Briefs: Lab Monkey Exports Criticized, Cambodia Wins Fifth Gold

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Long-tailed macaques photographed at a breeding center in Cambodia. (Cruelty Free International)
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U.K.-based animal rights group Action for Primates said 576 long-tailed macaques were flown from Cambodia to laboratories in the U.S. on Tuesday, a 27-hour journey the group said was a matter of “strong public concern.”

Action for Primates said in a statement issued Thursday that a worker at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport had alerted the group to the transport. The macaques had spent 21 hours flying and over six hours on the ground at Cairo airport, it said.

Welfare concerns included “profound negative effects” on behavior of primates by transportation; monkeys often being transported as cargo in crates that are too small and have inadequate ventilation and extreme temperature fluctuations; and reports of monkeys from Cambodia being found dead on arrival.

The group further added that long-tailed macaques were classified as “vulnerable,” and that a host of airlines had ended their involvement in their transport, calling for Egyptair to do the same.

Questions sent to Egyptair Thursday afternoon have yet to be answered, while representatives from the ministries of commerce and environment couldn’t be reached, while representatives of the Agriculture Ministry referred questions to the head of the Forestry Administration, who couldn’t be reached.

— Roun Ry

Cambodia Wins Fifth Gold Medal at SEA Games

With a win in 125 kg freestyle wrestling, Cambodian athletes have now won five golds at the ongoing Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, which concludes on Monday.

The fifth medal now surpasses Cambodia’s total of four golds at the previous 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines.

Nhan Sokvisal, the deputy head of the Cambodian mission, said on Thursday that Cambodian athletes had won a total of five gold medals with the latest win in wrestling.

Cambodian wrestler Sou Baly won the final of the 125 kg freestyle competition 10-0 against a Laotian wrestler, according to Cambodia 2023 Facebook page.

Cambodia’s other gold medalists are Touch Rachhan in kickboxing; Va Mithona taekwondo’s 74 kg category; Sin Vong and Vong Chantha in petanque; and Pal Chhorraksmey, Ly Boramy, Chrin Bunlong and Prak Sovanny in vovinam. As of Wednesday, Cambodia had also won six silvers and 15 bronze medals.

Cambodia is scheduled to host the next iteration of the SEA Games next year.

— Ouch Sony

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