2018
By: Emily Malhiot
A monkey named Loretta spent 22 weeks in a pen with other monkeys who attacked her.1 Loretta suffered numerous lacerations to her face and extensive hair loss.2 As a result, she experienced severe psychological distress and was terrified of other monkeys.3 Loretta is only one example of the inhumane treatment of monkeys at Primate Products, Inc. (PPI), a Florida-based company that imports and sells monkeys for experiments.4 PPI is awarded contracts with federal entities such as the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and major universities, including the University of Maryland and Columbia University.5 Despite more than 23 verbal and written reports from PPI personnel, Loretta’s situation never improved.6 An investigation conducted by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) found numerous instances of inhumane treatment, including: workers grabbing monkeys by the tail and pulling them off fences; denial of veterinary care for monkeys with life-threatening injuries such as exposed bones; performance of surgeries with little to no sedation; and monkeys left in filthy cages.7
