Thailand assures Europe that monkeys that pick coconuts are not abused

Monkeys ride on the back of a pickup truck loaded with coconuts after they collecting them from a plantation in Chumphon province, southern Thailand. - AP

BANGKOK (Xinhua): Thailand's Ministry of Commerce on Thursday (July 30) said Thai embassies in Europe had gone through great lengths to explain how Thai monkeys are trained to pick coconuts from trees, and that the practice had nothing to do with animal abuse, as claimed by animal rights activists.

"After allegations of Thai coconut farmers forcing monkeys to climb up trees to pick coconuts, European countries are now coming to an understanding that it is only natural for Thai trained monkeys to pick coconuts, as their body structure facilitates the practice," said the Ministry's Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP).

"We want Thai coconuts to return to European shelves soon," said DITP director-general Somdet Susomboon.

He said Thai trade centres and embassies in Europe were explaining the process after European stores had removed Thai coconut products from their shelves following the monkey abuse allegation by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

"Thai Commercial attaches and officials have explained to representatives of department stores in Europe. Monkeys picking coconuts is part of long-standing community lifestyle," said Somdet,"the animal rights group misunderstood the practice."

Somdet also said that Thailand does not have that many monkeys to pick coconuts for the export market.

"The coconuts picked by Thai monkeys will be consumed in the community only," said Somdet.

"Thailand does not have thousands of trained monkeys who gather coconuts for industrial use or for exports. Trained monkeys that can climb and spin the coconuts off the tree, are only a tourist attraction."

Somdet said Thai Commercial attaches will also discuss the issue with PETA.

"Hopefully, we can clear the misunderstanding, and that operators of European department stores would review the issue and refill their shelves with Thai coconut products," he said.

Last week officials of the Thai Commerce Ministry and Foreign Ministry brought European ambassadors and foreign reporters to witness the collection of coconuts for industries and they saw that people and machines, not monkeys, were used for the task, Somdet said.