Talk Is Cheap: Charles River Slammed for Empty Promises, Animal Care Failings

For Immediate Release:
September 21, 2023

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

Please see the following statement from PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo regarding Charles River Laboratories executives’ assurances today that the company is committed to improving the welfare of animals:

During today’s investor webinar, Charles River Laboratories executives said they are committed to doing the right thing by animals, so why then hasn’t the company released any of the 1,269 monkeys it allegedly imported illegally into the U.S. to a willing, waiting, and reputable sanctuary?

It was a year ago today that 360 endangered long-tailed macaques were imported by Charles River from Cambodia and ultimately denied clearance by federal officials after the company couldn’t prove all the monkeys were captive-bred. Then, 909 more were also denied clearance. The animals remain in legal limbo while Charles River spars with the feds over their fate.

During an investor webinar on September 13, 2023, company CEO James Foster, responded to a question about the supply of monkeys available for research, said, “The irony is that there is actually a surplus, which is insane, right? There is plenty of NHPs [nonhuman primates].”

Charles River says one thing but does another and shows it is not in any way leading with integrity and responsibility, as its officers tell friendly audiences, or it would immediately commit to placing the 1,269 macaques in sanctuaries and paying for their lifetime care.

For more information on PETA’s investigative newsgathering and reporting, please visit PETA.org, listen to The PETA Podcast, or follow the group on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram.