LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - Oct 16, 2014) - Animal rights organization Last Chance for Animals has planned a protest against Air France for flying monkeys to research labs. The protest is scheduled for October 18, 2014 at 12:00 pm at the Tom Bradley International Terminal of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Protesters will wear all black and stand in silence as they hold photographs of monkeys flown by Air France, revealing the "true faces of Air France victims."
Air France is the only major airline in the world that still transports primates to laboratories for scientific research, and LCA wishes to build awareness of the issue and urge Air France to stop.
Currently, the airline ships macaques and other primates from Asia and Africa to labs in Europe and the United States.
- The monkeys are captured from the wild or raised in breeding facilities around the world.
- Kept in tiny crates for multi-stop flights lasting up to 30 hours, monkeys suffer from dehydration, internal bleeding, parasitic infection and trauma with no veterinary care. Many die on the plane.
- In the labs, monkeys may be inflicted with brain damage, depression or drug addiction, or may have their skulls cut open or endure other highly invasive surgeries.
"If we persuade Air France to stop shipping monkeys to these horrific labs, we can help save countless primates from needless torture and death," said LCA executive director Sharon Nunez. "Cutting off the transportation helps reduce the supply, so fewer monkeys will be forced into scientific experimentation."
The protest is part of an ongoing effort that began in 2013. Previously, LCA erected billboards near LAX and Times Square featuring caged monkeys with the words "Scare France Flies Monkeys to Lab Cruelty." LCA has also staged past protests at LAX, and remains hopeful that with enough pressure, the airline will finally change its ways.
Last Chance for Animals is an international animal advocacy organization that conducts undercover investigations and launches public awareness campaigns to expose animal cruelty. LCA's Special Investigations Unit travels the world to document abuse in research labs, puppy mills, factory farms and the entertainment industry. For more information, visit www.LCAnimal.org
