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Monday, February 16, 2004
Monkeys in DSB victims of kidnapping, too
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
THE rampant "kidnapping" of monkeys does not only happen in Calatrava town, but also in the municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto.
In Don Salvador Benedicto, sources disclosed that monkeys in the forestlands of Barangays Bunga and Bagong Silang were also victims of kidnapping by suspects who reportedly use special nets and vans to take the monkeys away from their habitat.
Sources added that the culprits would always disguise themselves as bird hunters. The monkeys are being sold in Bacolod City for P1,000 to P1,500 per head.
Jennylind Cordero, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Tourism and Promotion Development Office said the monkeys at the Macasilao Sanctuary in Calatrava have become victims of kidnapping since December last year.
This resulted to the decline in the number of domesticated monkeys, Cordero further said as she appealed to every Negrense to spare the monkeys.
The monkey sanctuary in Calatrava is among the top tourist destinations in Negros Island.
The place is boosted by the presence of monkeys formerly known as "holduppers" and "killers" but were later taught to dance and perform gimmicks for visiting tourists.
These monkeys, Cordero said had become sociable as they no longer eat bananas, but instead prefer cookies, biscuits, bread and even softdrinks in can offered by visitors.
Cordero, however, said kidnapping monkeys and taming them as pets in the house is risky considering that the animals, by nature, need a larger space to live in.
Monkeys are also potential sources of ebola virus, pneumonia, among other viruses, Cordero said quoting a research report taken from the internet.
Also in the internet report, Cordero said, the Philippines tops as a monkey exporter in the world with 12,500 primates more less being exported to other countries every year. Indonesia placed second.
The United States is also among the top importers of monkeys, the research added.
In Japan, monkeys are being sold at a high price in first class restaurants where monkey brains are cooked as Japan's famous appetizers like the Philippines' "sisig".
(February 16, 2004 issue)
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