Mar25
Pop Quiz: How Many Primates Were Imported Into the U.S. in 2007?
Posted at 11:23 AM | Permalink
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Comments (29)
If you guessed 25,703, you’re exactly right! I’ve got some more statistics for you, too, because I wanted to provide some concrete numbers to give a bit of context to this photo, which recently won The National Geographic International Photography Contest. The deeply disturbing image, which shows caged monkeys awaiting their fate at a medical laboratory in Hubei Province, China, depicts one small part of a nightmare that continues every day for thousands of primates who are used in barbaric, wasteful experiments. Some stats:
China, where the award-winning photo was taken, was the source of nearly 58 percent of all primates imported into the U.S.
More than 46 percent of all primates brought to this country were imported by Covance. Covance was also responsible for all 25 of the largest shipments of primates (200 or more) into the U.S.
Just three companies – huge, multi-national contract testing organizations that conduct animal experiments for profit – account for more than 75 percent of primate imports for 2007:
- Covance: 11,935 (46.43 percent)
- Charles River: 6,140 (23.89 percent)
- SNBL: 2,400 (9.34 percent)
Close to 98 percent of all primates imported into this country are macaque monkeys, like those shown in the photo. These monkeys are imported strictly for vivisection.
And the photo itself is a doozy.
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Comments
I have seen the image some time ago., surely one of the saddest sights you will ever see ! read the caption., at least the EU, is trying to abolish primate experiments.And has overwhelming support from MEP's.and member countries own grown parliamentarians. Come on USA., don't be left lagging on this emotive issue.
Posted by: Keith | March 25, 2008 11:42 AM
Poor monkeys!! I wish they would use alternative methods!
GAHH that upsets me!
Posted by: Amber Falobas | March 25, 2008 12:32 PM
Very sad photo.
I saw this letter (part of) about lab animals the other day:
"Several colleagues and I conducted a purely observational study to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in chimpanzees previously used in experimental research and now living in a sanctuary. I was astonished by how many individuals displayed behaviors that overlap with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other trauma-related disorders. Our findings follow multiple other studies demonstrating mental anguish in traumatized animals."
Hope Ferdowsian, M.D., M.P.H.
And those were the "lucky" ones that weren't euthanized.
Posted by: Mike Quinoa | March 25, 2008 01:27 PM
That picture is so outrageous!!!!!!!!!!!! How dare they choose it as "best picture"
How much sicker can the chinese get?
If they have no human rights what the hell can animals expect?
Posted by: Von | March 25, 2008 01:57 PM
You would think at some point these people would realize the horror and pain that they cause.
Posted by: Ashley | March 25, 2008 02:16 PM
It is always so depressing when I am just going along with my day, thinking the world is not such a bad place, and then I see images like this and realize that things are still so terrible. All of those innocent animals who suffer at the hand of cruel humans... If only there were a way to convey to them that there are people who care, who are moved by their plight, who are fighting for them, who give a damn.
Posted by: Veronica | March 25, 2008 02:41 PM
Read SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENT. I started to re-read my copy last night. Everyone should read this!
Posted by: Ana | March 25, 2008 03:20 PM
WOW!! Fricking China, again! No feelings over there just stupidity!? With 25,000 plus primates imported to the US for vivisection purposes you would think that number would be on a decline!? It starts with Convance, Charles River, SNBL, ect, ect, ect! If there's a demand, not by us law abiding, tax paying citizens but by these facilities that have the erge to torture, torment and eventually murder living, breathing, feeling beings and call it "all in the name of research" for "OUR" benefit then we should start putting up these photo's on billboards and tell people to boycott places like China untill they stop shipping these primates to places where this is going on!!
Posted by: Carla | March 25, 2008 03:26 PM
I can't breath after viewing this picture!!
We have to stop this MURDER!
Posted by: Molly | March 25, 2008 03:41 PM
Instead of testing new products like drugs and such on monkeys we can just take the surplus (human)population of China and India. This would be useful in several ways:
1) Saves the lives of those poor, defenseless monkeys.
2) Yeilds more accurate results then animal testing.
3) Reduces the population of some of the most grossly overpopulated regions in the world.
Posted by: Ronixis | March 25, 2008 03:51 PM
This is just another reminder of how sick we as humans can be. But we all must fight the good fight,but Ronixis, I think your heart is in the right place,but there are many activists from China and India who have fought very hard for animals rights. Your comments make the rednecks out there who think we hate humans kind of on mark. Peace to all.
Posted by: Courtney | March 25, 2008 07:20 PM
The picture reminded me of how flowers are packed for shipment.
The youth of this world are becoming aware of the cruelty of past ways of thinking and are bring change.
The picture is alarming to see, however, if it had not won this award, it may have been tucked away on some back page and world may never have seen it.
The sad picture brings awareness to the problem.
We cant fix what we dont know, and seeing is believing, we need to know.
I am glad this picture won and was brought to the attention of the world.
Thank You Peta for posting it for us to see.
Our eyes need to be wide open.
Posted by: Holly | March 26, 2008 09:00 AM
I'll second that, Ronixis! Idea is well worth it!!
Posted by: Carla | March 26, 2008 09:23 AM
I totally agree with Ronixis lol
yea its reaLLY SAD WAT THESE MONKEYs have to go throuhgt and how like the world is so messed up and like no one relizes it
Posted by: Kenady | March 26, 2008 09:56 AM
The photo represents Hell on Earth for these little victims. Sadly many people prefer not to know what goes on behind closed doors and that is why a picture like this is so important. These guys are being sent off to torture chanbers, simple as that.
Posted by: Maureen | March 26, 2008 10:52 AM
Maybe they should just send their own children to the lab for testing.... using helpless primates for such experiment are just inhuman.
Posted by: Elsie | March 26, 2008 10:43 PM
THis photo was photo shopped
if you look at the monkey in the front left the cage disappears a little bit also look at all the different light-- different lights are hitting different areas..
although this does happen, I am not quite sure if these cages were actually on the primates at this time.
Posted by: Arizona thorson | March 26, 2008 11:29 PM
As painful as it is to view this photo, I agree with Holly and Maureen that it's vitally important to expose this treatment of the macaques through it. And the National Geographic may draw viewers who wouldn't come to the PeTA site.
Posted by: lynda downie | March 27, 2008 01:02 AM
Arizona, I'm fairly certain that the judges in the National Geographic Photo Contest would have spotted it if the photo had been doctored.
I think the reason it looks so odd to us is that it's just surreal that this stuff actually happens.
-jack
Posted by: Jack | March 27, 2008 11:15 AM
With all of the HUMAN rights violations taking place in China, it's the mistreatment of monkeys that draws your ire??? Maybe we should all take one giant step back and really examine our own beliefs. Rational thought and priority seems to take a backseat far too often these days.
Posted by: dixie | March 27, 2008 12:37 PM
Dixie,
The philosophy of animal rights demands only that logic be respected. For any argument that plausibly explains the independent value of human beings implies that other animals have this same value, and have it equally. And any argument that plausibly explains the right of humans to be treated with respect, also implies that these other animals have this same right, and have it equally, too.
"There is no fundamental difference between humans and the higher mammals in their mental faculties"
-- Charles Darwin
"The time will come when people such as I will look upon the murder of (other) animals as they no look upon the murder of human beings."
-- Leonardo Da Vinci
"The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them. That is the essence of inhumanity"
-- George Bernard Shaw
"I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being."
-- Abraham Lincoln
Posted by: Holly | March 27, 2008 05:16 PM
also:
The greatest impediment to the flourishing of human society is the exploitation of other animals at human hands. This is true in the case of unhealthy diets, of the habitual reliance on the "whole animal model" in science, and of the many other forms animal exploitation takes. And it is no less true of education and advertising, for example, which help deaden the human psyche to the demands of reason, impartiality, compassion, and justice. In all these ways (and more), nations remain profoundly backward because they fail to serve the true interests of their citizens.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured by the way its animals are treated."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
Posted by: Holly | March 27, 2008 05:20 PM
Dixie,
Maybe you should go to a different site—this one is devoted to animal rights. The ability to read seems to take a backseat far too often these days.
Posted by: Mike Quinoa | March 27, 2008 09:04 PM
Oh Dixie, please..our compassion is wide enough to include all animals-human and non-human.
Posted by: lynda downie | March 28, 2008 12:11 AM
Hi, anyone know where this information is from?
Posted by: Michael | April 25, 2008 09:33 AM
I can only wish for more accessible ways to find these labs and the workers who tourture these living beings. I know if I was allowed that information I would do everything in my power to free those lives. Give me that knowledge I will free a soul. Please someone, give me this knowledge. Florida
Posted by: nadinewar | September 16, 2008 06:39 PM
Yes, i would like to see the statistic too. Is there any document, something like that? I'll be very grateful if someone send to my e-mail more details. Thanks
Posted by: Marcelo Sathler | September 16, 2008 08:05 PM
this is a lot of monkeys there must be billions alive
Posted by: sasha | March 26, 2009 08:17 AM
How can we influence a nations government or a large company to change their ways?
We can only do our part and our best to help but Holly I think you've posted the best comments here, I think countries such as China and companies such as Covance need a leader like Ab Lincoln or Ghandi or Darwin to make this change happen. I've done a lot of university study on business and management and any great, ethical company and any great, fair nation that has reached that status of greatness has been through great leadership. That is the biggest challenge these troubled places of the world face. There is also proven evidence that in order to get a worker to work at his most efficient and a manager to operate at his most ethical is through supervision and accountability, if a worker or manager knows that eyes are on them they perform at their best, this is why I think it is also important for the international community (and you and me) to keep keeping an eye these nations and companies and let them know we are watching, we are here, there are many of us and we have a purpose and a vision and we will not go away.
Posted by: toby | June 4, 2009 11:20 AM