— have vowed to rescue 30 young village in Indonesia, where they've been kept since they were just eight months old and subjected to the According to the World Animal Protection organisation, the baby monkeys "watched their mothers get shot" before being "grabbed by their own tails and thrown into sacks by poachers" and carried away to Cirebon, in northwest Java. There, they've been forced to perform dance routines — known as Topeng Monyet — in human clothing for tourists and "starved, hanged, beaten and chained by the neck" if they don't submit. The babies are often made to wear masks, dress as dolls and forced to stand on two legs for hours on end.
They must perform dance steps and even ride bicycles — all for the shoppers and tourists on the streets. When they're not performing, they're kept in tiny cages. Sickeningly, wildlife advocates say, none of this is illegal in the country, which is known for its inadequate laws at best.
Yahoo News Australia understands the rescue mission, due to take place in the coming months, and will involve the voluntary surrendering of the animals in collaboration with the local authorities and the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN). Their captors are set to be "supported" in finding new, cruelty-free employment, so "the venue can be completely shut down". In exchange, they'll have to sign a contract that binds them to not restart their practice.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Ben Pearson, Director at World Animal Protection Austral.