Indonesia has resumed plans to export long-tailed macaques for use in research and testing, putting thousands of these intelligent, social animals at risk of capture, confinement, transport, and painful experimentation.

 

PETITION TARGET: Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation Satyawan Pudyatmoko, and Director of Species and Genetic Conservation Ahmad Munawir

Indonesia has resumed plans to export long-tailed macaques for use in research and testing, putting thousands of these intelligent, social animals at risk of capture, confinement, transport, and painful experimentation.

Macques being taken from the wild

In 2026, Indonesia submitted a CITES export quota for 1,928 long-tailed macaques — the first such quota since 2022.

A new macaque breeding and holding facility has also been established in Mesuji, Lampung. Operated by PT Biomedika Nusantara Indah, the facility can hold around 4,000 macaques and already houses hundreds of animals.

Wild macaques from areas described as experiencing human–macaque conflict are being used as founder animals for breeding. Residents are also reportedly being offered money for macaques handed over to the company.

This risks creating a financial incentive for wild macaques to be removed from their natural habitats.

Previous investigations in Indonesia have exposed the severe cruelty involved in capturing wild macaques. Footage has documented animals being beaten, dragged and violently restrained, dominant males being killed, and nursing infants being torn from their mothers.

For the animals who survive capture, the suffering may only be beginning.

Long-tailed macaques are widely used in toxicity testing and other experiments that can involve repeated restraint, forced administration of drugs or chemicals, invasive procedures, infection studies, and other tests that cause fear, pain, distress, and death.

The long-tailed macaque is classified globally as Endangered by the IUCN, with populations decreasing. Yet the species remains unprotected under Indonesian national law and continues to be exploited for commercial purposes.

Human–macaque conflict must not be used as an excuse to capture animals for the international laboratory trade.

Conflict is often driven by habitat loss, development, agricultural expansion, poor waste management, and human feeding. Removing macaques does not address these underlying causes. Humane, evidence-based coexistence measures are needed instead.

The renewed export trade is also moving in the wrong direction scientifically. There is growing awareness of the unreliability of using animals in research and testing, and increased scrutiny from regulators and governments worldwide.

The United States, EU, and the U.K. are now actively developing strategies to transition away from animal testing and accelerate the adoption of non-animal alternatives, such as in vitro systems, organ-on-chips, and AI modeling.

Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Action for Primates, and Lady Freethinker are calling on the Indonesian Government to protect long-tailed macaques rather than allow them to be captured and supplied to overseas laboratories.

Please urge Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry and relevant authorities to:

• Immediately suspend the export of long-tailed macaques for biomedical research

• End the capture of wild macaques for commercial breeding and export

• Strengthen legal protection for long-tailed macaques in Indonesia

• Replace capture-based responses to human–macaque conflict with humane, evidence-based coexistence measures

• Support modern, non-animal research approaches rather than expanding the supply of primates for laboratory experiments

Indonesia’s long-tailed macaques are part of the country’s natural heritage. They should be protected in the wild — not treated as commodities for the global laboratory trade.

Please sign this petition and urge the Indonesian Government to protect long-tailed macaques from capture and export for research and testing.

PETITION

https://ladyfreethinker.org/sign-protect-indonesias-long-tailed-macaques-from-cruel-laboratory-export/

'Scrolling Through Cruelty' reveals thousands of horrific videos circulating on social media platforms where animals are tortured and killed in 2025 ( 1 billion+ views)

 

Philadelphia Man Sentenced to Prison for Participating in Disturbing Online Monkey Torture Network

This monster Monkey Koki is still active on Facebook

A man from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 38 months in prison and three years of supervised release for participating in online groups that created and shared videos of monkeys being tortured, mutilated, and sexually abused, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

Robert Berndt pleaded guilty in May to conspiring to create and distribute these horrific “animal crush videos.”

Court documents state that Berndt conspired with others to use encrypted messaging platforms to send money to people in Indonesia who carried out the specific torture requests against baby and adult monkeys on camera.

 https://ladyfreethinker.org/

https://actionforprimates.org/index.php

In 2021, Lady Freethinker and Action for Primates exposed the hidden online network dedicated to the abuse of baby monkeys after uncovering a private group that paid for custom torture videos. Findings from our investigations were shared with law enforcement agencies worldwide and also contributed to the BBC documentary “The Monkey Haters.”

Since that time, numerous individuals involved with these groups have been charged and convicted.

The cruelty inflicted on these defenseless monkeys is both devastating and unacceptable. Although Berndt’s sentence is an important step, dismantling these networks will require continued scrutiny, enforcement, and public pressure. Lady Freethinker remains committed to exposing this abuse and pushing for justice until all animals are free from exploitation.

https://ladyfreethinker.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Scrolling-Through-Cruelty-A-Report-by-Lady-Freethinker.pdf  Cruelty Report 

A new report compiled by investigators at Lady Freethinker, Scrolling Through Cruelty, reveals thousands of disturbing videos circulating openly on major social media platforms, where animals are tortured and killed, forced into staged rescues, pitted against one another in fights, and even sexually abused — all for views, clicks, and profit.

Collectively, these videos racked up an astonishing 1 billion+ views.

Baby monkey trapped in jug in social media video

The most common animal cruelty content documented was monkey torture, animal fighting, and fake rescues, where animals are deliberately put into dangerous situations so perpetrators can film dramatic “rescues.”

Some videos showed dogs, cats, snakes, roosters, and other animals forced into fights, while others displayed puppies, kittens, and chickens being crushed, burned, or subjected to sexual violence.

Researchers also found extensive evidence of viewers of this content being funneled from social media platforms to encrypted messaging apps like Telegram, where longer and even more horrifying videos are shared, sold, and requested by paying customers.

Cat tormented in social media video

The Scope of the Problem

Between May 1 and June 30, 2025, LFT investigators identified 2,341 links to animal cruelty content across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). Of those, 1,744 were still active at the time of analysis.

Facebook was by far the worst offender, hosting more than three-quarters of the videos, with TikTok, YouTube, X, and Instagram each hosting smaller but still significant shares. Nearly all of the monkey torture content identified (95%) was found on Facebook.

Why It Matters

These videos depict unimaginable suffering for innocent animals who are beaten, starved, abused, and killed in the name of entertainment. The platforms also incentivize the creation of these videos by allowing creators to profit, promote, and grow their profiles through posting viral clips.

Additionally, this content causes harm to people — especially children — who are exposed to cruelty disguised as humor, “cute” videos, or even education. Researchers warn that this exposure can desensitize viewers, normalize violence, and encourage copycat abuse.

Snake attacking cat in social media video

Platforms Failing to Protect Animals

Despite having policies against showing animal abuse on their platforms, social media companies are failing to enforce them effectively. LFT’s team never ran out of new cruelty content to document — new content was uploaded daily — and reporting rarely resulted in its removal.

What Needs to Change

• Social media companies have to adopt clearer and stronger bans on animal-cruelty content, and proactively prevent, regulate, and remove it.
• Lawmakers need to pass stronger laws to criminalize the creation and sharing of this content to protect children and vulnerable users.
• The public must report this content to platforms, authorities, and to Lady Freethinker’s e-tipline: reportposts@ladyfreethinker.org.

Cow pushed into river in social media video

Take Action

No animal should be tortured, staged in a fake rescue, or killed for clicks. Join us in calling on social media platforms and lawmakers to crack down on this horrific abuse.

Please sign our petition to demand that Facebook take urgent action to remove and prevent the spread of animal cruelty content.

We also encourage you to read and share our full report as widely as possible, including with local and federal lawmakers.

 By Evan Shamoon |  2025

Lady Freethinker and ‘The Bachelorette’ Star Blake Moynes Expose Rampant Animal Cruelty in Thai Zoos ( PETITION )

https://ladyfreethinker.org/category/speakout-petitions

LFT Investigation/Blake Moynes & Scott Bradley of SOSA

PETITION TARGET: Thai Authorities

Tigers pulled by their tails, elephants struck with bullhooks, and crocodiles with handlers’ fists jammed down their throats: these are the cruelties Lady Freethinker recently uncovered when investigators visited five wildlife facilities in Thailand that use animals to entertain and interact with tourists.

Across the parks, lions, tigers, elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, and other animals were confined in barren cages — some isolated and others crammed together — suffering from insufficient nutrition, visible stress, and constant abuse.

LFT Investigation/Blake Moynes & Scott Bradley of SOSA

LFT Investigation/Blake Moynes & Scott Bradley of SOSA

Tigers were found on chains so short they couldn’t even stand upright, while lion cubs were dragged by their tails and struck so tourists could pose with them. A white tiger chained for photos appeared exhausted and was constantly sleeping. Another tiger flinched and retreated when a man lifted his hand in a threatening gesture. Big cats at these facilities were noticeably underweight, some with visible wounds.

Elephants were kept on chains so restrictive that they could only shuffle miserably in tiny circles, and were forced to give rides and perform in endless shows — all under the constant threat of bullhooks.

LFT Investigation/Blake Moynes & Scott Bradley of SOSA

Orangutans were forced into costumes, paraded before crowds, and degraded in humiliating performances. A distressed hyena was spotted pacing back and forth in her enclosure, consistently returning to an adjacent separate pen where her young were kept.

Crocodiles were seen piled on top of each other in their tiny enclosures, yanked by their tails, struck with sticks, and forced to endure handlers shoving their fists, heads, or cash from tourists into their mouths. At one facility, crocodile heads, purses, belts, and keychains made from their feet were openly sold — an on-site restaurant even served dishes made with crocodile meat.

LFT Investigation/Blake Moynes & Scott Bradley of SOSA

Disturbingly, children on school trips were often brought to these facilities, normalizing animal cruelty and exploitation for the next generation.

These innocent animals are denied every natural instinct and forced into submission through violence and fear — all for fleeting tourist entertainment. Their dignity, autonomy, and lives are destroyed so visitors can take selfies, watch shows, or buy trinkets made from their body parts.

Thailand’s leaders must act now to end this cruelty.

Sign our petition urging Thai authorities to ban cruel exotic animal selfies and performances at wildlife facilities in their country, and protect animals from being abused and exploited to amuse tourists.