THE Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) agrees with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) that we should target "aggressive and nuisance-causing monkeys for safety, in response to public feedback" ("To cull or not to cull pesky monkeys"; yesterday). Public safety is paramount.
However, we hope the AVA can clarify how it is specifically trapping these monkeys and how it identifies them.
It is often difficult for members of the public to identify individual monkeys or be able to describe to the AVA which monkey was aggressive and nuisance-causing.
We also note that the AVA engages private contractors who lay traps for these monkeys. These traps are, however, indiscriminate and will trap any monkey.
Lastly, could the AVA clarify if baby monkeys which are trapped are released, since these are seldom the aggressive or nuisance-causing monkeys?
With regard to criticism that our survey on culling was "leading", Acres chose to partner Millward Brown for this survey as it is an expert in the field of market surveys and it ensured that the survey methodology was unbiased, scientific and independent.
Anbarasi Boopal (Miss)
Deputy Chief Executive
Animal Concerns Research and Education Society
However, we hope the AVA can clarify how it is specifically trapping these monkeys and how it identifies them.
It is often difficult for members of the public to identify individual monkeys or be able to describe to the AVA which monkey was aggressive and nuisance-causing.
We also note that the AVA engages private contractors who lay traps for these monkeys. These traps are, however, indiscriminate and will trap any monkey.
Lastly, could the AVA clarify if baby monkeys which are trapped are released, since these are seldom the aggressive or nuisance-causing monkeys?
With regard to criticism that our survey on culling was "leading", Acres chose to partner Millward Brown for this survey as it is an expert in the field of market surveys and it ensured that the survey methodology was unbiased, scientific and independent.
Anbarasi Boopal (Miss)
Deputy Chief Executive
Animal Concerns Research and Education Society
