Home Office figures for imported young primates

Derby North MP Chris Williamson asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for details of young primates imported into the UK for laboratory use.

He requested totals and species for those animals categorised as captive born (F1) and captive bred (F2+) in the latest official figures. He also asked for their countries of origin.

In written replies, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Lynne Featherstone said that current information submitted to the Home Office provides evidence that the animals have been born in captivity but does not record which generation they are.

Using other sources she gave an estimate that 1,256 F1 and 674 F2+ youngsters were registered in the latest figures. The species were Rhesus macaque and Cynomolgus macaque.

The source countries were China, Mauritius, Netherlands and Vietnam.

More details can be found here.

Archived May 3 2011