Toque monkey issue A Chinese company made the request for 100,000 toque monkeys – Ministry

Monkeys to China for breeding purposes

• To implement the request, the ministry opened a forum to express the views of various parties

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

While claiming that the toque monkeys are to be taken to China for breeding purposes, the Agriculture ministry yesterday said that a Chinese company called Animal Breeding Limited had requested for 100,000 toque monkeys.  Ministry Secretary Gunadasa Samarasinghe said that to implement the request, the ministry opened a forum to express the views of various parties. Environmentalists, farmers, the public, the tourism industry, religious leaders and scientists can express their views on exporting the monkeys.  
“While collecting acceptable, justified and better ideas, the ministry is hoping to take the best decision when sending the toque monkeys to China. The ministry is hoping to remove monkeys from areas where a large extent of crops are being destroyed by them.  There are no intentions of removing monkeys from forests and conservation areas,” the ministry secretary added.