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Heartbreaking footage has emerged of a terrified baby monkey shaking with fear after being snatched from his mum for lab testing.

Animal rights activists have urged the UK government to take action after the long tailed macaque was ripped from its parents arms.



The primate will be transferred from a breeding farm in Mauritius for research at a British lab, it has been claimed.



Its own parents were also taken from the wild before being held captive to breed babies.



(Image: Animal Defence International)

It comes amid claims of a spike in the use of long-tailed macaques for testing, despite an EU law forbidding it.



Charity Animal Defenders International has demanded Prime Minister Boris Johnson take action.



President Jan Creamer said: “The public will be horrified to learn that not only is Britain still a major primate user, but it allows researchers to use monkeys whose parents have been taken from the wild and used as breeding machines too.



“The UK effectively encourages dealers in Vietnam and Mauritius to stock their factory farms by trapping wild monkeys.

Almost 250 wild-caught monkeys, known as “F1” primates, were reportedly used in UK labs last year.



(Image: Animal Defence International)

Under EU law the use of these animals will be banned by 2023.



No F1s are believed to have been used in Britain between 2014 to 2016, with just one animal tested in 2017.



But some fear this number could rise in the wake of Brexit if EU rules are abandoned.



More than 2,600 long-tailed macaques were brought into the UK last year, including 2,064 from Mauritius and 542 from Vietnam, Mirror Online reports.



(Image: Animal Defence International)

ADI reportedly filmed pregnant monkeys being manhandled and witnessed animals being swung by their tails at a breeding facility in Biodia, Mauritius.

They claim monkeys were kept in rusty cages in Vietnam.

Hundreds of the animals suffered barbaric treatment including force feeding and being injected with experimental drugs, leading to horrific side effects.



To support the campaign, ask your local MP to back Early Day Motion #2228: Developing Innovative Science – Better for Animals and People.

