Multiple Countries Seek Monkeys from Sri Lanka Following China’s Request

Colombo: Sri Lankan Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has disclosed that the country has received new requests from China to export Toque macaque monkeys. These requests come after China’s initial request in April, which stirred controversy.

Amaraweera emphasized the need for these requests to be channelled through the relevant embassies of the respective countries. In April, a Chinese private firm sought to import a staggering 100,000 monkeys from Sri Lanka to address the issue of these animals causing significant agricultural damage.

However, the Sri Lankan government eventually abandoned the idea of exporting monkeys to China in June due to strong opposition from environmental and animal rights activists.

In February, Amaraweera had announced the removal of six crop-damaging animals, including peacocks, toque macaques, grizzled giant squirrels, porcupines, and wild boars, from the list of protected animals in Sri Lanka, allowing them to be legally culled to protect crops.