An investigation has been launched into the shipment of research monkeys by Charles River Laboratories to Canada. A charter company working for Charles River Laboratories was fined by Canadian authorities for improperly shipping long-tailed macaques into the country. The flights have now prompted a probe by officials who oversee an international treaty governing endangered species.
Earlier this month, the Canadian Transportation Agency fined SkyTaxi 7,500 Canadian dollars for lacking permits to transport the primates on three flights originating from Cambodia between April and August. The paperwork was an issue for the last flight, but the plane was able to proceed to Canada after a stopover in Tbilisi, Georgia, where a Charles River executive intervened with a local cargo company. An animal-rights activist and an airport official discussed this in an email exchange. The cargo company did not respond to questions, but an airport spokeswoman confirmed the sequence of events.
The episode has now caught the attention of officials who oversee the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a treaty for protecting endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade. All airline shipments of species governed by the treaty must comply with International Air Transportation Association regulations.
This incident raises concerns about the transportation of research animals and the importance of following regulations to protect endangered species. The involvement of CITES highlights the significance of international treaties in safeguarding animals from the risks of cross-border trade. It also sheds light on the complexities of transporting animals for research purposes, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to legal requirements.
Ed Silverman, a senior writer and Pharmalot columnist at STAT, has been covering the pharmaceutical industry for nearly three decades. His expertise in the field provides valuable insights into the implications of this investigation and the broader context of animal research in the pharmaceutical sector. His extensive experience allows for a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and ethical considerations involved in the transportation of research animals.
