AR2011:

“Abusing Our Cousins”

That’s Not Funny: Primates in the

Entertainment Industry

Sharon Strong

International Primate Protection League

In the Media:

A Proliferation of Primates Movies (from 1930s’ Tarzan to 2011’s Zookeeper)

In the Media:

A Proliferation of Primates Movies (from 1930s’ Tarzan to 2011’s Zookeeper)

Ads (CareerBuilder’s Super Bowl chimp ads)

In the Media:

A Proliferation of Primates Movies (from 1930s’ Tarzan to 2011’s Zookeeper)

Ads (CareerBuilder’s Super Bowl chimp ads)

TV shows (like 30 Rock and the Today Show)

In the Media:

A Proliferation of Primates Movies (from 1930s’ Tarzan to 2011’s Zookeeper)

Ads (CareerBuilder’s Super Bowl chimp ads)

TV shows (like 30 Rock and the Today Show)

YouTube (tickle-me loris)

From Thailand to T.I.G.E.R.S.:

Primates as Live Entertainment Live action animal shows

(street performers, Safari

World, Universal Studios)

From Thailand to T.I.G.E.R.S.:

Primates as Live Entertainment Live action animal shows

(street performers, Safari

World, Universal Studios)

Circuses/traveling shows

(Circus Rosaire)

From Thailand to T.I.G.E.R.S.:

Primates as Live Entertainment Live action animal shows

(street performers, Safari

World, Universal Studios)

Circuses/traveling shows

(Circus Rosaire)

Roadside zoos/pseudo-

sanctuaries (Amarillo

Wildlife Refuge)

From Thailand to T.I.G.E.R.S.:

Primates as Live Entertainment Live action animal shows

(street performers, Safari

World, Universal Studios)

Circuses/traveling shows

(Circus Rosaire)

Roadside zoos/pseudo-

sanctuaries (Amarillo

Wildlife Refuge)

Pay-to-play operations

(tourist traps, T.I.G.E.R.S.)

Primate “Actors:”

Names and Numbers Commonly used species:

• Chimpanzees

• Orangutans

• Gibbons

• Capuchins

Primate “Actors:”

Names and Numbers Commonly used species:

• Chimpanzees

• Orangutans

• Gibbons

• Capuchins

Numbers in captivity:

• About 15,000 primates in

private hands

• About 750 are chimps;

fewer than 30 apes currently

in entertainment industry

Where do they come from and

where do they go? Primate breeders

• About 4 or 5 ape

suppliers

• Many monkey

breeders

The waiting list for

would-be retirees

• “Off the radar”

The revolving door

• Examples: Rosie,

Travis, Chubbs

Behind the Scenes:

An Unnatural Life Maternal separation

(at days or weeks old)

Social isolation (leads

to poor social skills)

Hand-rearing (human

dependence)

Trained to perform on

cue (harsh methods)

Mutilation (teeth, etc.)

Life stories

Legalities and Loopholes

Many businesses

supplying animal

actors have been

AWA violators

AHA film certification:

what it doesn’t say

The only legal solution

to “problem primates,”

sometimes it’s at the

end of a gun

What You Can Do

Vote with your dollar

• Don’t patronize abusive

businesses

Leverage social media

• “Like” on Facebook,

then leave “Dislikes”

and critical comments

on YouTube

Complain nicely!

• Via IPPL, Primate

Patrol, etc.

Some Ready-for-Prime-Time

“Primates”! CG animals

Human actors in suits

Animatronics

Sock monkeys

Stay in touch with the International Primate

Protection League!

P.O. Box 766

Summerville, SC 29484

E-mail: info@ippl.org

Web: www.ippl.org

Phone: 843-871-2280