours at end. Night approaches, and his family joins up with other Hamadryas families, forming a safe clan that will sleep together until morning arrives.

Far away on an entirely different continent, another male baboon sits alone on the bare floor of a metal cage, helplessly pulling at the chain around his neck, listening to the loud noises surrounding his cage, uncertain about what will happen when night falls. Dubbed “Tilin,” this male Hamadryas baboon was born into captivity and raised in a  South American circus.

A year ago, Tilin’s life experiences centered on the routines associated with being a circus performer. Most likely, he was unaware that his plight could ever change. However, a movement was underway in Bolivia, led by Animal Defenders International (ADI) and supported by the overwhelming majority of local residents. Designed to end the animal violence and confinement that was far too prevalent in South American circuses, this campaign represented the world’s first national ban on animal circuses. Due to the work of dedicated volunteers, benevolent supporters, and determined advocates, the ban was officially passed in June, 2009.

Tilin, along with four adult lions, were the first animals to be released from their involuntary servitude in the circus. Through the financial help of Bob Barker, ADI was able to build a new enclosure for Tilin and commit to funding care for all five of the animals for the rest of their lives.

Tilin is currently undergoing the process of being moved to the Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary in the U.K.

The first step was to release him from his confinement chains. Watch this happen below:

You can also watch the rest of Tilin’s journey unfold by clicking here to visit his ADI Rescue Diary. Although not yet complete, Tilin’s tale will have a happy ending. Now a healthy and active baboon, Tilin will spend his days at a primate sanctuary where he may have a chance to meet other baboons and will no longer be made to work for a living. Regular care and attention will undoubtedly be lavished on this handsome male.

ADOPT TILIN TODAY! You can show love for Tilin by adopting him, which will allow more animals like him to be rescued from poor conditions in captivity. Click Here Now!

Hotel pools are devoid of swimmers at 8:00 in the morning, and I like to take the advantage of the opportunity to get a little sun and exercise first thing in the morning while traveling. However, this prime time for a solitary swim comes with the increased risk that the maintenance crew will also arrive to clean out the pool for the new day. So it happened one day not so long ago. I sat by the edge of the pool, feet dangling in the water and patiently waiting for the pool boy to skim debris out the water with the long pool net. We engaged in small talk for a while, and after asking how long I was going to be staying at the hotel, “Rusty” inquired as to whether I was heading for the “Big Top” that evening.

“The ‘Big Top,’ as in the circus?” I marveled. Apparently, the town’s biggest production of the year was the traveling circus that set up camp for a week, promising amazing sights and the display of death-defying feats to the delight of all who entered the giant tent.

It’s been quite a few years, but I have been to a circus a few times. The beautiful costumes, colorful clowns, and somewhat terrifying displays of human bravery were mesmerizing and certainly memorable. I ate more than my share of popcorn and snow cones and even relished in the purchase of my very own glow-in-the-dark sword. The circus certainly has a lot of fun oozing down the gum-covered bleachers. But, even as a child, I had a feeling that something just didn’t fit in with the whole production. Why were elephants made to walk around the ring in continuous circles, eyes glazed over and skin sloughing off?  Why were lions whipped and forced through flaming hoops when it clearly made them agitated? Was that really a chimpanzee with a heavy chain on it’s neck, being pushed with a stick so he would run on a ball? I could understand humans willingly submitting themselves to the circus antics, but to involve animals that didn’t appear to enjoy their line of work , seemed a little strange.

Sitting on the sunny poolside deck, hand up to my squinted eyes, I listened to Rusty as he described the location of the circus and pricing and where to park. Eventually, I had a chance to interject my thoughts into the conversation. I smiled and simply said, “Well, Rusty…I choose not go to circuses that use exotic animals in their shows.”

That sounded a little presumptuous…what Rusty needed was further information. I told him about what happens to primates specifically. These highly social animals end up spending far too much time caged alone, or in the presence of human company, which does not give them the chance to display natural social behaviors. Some circus workers have used unethical training methods, including the use of electric shock when animals do not cooperate. I elaborated on how primates often become uncontrollable when they reach adulthood and are either caged indefinitely or given away by the only family they have every known–their owners and/or trainers. Alternatively, some monkeys have their teeth pulled out to prevent biting. Primates in circuses often display visible signs of depression, fear, and neglect. I made sure to let Rusty know that unless the use of wild animals ceases in circuses, I will have to bypass the other fun events that The Big Top can deliver.

Rusty dumped the waterlogged grasshoppers he had gathered over the fence and then gave me a thoughtful look. “Well, I never really thought about that before. Poor little ‘fellars. Guess I might head down to the Kickstarter tonight instead.”  Well, it probably wouldn’t be appropriate for me to tell you what type of club the Kickstarter is, but by this point, the pool was sparkling clean, so I decided to let it go. I dove in with a smile.

**Be sure to read our posting about “Tilin,” a Hamadryas Baboon rescued from a Bolivian Circus by Animal Defenders International.