Is the collection of vervet monkeys for research endangering natural populations?
No, the vervet monkey is not endangered anywhere in the world. In St. Kitts it is an agricultural pest and the government pays hunters to kill monkeys. This has been published in the LA Times and disseminated through other major news services. Who decides whether research being done with St. Kitts vervet monkeys is “ethical"? The St. Kitts vervet monkey colony is part of the Behavioural Sciences Foundation (a not-for-profit foundation). The BSF maintains an arms-length Institutional Review Board, with membership from the Ross School of Veterinary Medicine (located in St. Kitts), a local clergyman, a local attorney, a member of the lay public, a local physician and a local businessman. This board is instructed by a research ethicist who annually visits the Ross School of Veterinary Medicine. All BSF research protocols must be reviewed and approved by this board prior to their initiation. Many research protocols are also reviewed by the McGill Faculty of Medicine Animal Care Committe
Related Questions
- If the Lancet case report did not say MMR causes autism, and if his collection of biopsies for research purposes was pre-approved by the Ethical Practices Committee, why is there a case against Dr. Wakefield (and colleagues)?
- Do these teams support response and data collection for only natural hazardous events?
- What is difference between natural and forced collection?
