Rally Invites Positive Responses from Senior Government Officials Nepal

"Give the Green Card to Me, not to the Monkey!" There was a little confusion at first, when government staff thought the protesters lobbied for a US Green Card but then they understood: the 45 protesters came to express their concern about the breeding and export of rhesus monkeys for experimentation in US research centers. The younger demonstrators displayed handmade monkey masks and playcards, while Roots and Shoots volunteers showed a cage housing two human 'monkeys', surrounded by syringe wielding 'researchers'. A large banner gave a clear message: "Stop This Monkey Business Right Now". Nepali slogans such as "Do not send our monkeys! We don't need your 300 dollar!" , "We love our monkeys! Don't send them to USA!" invited government staff to come out in the courtyard to have a look at the action.

On Monday March 24, 45 protesters handed over petitions and over 2000 signatures to Dr Laxmi Manandhar, Conservation Education Officer at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), and Ananta Parajuli, Acting Head of the Ministry of Forestry and Soil Conservation. Mr Parajuli carefully listened to Roots and Shoots representative Manoj Gautam, who explained how the Wildlife Breeding Policy 2003 has been introduced in an undemocratic and irresponsible manner, has led to a further increase in wildlife trade and has invited countless protests from communities within Nepal and overseas. Lucia de Vries from Animal Nepal explained how some 180 monkeys have been captured from the wild, upsetting the colonies from which they were taken. Over 260 monkeys are presently caged and are being experimented upon within Nepal, causing much untold suffering among an evolved animal species that are regarded as sacred by most Nepalese.

Mr Parajuli confessed personally to be in favour of halting the breeding and export of lab monkeys. He said his government has received countless protest letters, both at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and his own Ministry, and is keen to address the issue. Parajuli said he could not make any commitment but shared that a new National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act is being drafted in which the monkey business issue will be seriously reconsidered. "We rather be known for our conservation successes such as in rhino and tiger, instead of being identified as an exporter of wildlife", said Parajuli, who promised to hand over the petition and signatures to Forestry Minister Matrika Yadav after his return on Thursday.

Protesters walked from the Department in Babar Mahal to the Singha Durbar government office South Gate, where the banner was displayed while four representatives visited the Ministry. The protest, including an interview with Manoj Gautam, was broadcasted on Kantipur TV and reported in Kantipur and Gorkhapatra newspapers.