Urge Whole Foods to Cut Ties With Monkey Labour

A recent PETA exposé of Thailand’s coconut industry revealed monkeys are still being forced to spend long hours climbing trees and picking coconuts. Whole Foods is contributing to this cruelty and exploitation by sourcing its coconut milk from Thailand.

Take action and urge Whole Foods to cut ties with forced monkey labour.

Read Less -

Monkeys Kidnapped and Abused

Endangered pig-tailed macaques are often kidnapped as babies from their natural habitat. Handlers put rigid metal collars around the monkeys’ necks and use chains and leashes to choke and control them. Sometimes, their canine teeth are removed so they can’t defend themselves.

After months of physical abuse and intimidation, the sensitive animals learn to comply. Investigative footage showed trainers striking small monkeys, dangling them by their necks, and whipping them.

Forced to Pick Coconuts

Once training is complete, the forced labour begins. Monkeys are coerced into climbing tall trees to pick coconuts. They are frequently bitten by ants and stung by hornets, sometimes fatally. They sustain broken bones when they fall – or are violently yanked – from trees. When the macaques aren’t being forced to work, they’re kept chained on barren patches of dirt or confined to cramped cages, often without access to food or water. They suffer from extreme psychological distress from this joyless life of captivity and abuse.

Never Buy Coconut Milk From Thailand

Because the industry and the Thai government continue to mislead and deceive consumers about their cruel practices, there’s no way to guarantee that any Thai coconut milk is free from abuse. The only solution is to reject all coconut products from Thailand.

Never buy these products, and urge Whole Foods to end its sale of Thai coconut milk.

View Message +

Mr

Jason

Buechel

Whole Foods Market, Inc.

Dear {contact_data~title} {contact_data~lastName}:

I was appalled to learn that your company is selling coconut milk from Thailand, where threatened and endangered pig-tailed macaques are still being abused and forced to pick coconuts. As PETA Asia’s third and latest investigation into the Thai coconut industry proves, there’s no way to ensure that Thai supply chains are free of monkey labour – despite assurances to the contrary from companies that sell coconut milk.

Monkey-training facilities often pay farmers to capture these animals as babies – even though it’s typically illegal – and either confine them to small, barren cages or keep them chained with rigid metal collars around their necks. Through intimidation and physical abuse, they are trained to obey their handlers and are then sold to coconut pickers who force them to spend long hours climbing tall trees and twisting off heavy coconuts. They can sustain broken bones when handlers jerk them violently to the ground. When they aren’t being forced to work, they’re kept tethered, often without food, water, or protection from the elements.

Instead of working towards a transition to monkey-free harvest methods – such as planting shorter trees with coconuts that are easier to reach – farms, brokers, manufacturers, and the Thai government are misleading consumers. One broker admitted to PETA Asia investigators that with no oversight, coconut pickers simply lie. Brokers continue buying coconuts picked by monkeys and selling them to companies that make coconut products, and the companies and the government tout an “audit system”, even though it relies primarily on coconut producers’ word.

Please do right by monkeys in the coconut trade by moving your supply chain out of Thailand immediately.

Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}
{user_data~Email Address}

Take Action Now

Fields with an asterisk(*) are required.

First Name

Last Name

E-Mail Address

Sign up for e-mails from PETA including:

PETA News

Yes

No

Support our work to save animals. Select YES to receive e-mails, including about other ways to help animals, such as by signing petitions and funding PETA's lifesaving work.

IMG Source

Urge Whole Foods to Cut Ties With Monkey Labour

Monkeys Kidnapped and Abused

Forced to Pick Coconuts

Never Buy Coconut Milk From Thailand

Take Action Now

Thank You for Urging Whole Foods to Cut Ties With Monkey Labour