Animals

Dear Sir / Madame

I am writing to express my concern over recent reports that there are plans to build a primate breeding and supply facility in Guayama City. I understand that the project is being led by a company called Bioculture from Mauritius and that the monkeys, long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), will be imported from Mauritius. These monkeys and/or their offspring will be shipped overseas to be used in research.</p> <p>Such a proposal is a major step backwards at a time when the ethical and scientific use of nonhuman primates in research is being challenged internationally by scientists as well as others.      Primates are highly intelligent, social animals with complex behavioral and psychological needs. Their use in research raises serious ethical and scientific questions. Perhaps you are unaware of the common fate of primates in the research industry. These animals are likely to be subjected to pain and suffering, sometimes extreme, in the research laboratories to which they are shipped. For example, many of them will be used in toxicity testing which involves the forced ingestion, inhalation or injection of poisonous chemicals. After sometimes years of this type of abuse, the animals are then killed. Although there is controversy about this, many scientists agree that this type of testing and killing of these primates is unnecessary scientifically and is morally unacceptable.</p> <p>At a time when the ethics regarding the use of primates in research is being raised internationally, it is disheartening to learn that Puerto Rico is planning to allow itself to become a major player in the supply of primates for research. Such a move will not only result in the suffering of thousands of monkeys, it will also have a negative and detrimental impact on Puerto Rico’s image abroad.</p> <p>I look forward to hearing from you.</p> <p>Yours sincerely</p> <p> 

[Your name here]