§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many primates imported into the UK for research purposes in the last five years from(a) China, (b) Mauritius, (c) Indonesia, (d) the Philippines and (e) other countries were (i) dead on arrival at the UK and (ii) suffered serious injury during transit, broken down (1) by the species of primate, (2) the place where the death or injury was discovered, (3) the cause of the death or injury and (4) in the case of injury, disposal of the primate. [86102]
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§ Mr. George HowarthRecords made available to the Home Office show that during the last five years, 11 deaths have occurred in consignments of non-human primates arriving in the United Kingdom for use in regulated procedures in this country. One further animal is recorded as having sustained serious injury, necessitating euthanasia on arrival. The details are as follows:
China
In 1994, two cynomolgus macaques were found to be dead on arrival in Paris. There was no obvious cause of death.In 1995, one rhesus macaque was found to be dead on arrival in the United Kingdom. The cause of death was probably associated with pneumonia.Mauritius
In 1995, one cynomolgus macaque was found to be dead on arrival in the United Kingdom. The cause of death was believed to be enteritis.In 1996, one cynomolgus macaque was found to be dead on arrival in the United Kingdom. The cause of death Was believed to be shighellosis.In 1997, one cynomolgus macaque was found to be traumatised on arrival in the United Kingdom, possibly as a result of being pair-housed during transport. It was humanely killed and all primates are now individually housed during transport.Indonesia
No reports of deaths or injury in transit received.Philippines
In 1994, one cynomolgus macaque was found to be dead on arrival in the United Kingdom. The cause of death was believed to be enteritis.In 1997, one cynomolgus macaque was found to be dead on arrival in the United Kingdom. The cause of death was probably a trauma to the head.In 1998, three cynomolgus macaques were found to be dead on arrival in Paris. The causes of death were not ascertained, but it is believed that they were probably due to a combination of factors:
- (i) the animals concerned were larger than normal;
- (ii) although International Air Transport Association minimum dimensions were not breached, the containers were not large enough to allow these particular animals to stand up and turn around freely; and
- (iii) all the dead animals had been in central compartments, which were less well ventilated.
Whilst enforcement of European Union rules on the protection of animals in transport would have been for the French authorities in this case, we ensured that the containers were enlarged and redesigned to rectify these problems.Israel
In 1998, one cynomolgus macaque was found to be dead on arrival in the United Kingdom. There was no obvious cause of death.