The show consisted of trainers who forced macaques to re-enact an execution scene in front of an audience. The animals wore costumes and metal muzzles, they were tied with rope. An actor then pretended to shoot the monkeys with a fake weapon. During the performance, the animals had to fall to the ground while visitors watched. Among the audience were also children. According to the tourist venue, the show was performed by an outside entertainment group. After many complaints, the attraction decided to terminate the contract. The show has now been completely canceled.

Macaques are intelligent and social apes. In the wild, they live in groups with strong social ties. In entertainment shows, the opposite often happens. There, macaques are forced to behave unnaturally. Training is regularly accompanied by violence and coercion. Trainers hit or kick animals when they don't obey. Or they decide not to feed the animals. In this way, they try to keep macaques under control.Serious suffering for macaques

When the animals are not performing, they are often locked up in small cages. Contact with other species is regularly lacking. For social animals such as macaques, this causes a lot of stress. Long-term confinement can lead to health problems and severe psychological trauma.

Global exploitation of macaques

The execution show is not an isolated one. All over the world, macaques are used for tourist attractions and street shows. Often these are young animals. They are easier to manipulate and 'train'.
Macaques are also widely exploited on social media. Videos in which monkeys are abused regularly go viral. In some videos, young macaques are beaten, strangled or almost drowned for online attention.

Social media often contributes to the spread of content that shows violence against animals. Through likes, views and comments, these types of videos continue to circulate.

Report animal cruelty online

Although the cessation of this execution show is positive, the exploitation of macaques continues worldwide. Animal protectors are therefore calling for stricter rules against the use of wild animals in entertainment.

Internet users can also help. Do you see videos online that mistreat macaques or other animals? Then report it to the Social Media Animal Cruelty coalition (SMAC) via their report page. You can also report the content directly on the social media platform itself.

Stop of execution show and other violence

Macaques are wild animals. They don't belong in shows or in violent videos. Their place is in the wild. There they can live as they should: freely, in their own habitat.

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©AnimalsToday.nl Savannah Drenth