Cops collar monkey trafficker

A man was arrested for animal trafficking after he was found transporting four baby macaque monkeys into the city, Beijing forestry police said Thursday.　

Police recovered the macaques, which are national second class protected animals, and sent them to a wildlife rescue center in Shunyi district, said Wang Guohong, a media officer at the forestry police bureau.　

The bureau received a tip-off that a man, surnamed Yu, would be transporting two macaques from Xinye county, Henan Province, to Beijing via long-distance bus on June 28. Yu had been involved with animal trafficking for some time, according to the bureau's press release.　

An official, surnamed Sun, from Fengtai district forestry police department said Thursday that they have launched an investigation into Yu's activities. He has confessed to his involvement with animal smuggling, police said.

"All monkeys are second-class or higher protected animals. Therefore the trade is without doubt illegal, unless it's conducted between licensed institutes," said Sun.

An animal dealer, surnamed Shi from Fangshan district, who advertises online that he can sell macaques, said Beijing is a prosperous place to sell the monkeys.　

"I've sold over 100 macaques recently. The most recent shipment is sold out," said Shi.

Most of the macaques he sells are imported from Thailand and priced at more than 10,000 yuan ($1,574) each, said Shi. When asked about the health condition of the animals, Shi promised that all the macaques had gone through health inspections before they crossed the border.

"Only one died among the 100 macaques I sold, either out of transportation discomfort, or from trouble adapting to his new home," said Shi.

Shi repeatedly guaranteed that it is fairly easy to keep a macaque at home.

Xi Yan, program director from Wildlife Conservation Society disagreed, saying that people must remember macaques are wild animals.

"Macaques are very aggressive and could do real harm, which hardly fits the cuddly image most consumers imagine they would have," said Xi.

It can be very dangerous to live with monkeys, said Xi, as it is easy for them to cross-infect humans with a fatal virus.　

Jason Baker, the vice-president of international operations for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia, also said reports of animals attacking their owners are on the rise.

According to Baker, the illegal trade in wild animals is a $16 billion-a-year business, while 25 percent of the animals come from Southeast Asian nations.　

"In order to transport animals across international borders, the animals are routinely drugged and hidden in suitcase-like objects, usually by people who have little or no experience in handling animals. A vast majority of animals don't survive the trip," said Baker.