December 13th 2024.
A decision has been made by the city council of Launceston, Tasmania to sterilise and let a group of Japanese macaques, who have been on display since 1981, naturally die out. The reason behind this decision is due to concerns about overcrowding in the population. The monkeys are already facing health issues such as the herpes B virus and in-breeding, and the council believes that continued breeding will only worsen these problems.
Instead of euthanising the monkeys, they will be desexed in order to prevent any further breeding. This is expected to extend the population's lifespan by another 20-25 years in Launceston's City Park. Originally, the troop of ten monkeys was a gift from the city of Ikeda in Japan, but in 2000 it was discovered that they had become infected with the herpes B virus. Furthermore, it was also found that in the previous 19 years, the monkeys had become inbred.
According to notes from the council's meeting, it seems that inbreeding was not properly controlled and attempts to introduce new genetics were unsuccessful. This resulted in one of the introduced male monkeys dying soon after joining the troop, and most of the second male's offspring being culled. It is now known that many of the Japanese macaques in the exhibit are closely related.
In the past, suggestions of euthanising the monkeys were met with outrage from the community. However, due to Australia's biosecurity laws, it is no longer possible to import Japanese macaques, preventing the introduction of new genetic diversity. As a result, the council has decided to hire a vet to desex the male monkeys and allow the population to die out naturally.
The mayor of Launceston, Matthew Garwood, acknowledged that the community cares deeply about the welfare of the City Park monkeys. He emphasized that the decision was a difficult one, but it was made in the best interest of the monkeys' health and well-being in the long term. He also mentioned that the monkeys will still be with them for many years to come and that the council will continue to care for them to the highest standards.
Mayor Garwood intends to inform the Mayor of Ikeda, the city that gifted the macaques, about the council's decision and the reasoning behind it. Although it may be a sad outcome, it is important to prioritize the welfare of the monkeys and ensure they are kept as healthy and happy as possible for the rest of their lives.
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