Launceston council has voted to sterilise a troop of inbreeding captive monkeys in its city’s park

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Launceston City council has voted to sterilise the troop of captive monkeys in city park. It means the Japanese macaques, which have been in the park since 1980 will die out within 25 years

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00:00It's baby monkey season in Launceston's City Park, but for the last time, after the Launceston

00:08Council voted to end breeding by sterilising the male macaques.

00:12We understand that the enclosure that they have, 27 I believe, there could be one in

00:19labour right now, it was 25 on Monday, it was 24 Monday, 25 Tuesday, and perhaps even

00:26more today, so I think that speaks to what exactly is occurring in this monkey enclosure.

00:32The Council's primate keeper says it's not possible to bring genetic diversity to the

00:36troop because it's illegal to import Japanese macaques.

00:39It means the monkeys are inbreeding, which is leading to health issues.

00:42In the 18 months I have been here, I have seen signs of genetic depression in the troop

00:48and records previously state that it's been happening for a fair while.

00:54As difficult as this decision may be for us to do today, we've had really good, clear

01:01advice in regards to what is the best for monkeys in that troop going forward.

01:07The motion to sterilise the monkeys passed with only one councillor voting against it.

01:11I'm just hoping that we don't rush in.

01:13Some of the decisions that we make, once they're made, they might not be reversible.

01:20The monkeys are expected to be around for another 25 or so years, when the Launceston

01:25institution will come to an end.

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