Use of monkeys at local fair called out by PETA

FREMONT — The animal advocacy group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, is calling on a local county fair to stop exhibiting monkeys after one animal bit a child last year and records revealed animal welfare violations. On Wednesday, PETA sent a letter to Bob Lagrou, president of the Sandusky County Agricultural Society — which organizes the county fair — outlining its concerns about the fair's prior capuchin monkey exhibit. At the 2023 fair, at least one child was bitten by a capuchin monkey brought to the event by an exhibitor who operated an "organ grinder" act, an antiquated type of street performer. The event went under the name Fun Times & Monkey Business and the exhibitor who ran the act had a Texas address listed. The biting incident, which was recorded on a video that was reviewed by the Register, did not necessitate any medical attention for the child, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture records, which references a second biting incident that also did not result in injury. According to Meghan Tiemann, captive wildlife specialist for PETA, the monkey that bit the child did not have any teeth because the organ grinder had "ripped (the teeth) from its mouth in order to be used for photo-ops." She added that the usage of monkeys in these types of performances puts "monkeys and other exotic animals, along with the public, at risk." The teeth removal — which the department of agriculture report states subjects the animal to "unnecessary suffering" and "chronic medical issues" — was one of 22 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act the department issued to two different exhibitors of two capuchin monkeys at the fair, according to federal records. Other violations cited in the reports included: • The two monkeys were transported in a dog-style crate that allowed the primates to stick their arms through openings, causing a risk of injury to the animals. • Not addressing a monkey's socialization needs, a failure of which can cause "poor psychological welfare" for the animal • Indefinitely leaving a collar and chain lead on a monkey, which poses a risk of strangulation if the lead became caught on something in the monkey's wire-frame enclosure. One exhibitor told the agriculture department the monkey had been wearing the collar for "22 years with no issues" and that it was "never removed" from the primate. • Not keeping proper documentation on the monkeys Debbie Metzler, primatologist and director of captive animal welfare for the PETA Foundation, said in a news release that "monkeys are sensitive, highly intelligent individuals, and the time has long passed for people to chain them up and parade them around in front of noisy crowds." "PETA is urging fair organizers to relegate these cruel and ridiculous 'organ grinder' acts to the history books, where they belong," Metzler said. Fair responds Lagrou, when asked about the biting incident, said that the organ grinder act was "asked to leave mid-week" by fair leadership after the incident occurred. The organ grinders would not be invited to return to the 2024 Sandusky County Fair "or any future fairs," he said. What is a capuchin monkey? According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, capuchin monkeys get their name from Capuchin monks due to their dark fur forming a cap on their heads and extending down in 'side-burns,' resembling the monks' cowl or headdress. Capuchins monkeys are native to tropical rainforests of Central and South America. These monkeys are described as one of the most intelligent and adaptable of all South American primates. Capuchins' bodies range from about one-to-two feet in length and they feed on fruit, vegetables and small animals.