Urge Bến En National Park board and ENV to reconsider their decision and prioritize the best interest of monkeys Kaka, Mit and Puka over bureaucratic decisions.

Your Excellencies President of Vietnam Mr. Luong Cuong, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chính, 

We, the undersigned, express our deep disappointment and concern regarding the trajectory of the story of the confiscated monkeys Kaka, Mit and Puka by ENV (Education for Nature Vietnam). Despite numerous attempts at negotiation and public appeals, ENV has remained not only unresponsive but dismissive towards the family of Kaka and the thousands of followers. 

Key Issues: 

- Irresponsiveness and Denial of Suffering: ENV has shown a blatant disregard for the suffering of Kaka and Mit post-confiscation. They have been confined in a substandard enclosure at the Center for Conservation, Development of Organisms and Environmental Services at Bến En National Park, displaying clear signs of distress. Kaka has exhibited in that cage a head-ticking habit, either due to the stress of her new inappropriate environment or to her excitement upon seeing her human family whom she misses so much. She has also lost weight due to her refusal to eat, indicating severe distress. Instead of recognizing the monkeys' suffering, ENV has coldly denied it and ignored the emotional pain of Kaka’s family and followers. 

- Restricting Access and Communication: Instead, Mr. Le Cong Cuong, the Director of Bến En National Park, pressured by a person named Shaz Cunningham (aka Shaz Daisy Torrance), has forbidden the family from filming the monkeys to ban the public from seeing the poor conditions of their center and the downfall of their decision to confiscate, and is menacing to stop the family visitations to their monkeys. The aforementioned person works for the Mafia of Siem Reap, being an informant for Song Mara, third in command of the said mafia. This criminal organization, dedicated to the abuse and exploitaition of monkeys, operates from Cambodia. Shaz has influence over several wildlife NGOs, and is now extending her influence over your country’s NGOs, such as ENV, and what is worse, over your officials, as Mr. Le Cong Cuong is doing all what this foreigner says, so encompassing the interests of the Cambodian criminal organization. ENV have also blocked profiles and deleted comments of those who advocated convincingly for Kaka and Mit’s return or pointed out the poor conditions of the centre, which works like a common zoo. ENV’s actions appear driven by ego and a desire to suppress criticism rather than concern for the monkeys' well-being. This is affecting negatively to the organization’s reputation which has been recognized as transparent and working properly in the past.
Inhumane Living Conditions: The center is essentially a zoo lacking funds to properly feed and care for the animals. Kaka, Mit and Puka have been left dehydrated and malnourished in a dirty cage, risking serious health issues. The conditions of their confinement do not contribute to any form of rehabilitation but rather inflict harm, stress, and punishment. 

- Unsuitability for Wilding (not rewilding because these monkeys never lived wild): Kaka and Mit have reached an age where wilding is no longer viable. Kaka is almost three years old, and her experiences and interactions with her loving comprehensive human family are deeply ingrained. Studies, such as the one published by Wildlife Alliance in 2019, indicated that hand-raised monkeys who have undergone rehabilitation couldn’t adapt to the wild and had to be recaptured. ENV has ignored the signs of Kaka’s strong bond with her human family and her inability to adapt to the wild, and forced the breakage of a strong love bond between her and her human family, which affects both sides. 

- Lack of Rehabilitation Efforts: In the same line, the centre isn’t making any efforts to properly rehabilitate Kaka, Mit and Puka to be ever able to live in the wild, as it is observed necessary for any animal intended to be released after having spent time humanized. Organizations such as the Wildlife Alliance, Wildlife Friends Foundation, RSPCA or the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council have highlighted the importance of a rehabilitation process before the release of animals.  The only line dedicated to animals in Bến En National Park’s Rehabilitation Program states “Feeding wild animals and release them back into the wild life”, which is clearly not enough to succeed in giving these monkeys any chance to survive in the wild once they are released. What is even worse, a worker in the wildlife conservation centre has been observed telling Kaka to walk on two legs and not on four legs as it is the natural way for monkeys to walk most of the time. Paradoxically, the former owner of Kaka is the only person who has been trying to make some rehabilitation efforts for the monkeys, such as putting them on tree branches in the park, to encourage them to climb as they would in the wild. 

- Lowered Life Quality: In their human home, Kaka and Mit were fulfilled, well-cared for and showed no signs of abuse or fear, but only love and playfulness. They were happier monkeys within their human family than they would be in the wild. Therefore, throwing them in the wild will cause them depression and harm and will force them into a lifestyle that not only they can’t handle but also don’t want to handle because it is lowering their life quality. They had access to regular forest visits, a proper installation on the roof where they could play as it suits them, and 24/7 attendance by family. While they were properly fed and protected in their loving home, they will be forced to suffer the climate changes, thunders and storms which they fear, struggle to find something to eat and be content with insects and some leaves which they won’t like as they were used to better. In contrast, the confiscation has caused Kaka to exhibit distress behaviors and lose weight. When Mit was bought by the family, she was almost immobile because of her previous storage in a cage, but the family encouraged her to move and use space and become free to express herself. ENV's decision to confiscate them has led to their emotional and physical deterioration. The wild environment poses significant dangers, such as climate changes, predators, and food scarcity, which will lower their quality of life compared to their previous home environment. 

Refutation of Haters’ Arguments:

Critics argue that Kaka and Mit should be confiscated because they wear clothes and diapers, which they label as abuse. However, these monkeys were comfortable and unbothered by wearing clothes and diapers, similar to how humans wear underwear and clothing. Freedom from wearing clothes and diaper remain much lighter than the weight of being tossed alone in a dangerous environment. Critics also claim that the training is abusive and that the monkeys are forced to walk on two legs. However, Kaka’s family never chose an abusive method for training, and Kaka and Mit were free to alternate at will between walking on two legs and walking on four legs. Critics also claim that monkeys belong in the wild, ignoring the fact that Kaka and Mit have been raised in a loving home and are no longer suited for the wild. We know that an animal doesn’t forcibly belong to a presumed place but to where their heart is, where they are thriving and happy. We agree with the proposed Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs for Zoo Animals developed by Zoo Design Inc, where the animal welfare needs are priorized from their most basic needs to their most full well-being, and understand while these animals where at home they have all those basic needs and many others fulfilled, while since their confiscation, not even all of the most basic needs are fulfilled. Additionally, although we acknowledge that keeping monkeys at home without a license is illegal in Vietnam, the monkeys shouldn’t receive the punishment: arguments about licensing and taxes have no bearing on the monkeys’ well-being and are driven by jealousy and a desire to punish the family rather than genuine concern for the animals. Please know that the family was ready to assume their responsibility towards the law to redeem their monkeys, they were willing to pay any fine amount and apply for a license, but they weren’t even allowed the opportunity. Critics also argue that confiscating Kaka and Mit would be a lesson that frightens abusers and prevent unlicensed pet owners who use monkeys for profit. This argument do not stand as abusers since the beginning take precautions against potential confiscation risks and hide well their identities. Moreover, Kaka’s family channel not only helped gather fans from all over the world but served as a model for caring, loving and appreciating animals’ life and setting a standard to recognize either abuse or fulfillment in monkeys through watching and comparing the body signs, and understanding monkeys needs. Kaka’s family gave a beautiful image about Vietnam richness and culture, while ENV behaved with rigidity and stubbornness. Critics also state that monkeys would become aggressive at sexual maturity. However, family is aware of monkeys needs and were responsive to all of her desires and needs. In such rare and perfectly exceptional life conditions, grown up monkeys are less likely to become dangerous or violent with their caretakers.

Positive aspects of ENV’s Work and Limitations:

We appreciate ENV's efforts when they confiscate caged, chained, or abused monkeys, which offers them a higher quality of life in the wild away from abuse. However, in Kaka and Mit’s case, the situation is different. Their human family provided them with exceptional care and higher life quality than the wild can offer, and their current conditions are far worse. Although we do not support monkeys at home, we have to admit that Kaka’s family would have fulfilled all the requirements for a license according to the French laws and deserve an opportunity to be granted one, for the sake of the monkeys. ENV would do better targeting illegal monkey poachers and sellers and abused monkeys but has to slow down before touching sub-adult monkeys to evaluate the pros and cons of their confiscation case by case.

Request for Action:

We kindly but firmly request the Vietnamese authorities to reconsider ENV’s decision. Kaka and Mit’s well-being should take precedence over bureaucratic decisions and public opinion. They belong with their human family, where they were happy and healthy. We will NOT rest about this injustice and inquire ENV to reconsider its decision and higher authorities to press on ENV, as ENV’s stubbornness and the influence of Shaz’s advice to restrict the filming and visitations, are negatively affecting ENV’s and Vietnam’s international reputation, transparency and professionalism. They had always been transparent about monkeys, but not anymore. It is not shameful to reconsider a decision, but it is shameful to remain stubborn towards injustice and lack of professionalism. 

Historical Context:

In a similar case with the Judy family in Cambodia, confiscated monkeys were returned to their owners after it became evident their conditions worsened upon confiscation. The authorities helped the family construct better installations for the monkeys, ensuring their well-being. We urge ENV to learn from this experience and act in the best interest of Kaka and Mit, before more damage is caused to these monkeys who already started looking like psychopath patients. This and other confiscations in Cambodia were totally ineffective against the exploitation and abuse of monkeys in the country. Since 2022, the confiscations of monkeys based on their popularity has made no impact on the exploitation and abuse of monkeys. Instead, the poaching of baby monkeys multiplied, the abusive channels increased and even monkey torture channels have appeared in Cambodia. This means confiscating monkeys based on their popularity instead of on the abuse they endure does not help reduce exploitation and abuse of monkeys. These confiscations were totally ineffective.  

Another relevant case is that of a monkey named Bibi, who was also confiscated by authorities in Vietnam due to the owner's expired license. Bibi was initially relocated to an animal sanctuary, where her health began to deteriorate significantly. Bibi was refusing to eat and drink and showed clear signs of distress and depression, longing to be reunited with his owner. The owner, who runs the popular YouTube channel "Animal's Home," worked tiressly to renew this license and eventually succeeded in getting Bibi back in February 2023. When Bibi was returned, she was in a very poor state, illustrating the severe emotional and physical weight that the forced separation from her family whom she loved, had taken on her.

Conclusion:

We kindly request that ENV prioritize the wellness of Kaka, Mit and Puka over ego and public opinion. We appeal to the Vietnamese President and Prime Minister to intervene and ensure a humane resolution to this issue. Should ENV continue to ignore our pleas, we will escalate our protests to involve international authorities. We all love Kaka, Mit and Puka and will not rest until justice is served, and they are returned to their human family, where their heart belongs. 

References: 

- The Reintroduction of Captive-born Pileated Gibbons (Hylobates pileatus) into the Angkor Protected Forest, Siem Reap, Cambodia: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333340003_The_Reintroduction_of_Captive-born_Pileated_Gibbons_Hylobates_pileatus_into_the_Angkor_Protected_Forest_Siem_Reap_Cambodia