Monkeys Belong in Rain Forests, Not on Film Sets, Says Linda Brent
For Immediate Release:
September 22, 2011
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Keithville, La. -- In response to the news that Cameron Crowe's upcoming film, We Bought a Zoo, features a capuchin monkey and other wild animals, the members of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA)—including Linda Brent, the president and director of Chimp Haven in Keithville, La.—have sent the director an urgent letter asking him to promise never again to use primates in his films. In the letter, the members explain that films such as We Bought a Zoo often inspire people to mistakenly seek out monkeys to keep as "pets," only to cast the intelligent animals off when it proves difficult to care for them.
"Monkeys and apes are adorable as babies, but the novelty soon wears off and they grow into strong adults who are strong-willed, naturally curious and destructive, and capable of causing some pretty serious injuries," write the NAPSA members. "The end result is an untold number of monkeys and apes languishing in cages, perhaps suffering from illness, malnutrition, or just plain loneliness."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
The NAPSA members' letter to Cameron Crowe follows.
September 22, 2011
Dear Mr. Crowe,
I am writing to you today on behalf of the members of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA). NAPSA was founded in 2010 by the directors of seven primate sanctuaries in the US and Canada, who collectively care for nearly 550 great apes and monkeys, rescued from laboratories, the pet trade, and the entertainment industry. It is our understanding that a capuchin monkey, Crystal, is featured in your upcoming production, We Bought a Zoo. There is growing concern about the use of monkeys and apes in films, TV, and advertising, and we hope that you might consider alternatives to the use of trained monkeys and apes in future productions, and share what you read here with your colleagues.
There is no doubt that monkeys and apes are very appealing and engaging. Indeed, that is why the members of NAPSA have chosen to dedicate their time and energy to providing sanctuary for otherwise unwanted primates living in the US and Canada. But as wonderful as monkeys and apes are, they simply don't belong in the entertainment industry. There are two major problems with the use of monkeys and apes in film, TV, and advertising. First, the primate “actors” themselves suffer. They are taken from their mothers at birth, forced to perform for our amusement, and can endure harsh training techniques behind closed doors. Second, the use of primates in entertainment sends the wrong message about their suitability as pets. When people see a monkey or ape interacting with actors, they may seek to acquire one as a household pet, believing (wrongly) that such an animal would make a wonderful companion. Unfortunately, sanctuaries are full of primates who have proven that not to be the case. Monkeys and apes are adorable as babies, but the novelty soon wears off and they grow into strong adults who are strong-willed, naturally curious and destructive, and capable of causing some pretty serious injuries. Too many people find they are unable to cope, and the monkey or ape ends up on the doorsteps of a sanctuary—if they are lucky.
NAPSA member sanctuaries have rescued primates who were used by Hollywood trainers, as well as primates once kept as pets. Unfortunately, collectively we are nearly at capacity, yet the calls to take in unwanted monkeys and apes keep coming. The end result is an untold number of monkeys and apes languishing in cages, perhaps suffering from illness, malnutrition, or just plain loneliness. It is imperative that sanctuaries address the root causes of the trade in primates, and that includes the entertainment industry. If influential people such as yourself pledge not to use trained monkeys and apes in their production out of consideration for the well-being of primates everywhere, that will go a long way to reducing and ultimately ending the trade in non-human primates. It's the dream of every NAPSA sanctuary to one day close its doors because there are no more primates in need. We hope you'll consider helping us get there.
Sincerely,
Patti
Ragan
Founder
& Director
Center
for Great Apes
Wauchula,
FL
Sarah
Baeckler
Executive
Director
Chimpanzee
Sanctuary Northwest
Cle
Elum, WA
Jen
Feuerstein
Sanctuary
Director
Save
the Chimps
Fort
Pierce, FL
April
Truitt
Executive
Director
Primate
Rescue Center
Nicholasville,
KY
Lesley
Day
President
Chimps
Inc.
Bend,
OR
Gloria
Grow
Founder
& Director
Fauna
Foundation
Chambly,
Québec
Canada
Linda
Brent
President
Chimp
Haven
Keithville,
LA
Mark
Twyford
Manager
North
American Primate Sanctuary Alliance