Launceston to vote whether to sterilise iconic monkeys living in city park

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Launceston council will next week vote on whether to sterilise the monkeys in city park. The troop is the last remaining population of Japanese macaques in Australia and if the motion passes, they'll all be gone within three decades.

Transcript

00:00In 1980, Launceston received a gift from its sister city in Japan, a troop of Japanese

00:08macaques.

00:09Ever since, they've been a key feature of City Park, but this tiny baby could be one

00:15of the last.

00:16So what our recommendation is a contraceptive procedure to be able to control the breeding

00:23for the monkeys.

00:25If a council motion to sterilise the monkeys passes next week, the population will die

00:29out within 30 years.

00:32Council says it has no way of introducing genetic diversity to the monkey troop, as

00:36it's now illegal to import them.

00:39It means the monkeys are inbreeding, which over time will lead to health issues.

00:43Everything that we're doing is in regards to the welfare and the best interest of the

00:48management of the species.

00:49It's a little bit sad, like I do come and see the monkeys regularly whenever I visit

00:53Launceston.

00:54I've lived here in Launceston since I was five, and many memories of bringing my children

01:01here and grandchildren.

01:02It's probably not a terrible thing, and given if it's done humanely, I think it would be

01:07okay.

01:09If council rejects the motion to sterilise the monkeys, keepers may have to cull the

01:13troop to keep numbers down.

01:15I believe that the monkeys should be left as is, and let them see out their life, whatever

01:23that may be.

01:24Council says it could consider bringing in a new species once the macaques are gone.

01:29One option floated is the Tasmanian devil, but for many locals it won't be the same.

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