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Monkey business

58 Comments

A monkey performs in front of children during a street performance in Tokyo.

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Zichi - I see these shows every once in a while here in Japan, and monkeys that flinch every time their trainers come close to them is a sign of the beatings they get during training.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

OK dogs catching frisbies, jumping through hoops, etc.. I can handle. Humans and dogs have a long history of mutual acceptance and co-operation, but when I see a monkey with a chain around it's neck in a shopping centre - it does make me think that people have encroached too far into places and relationships that don't need. As zichi says I am sure the front row are lovin' it, but the ability to see a chimp clap its hands or look embarrassed, doesn't even come close to seeing them in their wild habitat. This man monkey relationship is best kept at a distance.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

We only see the finished amusing, polished final monkey presentation. I shudder to think how they got the monkey to that stage, denying it everything that comes from instinct. Monkey rights and peace!!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The vest is great, if you like that sort of thing. I don't base my ethics on what is cute. Yeah, I've eaten meat before, but now I am a vegetarian. I try to make informed decisions. Whether a monkey, cow, or otherwise, unnecessary suffering is not something I support.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Even so, the monkey would be, as intended, free to employ its natural instincts in its natural environment. It's not for me to question the natural habitat of the monkey. Never really liked this, or circus animals. Looking after, and respecting the environment is one, not all of course, part of responsible living.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The vest can stay, if the monkey owner wears it, and allows the monkey to call the shots.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

God I thought this kind of thing was left behind in the last century... poor monkey.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

^^^ and rightly so!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Daijoboots

Point taken of course. I don't live in a tree house made from recycled wood. However, I don't think I interfere with monkeys living where I am. My circumstances preclude my complete commune with nature, but this kind of treatment abhors me.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

That's it Junior, just like we rehearsed. You much down those 5 kilos of soft vegetables..that's it..run around for half an hour or so..then when the "owner" demands the grandstand handstand, make sure that flap in the back of your shorts is well open and facing the owner, then push those muscles for all you're worth. See how the owner likes feeling s**t for a change. Go Junior!!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Kwatt How much do you know about the electric collar that is there to shock the primate to pay attention? The bandanas and clothes are to cover up electric shock devices. "Don't taze me bro" is what Junior and his entertainer comrades who are working to avoid torture. I bet you have never seen a monkey perform in a crowd without a collar!

Jane Goodall knows more about this than anyone so I would suggest you check out her institute home page.

here is another article about the indonesian Govt trying to stop the trade. http://www.petside.com/article/dancing-monkeys-entertainment-or-abuse

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I think I saw this monkey show in Zoujou-ji back in January. One has to wonder where is the line between calling something a "show" or "animal abuse"...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's all fun and games until the flying monkeys attack.....

1 ( +1 / -0 )

stephen jez:

Wouldn't it be much more educational for the children to see the monkey in a zoo maybe?

I take it you have never been to a zoo in Japan. If you have, you'd realize that half the monkeys there seem brain-dead. This and the way monkeys are treated are absolutely disgusting and disgraceful. I once saw one of these so-called monkey trainers stop in a street with her monkey and set up a show. Children don't know any better, but most adults here are clueless. I avoid animal circuses and pet stores at all costs too.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

kwatt - Not true. Monkey live in little cage. Not eat same food with human. Human beat monkey regularly. Monkey not likey. Monkey sad.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

For trainer in Japan, monkey is a business partner making some money on streets for their life. He must take care of the monkey as human.

@kwatt - I have never seen monkey show in any other country and think they are illegal in Canada, at least. For Japanese trainer, monkey is a tool to make money for the trainer only. Monkey doesn't like to wear clothes and live in small cage. Japanese trainers regularly beat monkey if monkey not perform right. Monkey very sad.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@kwatt - forgot to say, when documentary camera is on trainer, trainer very kind to monkey, say nice things about monkey. When camera is off and trainer alone with monkey, trainer not nice to monkey. Trainer keep monkey in small cage and feed old bananas. Monkey very sad, you see.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@kwatt - I said before, Canadians very nice to all monkies. Therefore, monkey show illegal. I think Japanese people very bad because they allow terrible monkey shows and Japanese trainers beat monkey. I see fear in monkey's eyes when looking at mean Japanese trainer. Why does Japan allow this? I'm sad. Sad just like Japanese monkey..

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@kwatt - In Canada proud history, no monkey show. Canadians understand cruelty to force monkey to perform. Very unnatural and scary for poor monkey. Japanese trainers very cruel to monkey and beat monkey and make monkey eat old bananas. Japan has long history of cruelty to poor, unsuspecting monkey. Why? I think better for japanese people to let monkey go and not brutally beat monkey anymore.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Poor thing doesn't look very happy.

What are you on about? I'd kill for that vest.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

I use it because I do not know it's gender. If there was a name in the article, hey maybe I'd use that. It's better to die upon your feet than to live upon your knees - maybe we could extend this quote to monkeys.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The monkey's name is Junior.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

sorry munch down

0 ( +0 / -0 )

We all have to work for a living. Monkeys, dogs, men ... and some women. Pets and women seem to be much smarter than most men since they've figured out how to avoid having a terrible job they must do 40+ hours a week.

I'd ask, "Are office workers as well off as that monkey?"

I believe the answer is open to debate.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I've seen this sometimes in the local market and the monkey was really working the crowd and enjoying every moment it was getting the attention.

That's what it's trained to do, and if it doesn't I'm sure it gets beaten behind closed doors. First chance it gets and it'll be off as fast as that penguin and Tama chan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Human and monkey live in same room every day. They sleep on bed or futon together and eat food together in same room every day.

That's really dangerous. Monkeys carry viruses that can transfer to humans and morph into very dangerous viruses. HIV, for example, came from monkeys.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

still there?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@spudman

I'm just talking about ordinary monkey performance family in Japan. I do know animal abuses happening in other countries. In Japan street performance trainer usually has one monkey. Never more than two. Monkey and trainer live in same room as if they are father and son or brothers. They eat food together and take a bath together and sleep together. This is refering in Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@hoserfella

I have seen TV documentary programs on some Monkey street performance families and their everyday life. I understand something you say. There are all kinds of people, some good and some bad. Trainer and monkey live together and never put it in cage at home. Because no need of leash or cage at home but different outside. Maybe you would have seen really bad trainers in some countries. For trainer in Japan, monkey is a business partner making some money on streets for their life. He must take care of the monkey as human.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Not true. Monkey live in little cage. Not eat same food with human. Human beat monkey regularly. Monkey not likey. Monkey sad.

Maybe in your country people do this really bad! You must be sad people! In some countries people treat monkey good like brother or sister. Some trainers in Japan, but not all, made savings account for partners because the monkey is making money for him. But recently Banks do not allow it any more because of law changed.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@hoserfell

Frist of all, Wtatever you say about Canada things, Japan is not a part of Canada. Right! I understand you people treat monkey really bad. Japan has a long good history of monkey performance for hundreds of years. That is why.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@horserfella

If you say Japanese trainers treat monkey bad or beat monkey, show me concrete Evidence. It seems that you are just bluffing!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@kwatt - I only have to see the sad, fearful eyes of the monkey and Japanese trainer's attitude around monkey to know that there are monkey beatings. Please show me proof that it doesn't happen

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@hoserfella

Monkeys face usually does not show its emotion. The face is not sad at all. That is naturally normal. I can't see any bruise, injury, even scratch on the face, legs, arms, chest, back on whole body. He seems to be very health and a very clean monkey to me. The monkey does not seem to be beaten at all. This is an evidence.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@kwatt - please explain why the monkey flinches in terror at the Japanese trainer. It's because of beatings that don't show up on fur. This is clear evidence. Poor monkey..

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@hoserfella

I think you are thinking too much or suspecting too much about it. My a little cat flinches all the time when I touch her. I don't beat her at all. It is a nature to reflect. I always love her. All monkeys, even tamed ones, flinch when human gets close to. That is a nature. Not scared at all. You had better accept my evidence, you would be feeling much better ever and having a good sleep ever.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Kwatt explain the collar on the monkey in public if the monkey is happy to perform. Have you ever seen a monkey walk on two legs in nature?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@spudman

I wonder what is wrong with collar? Cats, dogs, small pigs, small alligators,,,etc have a collar. Collars are very fashionable recently. In many countries some owners put nice clothes like T-shirt, vest, pants on pets. Monkey has a higher ability to able to walk on 2 legs like human. It is all right for monkey to walk on 2 legs for very short time, Not all day long. People enjoy to see monkey walk on 2 legs around. That is called "monkey street performance", isn't it?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If these monkeys are the same ones I saw in Landmark Tower a few year ago, then the rope is not attached to a collar at all, but is attached to a steel circular ring that is actually inserted into their head, presumably by pinching the skin of the back of the skull and making a hole in it, through which the steel ring is passed.

It was a truly disgusting sight, but I can't see if this monkey has suffered in the same way.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Monkey see , Monkey do !

0 ( +0 / -0 )

it does make me think that people have encroached too far into places

I see. And where do you live? Where do your family and friends live? Anyone else you know living in a place that has "encroached too far"?

Don't take a step back now. Be at one with the animal kingdom.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

lets say 3 cheers for the monkeys they deserve it

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Wouldn't it be much more educational for the children to see the monkey in a zoo maybe? I'm not talking the crazy house like the zoo in Okinawa.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Junior somehow reminds me of Eddie Munster.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Aww that monkey is really cute. I want to go see it now!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Jefflee

Don't worry about it. Monkey grow up since baby in human house. Monkey has regular medicine like vaccine. Human and monkey are a kinda same biologically. Monkey easily gets a cold and a diarrhea or something. Trainer takes much care of the monkey as human.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

unnecessary suffering is not something I support

Alright we could change the cut of the vest, but other than that, this friggin monkey would have bigger problems in the wild. And moreso of a life-and-death nature, rather than some apparent unpleasantry that could call for one or two kleenex, but no more.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

as intended, free to employ its natural instincts in its natural environment

Be happy that it will live a longer life in the vest and make people happy. Boo hoo that it (I, as you, use the word it) has to wear a vest that could have used a bit more colour.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I know something about this. When they go home after street performance, they don't put chain or leash around the neck any more at home. Human and monkey live in same room every day. They sleep on bed or futon together and eat food together in same room every day. Life seems like father and son. The monkey learns something from the everyday's life while the human is training the monkey every day.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

More animal abuse.... Animals are not plays things for shallow people's entertainment...

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Poor thing doesn't look very happy.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

this kind of treatment

You don't like the vest I take it.

However, I don't think I interfere with monkeys living where I am

Have you interfered with any other animals in your life? In the kind of putting in your mouth and eating kind of way?

These monkeys are very cute aren't they. Cue outrage.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The way all animals are treated in Japan is downright vulgar, from dogs and cats tortured in 24 hour pet shops to monkeys beaten to perform for profit to whales and dolphins slaughtered for "tradition". All this in a so called Buddhist country in the 21st century.

For shame Japan. For shame.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Odaiba

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

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