Malaysia lifts ban on monkey trading

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysia on Friday said it has lifted a 23-year ban on the export of long-tailed macaques because their population has grown to be an urban nuisance.

Natural resources and environment minister Azmi Khalid said only monkeys in urban areas could be caught and exported.

"The cabinet has decided to lift the ban which was imposed in 1984 on the capture and export of this type of monkeys," Azmi told a news conference.

"This is because we want to reduce the number of long-tailed monkeys in urban areas," adding that they often "create havoc" there and attack people and steal food.

The lifting of the ban however is only in mainland Malaysia and does not cover Sabah and Sarawak, he said.

Azmi said a study by his office found there...