Turkish hotels are exploiting captive chimps, says WSPA
19th July 2011
Hotels in southern Turkey are illegally exploiting chimpanzees for their own profit, reports the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
The WSPA has allegedly received complaints from tourists who have visited hotels across southern Turkey and witnessed the exploitation of captive chimpanzees.
According to WSPA at least 12 hotels across the region have been accused of exploiting the primates. If the allegations are correct, the WSPA said the hoteliers are breaking Turkish law and should be punished.
WSPA wildlife advisor Victor Watkins said, “We have tried to get the Turkish authorities to take the necessary action – which would be to confiscate the chimps, prosecute the owners and possibly take legal action against the hotels which are, at least, allowing the chimps on their premises.”
WSPA and a number of other animal groups wrote to the Turkish authorities last August, to suggest an investigation and to confiscate the captive chimps.
But, according to Watkins, WSPA's calls for help have gone unanswered, “I never had any response from the Turkish authorities, and I feel that they are ignoring this illegal trade.”
Eye-witnesses say they were threatened when they complained to the hotels about the animal's mistreatment. One witness counted at least 50 different tourists lining up for a prized photo with one chimpanzee. Another chimp was fully dressed and downing a bottle of Coca-Cola, and was then forced to do acrobatics for the crowd, allegedly.
Other witnesses have said that the chimpanzees appeared to be drugged-up and 'traumatised'.
Watkins added that a number of primate sanctuaries in Europe have offered to take these chimps in once they have been removed from the Turkish hotels.
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