Monkeys Isolated and Abused in the Thai Coconut Industry

Monkeys are super-social individuals who normally thrive in large groups—but in the Thai coconut industry, they’re isolated from one another and forced to work on coconut farms in miserable conditions. PETA Asia investigations have shown that endangered and vulnerable monkeys are torn away from everyone they know and put on chains at “training schools” without the food, water, shade, or companionship they need. 😨 Handlers intimidate and abuse them, forcing them to obey.

When their “training” is done, the monkeys are sold to coconut pickers. An employee at one farm investigators visited said that while the monkeys are climbing trees, they’re often bitten by ants and stung by hornets and that they sometimes get broken bones from falling or being yanked out of trees. 😰 These monkeys will be exploited until the day they die or are abandoned when they’ve been deemed too old, sick, or injured to work anymore.

Monkeys go through hell in the Thai coconut industry, but you can legit make a huge difference. Never buy coconut products made with monkey labor. 🙅 If you’re looking for canned coconut milk, choose one the brands listed below. (All of them, including the Thai brands, have been confirmed to avoid monkey labor.)

Note: This is an ever-evolving situation, so curious consumers should always check out our website (including this list, which will be updated) for the most up-to-date information.

Non-Thai Brands

• Cha’s Organics (ORGANIC)
• CocoGoods Co. (ORGANIC)
• Coco Lopez
• Delta Coco
• Essential
• Good & Gather (ORGANIC)
• Goya
• Jans
• Jiva Organics (ORGANIC)
• Let’s Do Organic® (ORGANIC)
• Lidl
• Maggi
• Native Forest Simple
• Natural Value (ORGANIC)
• Nature’s Charm
• Raley’s
• Roland
• Simple Coconut Cream (ORGANIC)
• Sun Harvest
• Trader Joe’s
• Vita Coco
• Wild Harvest (ORGANIC)

Thai Brands

• Chef’s Choice
• Food Club
• Food Lion
• Full Circle
• Geisha
• Hannaford
• Mike’s Organic
• MeritO
• Native Forest
• Nature’s Promise
• Orchids
• Palm Fruit
• PICS
• Signature SELECT
• Sprouts Farmers Market
• 365

Here’s another important action you can take: Please urge the Thai gov to put an end to this cruelty by shutting down “monkey-training schools” and making forced monkey labor illegal. 👏

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