'Very few' animals used to harvest coconuts, contrary to Peta claimNirun Wongwanich, 52, trains a monkey to pick coconuts in Surat Thani. (Reuters Photo)A monkey trainer in Surat Thani says very few monkeys are involved in harvesting coconuts for export and there was no abuse at his centre, disputing claims by animal rights activists. Peta in a previous statement said that it believes “virtually all” coconuts from Thailand were picked by monkeys. Only a few farms in the South use monkeys for older, taller types of coconut trees, he said, adding that he sometimes trains monkeys for these farmers. The government has fiercely denied the Peta report, saying the use of monkey labour was “almost non-existent”.

Source: Bangkok Post July 11, 2020 09:45 UTC