Thailand government told to stop monkeying around as coconut-boycott campaign stings

Published 2023년 6월 14일

Tridge summary

PETA's campaign alleging mistreatment of monkeys used for coconut harvesting in Thailand has negatively impacted the country's coconut exports, with importers and traders reducing purchases of Thai products. The private sector has refuted these claims, stating they are based on false information, and is urging the government to hire lobbying firms to counter the campaign. Thai producers are shifting to 'dwarf' coconut trees that do not require climbing for harvesting, eliminating the need for monkeys. The Department of International Trade Promotion is working with the Thai Food Processors Association to refute PETA’s claims and to promote the idea that harvesting and production rely on people and machinery, not animals.

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Original content

PETA says in its campaign that monkeys are being used to harvest coconuts on Thai plantations, and that they are being severely mistreated. The campaign is continuing to affect exports of coconuts from Thailand, private sector sources said. They say the PETA campaign is based on false information and are urging the government to hire lobbying firms to counteract the campaign, which shows videos and images of monkeys being chained, mistreated and allegedly trained to harvest coconuts on Thai plantations. PETA’s campaign is leading to a decrease in consumer purchases and causing importers and traders in both the US and European markets to reduce purchases of Thai products, private sector sources say. Thai coconut milk producers and exporters say they do not use monkeys in harvesting or production. Newer coconut plantations use so-called ‘‘dwarf” coconut trees, which are shorter and do not need to be climbed to harvest coconuts. Thailand supplies about 80% of the coconut milk in the ...

Source: Nationthailand