While traveling in St. Kitts, I witnessed a heartbreaking sight—infant vervet monkeys exploited for the sake of tourist photo opportunities. Young monkeys were callously tossed at passersby, hundreds of people every day. All day these babies were forced to endure the unforgiving sun with no access to shade or water, and are forced to wear clothing adding to the heat. I observed some of the younger babies trembling, frozen in fear, and one attempting to bite a child in response to the handler pushing the animal onto the her in a very rough manner.

These monkeys deserve to grow up with their mothers, not as props used for photo opportunities. Whilst this also happens in many other regions, St Kitts vervet monkey population is over 60,000 (more monkeys than humans). If tourists took a small amount of time to look around the island, they would still see these beautiful animals but in a way that dignifies them. We do not have the right to hold or touch every animal we encounter. 

What happens to these animals when they get too old to be paraded around the busy streets?

 According to the World Animal Protection organisation, as many as 550,000 wild animals are suffering for travel entertainment worldwide. It's time to raise our voices to demand responsible tourism which respects wildlife and natural habitats. 
We call on local tourism boards, travel operators, and government authorities to Implement educational campaigns which inform tourists about the impact of these activities on the animal and to promote alternative, cruelty-free ways to interact with wildlife. We call on the public to educate their friends and family about the abuse behind these photos.

We hope that with enough supporters we will pressure these governments to enforce regulations that ban the exploitation of all wildlife for human amusement.

Join us in advocating for the welfare of these remarkable creatures. Sign this petition to take a stand against their exploitation and to help secure a safer, more humane world for all