Tell Costa Coffee to stop exploiting monkeys!
- by: Wild Futures
- recipient: Costa Coffee / The Whitbread Group; Jim Slater, John Derkach, Alan Parker, Anthony Habgood
We, the undersigned, ask Costa Coffee and the Whitbread Group to pull its "Monkeys and Typewriters" advertising campaign and make a public pledge not to use wild animals as "actors" in any future productions. Until this happens, we will boycott Costa Coffee.
Primates are intelligent, complex animals, deserving of dignity and respect.
To be used as perfomers, primates are often permanently removed from their mothers long before weaning age - which is not only acutely distressing to both mother and infant, but which is known to hinder normal brain development, and can result in psychological and physiological abnormalities and lasting behavioural difficulties.
Performing primates can be subject to hours confined in traveling crates en route to and from the brightly lit and potentially frightening studio. A number of scientific papers indicate that transport is highly stressful to primates and should be avoided wherever possible.
Nearly fifty percent of primate species are threatened with extinction in the wild. The use of primates as entertainers in film and television exacerbates public misconceptions about their being pliable, fun and pet-like, and often leads to an increased demand for pet monkeys, which negatively affects both the welfare of individual monkeys and conservation efforts in primate habitat areas.
Respected professional societies such as the International Primatological Society oppose the use of primate "actors" in the media.
For all of the above reasons, it should be clear that Costa's use of sixteen primate "actors" in the new advertising campaign is irresponsible and damaging. To pull the advertisement, and pledge not to make the same mistake in the future would demonstrate genuine concern and respect for wildlife conservation and animal welfare. To ignore public outcry about the issue would also send a clear message to concerned consumers, albeit not one that would work well in Costa's favour.
Primates are intelligent, complex animals, deserving of dignity and respect.
To be used as perfomers, primates are often permanently removed from their mothers long before weaning age - which is not only acutely distressing to both mother and infant, but which is known to hinder normal brain development, and can result in psychological and physiological abnormalities and lasting behavioural difficulties.
Performing primates can be subject to hours confined in traveling crates en route to and from the brightly lit and potentially frightening studio. A number of scientific papers indicate that transport is highly stressful to primates and should be avoided wherever possible.
Nearly fifty percent of primate species are threatened with extinction in the wild. The use of primates as entertainers in film and television exacerbates public misconceptions about their being pliable, fun and pet-like, and often leads to an increased demand for pet monkeys, which negatively affects both the welfare of individual monkeys and conservation efforts in primate habitat areas.
Respected professional societies such as the International Primatological Society oppose the use of primate "actors" in the media.
For all of the above reasons, it should be clear that Costa's use of sixteen primate "actors" in the new advertising campaign is irresponsible and damaging. To pull the advertisement, and pledge not to make the same mistake in the future would demonstrate genuine concern and respect for wildlife conservation and animal welfare. To ignore public outcry about the issue would also send a clear message to concerned consumers, albeit not one that would work well in Costa's favour.
Since the release of your "Monkeys and Typewriters" advertising campaign, you have been inundated with complaints from organisations and individuals who are concerned about the exploitation of the sixteen primates that were used as "actors" in the production. A group of animal welfare organisations, including two that specialise in primate welfare, expressed very specific concerns about how the use of primates in this way may be in violation of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. No reply has been forthcoming to this letter, and the generic response sent to individuals who expressed concern totally fails to address any of these concerns.
Despite all the complaints, in a 11 October Marketing Week article, marketing director Jim Slater stated that response to the piece had been "fantastic". We believe that it is time to take responsibility for the mistake that your company has made in choosing to use primates as performers, by pulling the advertisement, addressing all of the concerns which have been raised about the issue, and pledging that you will not make the same mistake again. We very much look forward to your doing so!
Sign PetitionSign PetitionDespite all the complaints, in a 11 October Marketing Week article, marketing director Jim Slater stated that response to the piece had been "fantastic". We believe that it is time to take responsibility for the mistake that your company has made in choosing to use primates as performers, by pulling the advertisement, addressing all of the concerns which have been raised about the issue, and pledging that you will not make the same mistake again. We very much look forward to your doing so!
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