Cruelty Free Europe’s French member, One Voice, is holding 14 events across France on Saturday 11, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 December as part of a Europe-wide ‘Week of Action’ against the export of monkeys for research from Mauritius.

Our Spanish member, ADDA, and Czech member, Svoboda Zvirat, are also taking part, calling for the end of a practice which in 2020 saw 10,827 long-tailed macaques exported for research from Mauritius – an increase of 40% from 2019.

One Voice leading a rally at the Embassy of the Republic of Mauritius in Paris on Saturday 11 December, from 11am – 1pm.

They are also organising events throughout France, over 11, 18 and 19 December, and urging supporters to sign petitions against the monkey trade in Mauritius and post messages on their own social media accounts. The public events are in Aix en Provence, Anglet, Beauvais, Bordeaux, Digne-Les-Bains, Lille, Lyon, Metz, Nantes, Nice, Paris, Strasbourg and Troyes. Visit the One Voice website for full details.  

Over 2,100 macaques were exported to Spain in 2020, and over 1,000 to France. The macaques are transported by airlines including Air France and Spain-based Wamos Air. 

President of One Voice, Muriel Arnal, said: “A few months ago we had access to information concerning shipments of macaques from Mauritius to Silabe in France. The weight of each macaque was indicated, its age, its destination, the carrier and the laboratory. A large number were then sent to Germany, the United Kingdom or Italy. After separation from their mother, and with hours of stress, they arrive in cages and restraining chairs, and suffer years of testing."  

Dr Katy Taylor, our Director of Science, said: “We applaud the activities of One Voice and other Cruelty Free Europe members in campaigning for the end of this shameful trade with events throughout France and Europe. 

“We again urge Mauritius to say no to the cruelty and suffering that is being inflicted on these highly social and intelligent animals. There is global opposition to their trade in monkeys, and the Mauritius Government must recognise that it continues to tarnish the country’s reputation. It is incompatible with its objective of becoming a popular eco-tourist holiday destination.”  

Our founding member, Cruelty Free International, delivered a 162,000-strong petition to the Prime Minister of Mauritius in 2015 and met with government officials to call for the end to their trade in monkeys. The campaign received international support, including from celebrities including Bollywood actor, R Madhavan. 

The EU’s latest figures show that there were 11,194 uses of monkeys in tests in 2018. If you’re an EU national, you can help us end animal testing across Europe by signing and sharing our European Citizens’ Initiative to End Animal Testing.