The issue of animal cruelty, specifically towards monkeys, on the Facebook Platform is deeply personal to me. For more than two years now, Facebook has been hosting easily accessable videos and images depicting monkey Cruelty, Physical and Mental Abuse, Coprophilia,    Zoophilia, Torture and Snuff content.

These distressing contents are not only viewable within the UK but are also accessible globally - even to children and young people.

These groups and channels that host such disturbing content continue to operate without repercussions. This situation is unacceptable as it not only promotes animal cruelty but also exposes our young ones to such horrifying content.

According to a report by World Animal Protection in 2020, there has been a significant increase in wildlife exploitation on social media platforms including Facebook (World Animal Protection).

Monkeys are among the most exploited animals online due to their appeal as exotic pets or for entertainment purposes among the Facebook 'Pet Monkey' Channels and among the 'Monkey Hate Community' Torture Channels and Groups said to be for their likeness to human children and the monetary gain is also without doubt a major factor.

Facebook's Community Standards state that they "do not allow content that exploits or abuses animals" (Facebook Community Standards) however these standards seem ineffective when it comes to protecting monkeys from online abuse and our children and young people from seeing it.

As a concerned citizen, I am deeply disturbed by the content that is allowed to persist on platforms like Facebook, specifically, the Pet Monkey Channels and groups which feature videos and images of monkeys being cruelly treated, abused or even tortured. These channels and groups are not only showcasing such horrific acts but are also accessible to children worldwide, including within the UK.

The owners of these channels have been known to commit crimes against these innocent creatures. Yet despite this knowledge, their content remains online for all to see. This situation is unacceptable and needs immediate action.

According to World Animal Protection statistics, thousands of primates are traded illegally each year due in part to demand fueled by social media (source: World Animal Protection). The harm done extends beyond individual animals; it threatens entire species with extinction.

We call upon Facebook and other Social Media Platforms to remove this disturbing content and permanently ban for life the channel owners and those who have been involved in making the animal cruelty videos from using their Social Media Platforms.

We cannot allow our children's perception of animals be distorted by such gruesome displays of abuse and torture.

It's time for Mark Zuckerberg and his team at Facebook to take this issue seriously.

We urge Mark Zuckerberg, Managing Director of Facebook, to enforce stricter regulations against animal cruelty content on their platform – starting with removing all existing monkey abuse and torture content, videos and images and banning those who continue post them.

We must give voiceless creatures like monkeys a chance at dignity by ensuring they're not subjected further harm through Facebook and other online platforms.

A Final Word To Monkey Advocates and supporters.

Please continue to display this successful Petition across your social media accounts to help ensure it reaches those that can ensure the commitments made are upheld.

Over recent years, individual advocates, groups and organisations have worked tirelessly to remove Monkey-Hate and Monkey-Abuse content from Facebook. Hundreds of thousands of the horrific channels and videos have been reported and many removed, thanks to the persistence of dedicated individuals. Although significant progress has been made, there is still more for authorities and platforms to address.

Large organisations have successfully strengthened online animal-cruelty laws. With these new protections now in force, it is time for Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook to fully honour their responsibility: to remove all monkey-cruelty content, enforce bans on those continuing to create or upload such material, and work with relevant authorities to prevent further abuse.

Many abusive channels are now attempting to disguise themselves by posting seemingly caring content. However, advocates have documented past offences, and relevant authorities already hold some of this evidence. If you have saved images or videos showing abuse or identifying perpetrators, please submit it to the relevent authorities however it is vital to contact your local police or appropriate wildlife authorities before sending any material, and follow their guidance. Once submitted, delete the content from your devices.

It is no longer necessary for individual advocates to store extreme content. Engaging with abusive channels only boosts their visibility; instead, ignore and report them without opening.

Support reputable organisations such as Monkey World UK, The Vervet Monkey Foundation, Lady Freethinker, Action for Primates, and SMACC, and follow legitimate educational programmes like Monkey Life.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this important work and continues to support efforts to protect monkeys from cruelty online.

VICTORY!

Thank you to Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook and World Animal Protection for their decision to uphold the Petition. Please now take action to remove all visible and all hidden Monkey Cruelty content on the Facebook Platform.