NAPSA Responds
Featured Photo: Willy B and Mave, formerly from Wildlife Waystation and now at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Our Victories
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Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners
VICTORY! After NAPSA wrote to the Board members about restricting public contact with exotic species, it is now prohibited to allow public contact with nonhuman primates.
Los Angeles Angels
The baseball team uses video and live appearances of a capuchin “Rally Monkey” during games.
Chili’s Grill and Bar
The restaurant chain hands out paper placemats that promote the private ownership of “pet” monkeys.
Steven Spielberg and The Fabelmans movie
The film was filmed with a performing capuchin monkey “actor”. NAPSA and other advocates are asking the footage to be replaced with a CGI monkey prior to the film’s release.
Gastonia Honey Hunters
An Atlantic league baseball team hosted a monkey rodeo during a game.
Cincinnati.com and The Enquirer
An article promoted a pseudo-sanctuary engaging in harmful practices
City of Margate, FL and Broward County Fair
The Broward County Fair features harmful monkey rodeos in its entertainment lineup.
Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News
A stock photo of a humanized chimpanzee was used in an email newsletter.
Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo
The traveling show lists a monkey rodeo in its entertainment lineup.
Visit Wichita
VICTORY! After NAPSA wrote to Visit Wichita about their promotional tourism videos featuring ring-tailed lemur petting, the footage was removed from television commercials airing locally.
The Offspring
The music video for the song “We Never Have Sex Anymore” features performing chimpanzees.
FunFit LLC
A North Dakota yoga studio is advertising the inclusion of an infant capuchin to attract participants to its classes.
Haywood County, North Carolina
VICTORY! NAPSA wrote to officials in Haywood County, NC in response to a request for an exemption to permit private ownership of capuchin monkeys, and the town upheld the ban.
Yves Saint Laurent
The fashion design brand featured a trained capuchin posing in their winter 2019 ad campaign.
TalentSmart
VICTORY ! The motivational training program had used stock photography of a humanized chimpanzee in a newsletter – but after hearing from NAPSA, will abstain from this in the future.
KSN
The news station filmed a segment celebrating a privately owned marmoset brought out to a football celebration.
The Guardian
The newspaper printed a photo of a chimpanzee dressed as a human, sitting at an office desk.
Creve Coeur, MO City Officials
City officials are being asked to reconsider a ban on privately owned primates, at the request of a woman with three monkeys she deems “emotional support animals.”
WVLT 8
A Tennessee news outlet ran a story about a local woman’s collection of pet monkeys.
The Laurinburg Exchange
The newspaper printed an article about a pseudo-sanctuary that promotes keeping monkeys in human homes.
Inside Edition
The newsmagazine highlighted Curtis, the infant vervet owned by bodybuilder and social media influencer Jay Kennedy.
Hillside Cinema
VICTORY! After hearing from NAPSA and other concerned parties, Gloucester, VA-based movie theater cancelled plans to host a showing of “The Lion King” that would have included an exhibit of exotic animals and the chance to pose for photos with a capuchin monkey.
Complex News
The website produced a video about the harms of exotic pets, but featured a pseudo-sanctuary that permitted leashed, diapered animals to have physical contact with the journalist.
Yoga Hive Philly
VICTORY! After hearing from NAPSA and others, a yoga studio cancelled the appearance of monkeys and other exotic animals at public celebration.
Photographer Robin Schwartz
The photographer’s portfolio of work includes many photographs of her daughter posing with monkeys, who wear clothing and have their teeth removed. NAPSA wrote to both Robin Schwartz and the Aperture Foundation, who supports her work.
John Stamos
In an interview, the actor commented that he is considering getting a live monkey to attend his son’s Curious George-themed birthday party.
WSVN 7News
A public event was promoted by filming celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito snuggling and feeding an infant monkey.
Cadbury
VICTORY! The chocolatier is holding a contest that encourages pet owners to submit photos of their pets wearing bunny ears – including more than one mention of pet monkeys. The photos will be used in a future ad campaign. After NAPSA wrote to Cadbury, they quickly decided to re-issue the press release for the contest and remove all mention of pet monkeys. Additionally, The Hershey Company has committed to never use non-human primates in any of its advertising campaigns. We are grateful for Cadbury’s consideration and speedy resolution on this issue!
Netflix series Maniac
An episode of the series was filmed with a ring-tailed lemur who is shown pacing around a tiny cage in many of the scenes.
CINCH World’s Toughest Rodeo
The event will feature performances by a cowboy monkey rodeo.
Odell Beckham, Jr.
The star athlete posted social media content filmed at an exploitive animal care facility, including footage of him playing football with a chimpanzee and holding diapered gibbons.
Chestertown, MD’s “A Dickens of a Christmas”
The event features an appearance by Jerry “The Monkey Man” Brown and his capuchin, Django.
Daily Mail
An article celebrated videos featuring humanized chimpanzee Limbani from Zoological Wildlife Foundation.
Time Magazine
An article glorified the use of capuchin monkeys as helpers for disabled humans.
Audible
NAPSA wrote to Amazon, the parent company of Audible, about ads appearing in the UK that feature primates posing with headphones on.
Newport News Fall Festival
Every year, the fair features Jerry “The Monkey Man” brown, and his capuchin, Django, roaming fairgrounds and interacting with attendees.
Tower Theatre, hosting Wild Kingdom’s Peter Gros
The theatre has scheduled a traveling exotic animal show.
Global Wildlife Conservation
VICTORY! After hearing from NAPSA, the organization has scrubbed their social media accounts of wildlife “selfie” photos taken with model/actress Suki Waterhouse that were part of a new campaign raising awareness about threatened wildlife. We are sure their campaign will be more effective without the conflicting messages inherent in the photos. #NAPSAresponds and people listen, bringing about more#progress4primates!
Amazon
VICTORY! After hearing from NAPSA and others, Amazon decided to cancel video advertisement that featured a long tailed macaque snuggling in bed with a human child.
Meigs County Fair
A vendor had a chained, clothed, and toothless capuchin who was posing on attendees’ shoulders for photographs.
National Institutes of Health
The NIH’s Council of Councils Working Group on Assessing the Safety of Relocating At-Risk Chimpanzees requested public feedback on its May 2018 Report Assessing the Safety of Relocating At-Risk Chimpanzees. NAPSA’s comments are included here.
WBTV Charlotte
A recent segment highlighted a man with an “emotional support” pet marmoset who he displays local schools and group homes.
Kim Kardashian West
The celebrity posted video stories on Instagram of marmosets on the shoulders of humans in a private home.
CBS Miami
The station produced a segment promoting hands-on encounters with a chimpanzee and other exotic animals at an unaccredited facility.
A open letter regarding the “chimpanzee caregiver hug” video
NAPSA is asking media outlets like ABC, Anderson Cooper, AOL, CBS, CNN, Fox News, Inside Edition, MSN, New York Post, Today, and Yahoo to remove a misleading video featuring a captive infant chimp hugging its caregivers at Zoological Wildlife Foundation, a for-profit wildlife park.
Amazon Studios show The Grand Tour
Advertisements featured a macaque posing in a variety of humanlike ways.
French Montana
This is the second time NAPSA is contacting the rapper – this time, it’s because he posted Instagram content with a pet capuchin monkey.
Paulick Report
The publication featured an article about a woman who breeds and owns pet monkeys.
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sought public feedback regarding their potential use of third-party inspectors to monitor licensed animal care facilities. NAPSA submitted a letter via their Rulemaking Portal, and read the letter during a public listening session on March 14, 2018.
The Frederick Keys
VICTORY! Many similar letters were mailed out in early 2018 to teams that have scheduled monkey rodeos during the 2018 season. The Frederick Keys continued to host rodeos despite NASPA and other organizations’ pleas to find another form of entertainment for their fans, but in 2019 they announced they would no longer host monkey rodeos!
NBC television show Will & Grace
One episode of the show featured a performing capuchin monkey.
Chris Brown
The singer purchased an infant capuchin monkey for his daughter as a holiday present.
SnapPower
The tech company announced an “endorsement” and ad campaign featuring a trained capuchin monkey.
Buzzfeed Motion Pictures
Buzzfeed produced a video that featured a trained capuchin monkey, wearing a leash and diaper, interacting with a baby.
The State Gazette
The newspaper reported on a celebratory gathering of “pet” monkeys and their owners, glorifying their use in the pet trade.
Desert Empire Fair
The fair features trained baboons and capuchins that perform tricks and pose for photos with the public.
East Texas Zoo and Gator Park
The zoo posted images of a diapered infant spider monkey being brought out to promotional events and store openings.
Jeremy Renner
The actor posed with a trained chimpanzee for a photo and shared it on social media.
Shannen Doherty
The actress posed with what appeared to be a pet marmoset on her shoulder.
Stone Theatres Management, LLC
Trained chimpanzees were exhibited as part of a publicity stunt at Stone Theatres Grand 14 in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Jerry Bruckheimer
On the set of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, a capuchin monkey was visibly ill yet still used in filming.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
The NASCAR star posed with a trained capuchin monkey on his shoulders in Honduras.
Karim Benzema
The French soccer star posed with a trained chimpanzee during a trip to Dubai.
SUNY Buffalo
A university anthropology department hosted an event featuring the inappropriate public handling of primates.
The Wilmington Blue Rocks
The Minor League Baseball team hosted monkey rodeo promotions during games.
The Erie SeaWolves
The Minor League Baseball team hosted monkey rodeo promotions during games.
The Lancaster Barnstormers
The Atlantic League baseball team hosted a monkey rodeo promotion during a game.
The Harrisburg Senators
The Minor League Baseball team hosted monkey rodeo promotions during games.
The Record
The SUNY Buffalo student newspaper reported favorably on the inappropriate handling of primates during a university event.
United States Department of Agriculture
NAPSA disagrees with the decision of the United States Department of Agriculture to suddenly make unavailable its inspection reports of licensed animal care facilities.
National Football League
The NFL Films channel featured a special on cowboy monkey rodeos.
National Geographic
The organization’s Instagram account posted a photo glorifying pet monkeys.
Unilad
The website continued to promote the private ownership of primates, and NAPSA issued a press release with partner welfare organizations.
Monkey rodeos
NAPSA developed a statement on the topic of sideshow attractions involving capuchin monkeys forced to race on the back of dogs.
Steve Aoki, Felix Jaehn and Adam Lambert
Victory! Steve Aoki agreed to never again use trained chimpanzees in his work after we wrote regarding a music video featuring a performing chimpanzee.
Harrisburg Senators
The Minor League Baseball team announced that monkey rodeo promotions would be taking place.
Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture
The furniture store aired commercials featuring footage of performing baboons.
Lancaster Barnstormers
The Atlantic League baseball team planned to host a monkey rodeo promotion during a game.
Rick Springfield
The singer’s album cover featured a trained chimpanzee posing in human clothes.
Bay City, Michigan officials
NAPSA applauds the city’s decision to prohibit a resident from owning a pet spider monkey.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The late-night talk show broadcast video footage of a performing baboon.
GEICO
Victory! The insurance corporation used a performing chimpanzee in a commercial, but agreed not to rely on apes for entertainment in future campaigns after hearing the concerns of NAPSA and others.
PepsiCo
The corporation’s China Beverages division produced a commercial called “The Monkey King Family”, which featured a performing macaque.
Conor McGregor
The UFC fighter announced that he is seriously considering getting a pet chimpanzee.
Suburban Auto Group
The Ford and Chevrolet dealer used chimpanzee actors in an ad campaign.
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that it would end its support for invasive research on chimpanzees and retire to sanctuaries the 50 chimps that it had set aside for future biomedical research. Read FAQs for more information on exactly what this will mean, and see NAPSA’s inclusion in a New York Times article and CNN interview on the topic.
The Alachua County Fair
Victory! A Florida county fair announced the inclusion of a monkey rodeo event, but after hearing from NAPSA and other concerned advocates, decided to ban exotic animal acts at future fairs.
Shannon Elizabeth
The actress, who is normally active in animal welfare and conservation, filmed a movie with a capuchin.
The Alachua County Fair
The Florida fair included “The Amazing Rainforest Experience,” an act featuring performing capuchins.
The Nonhuman Rights Project
The animal rights group pursued a habeas corpus case on behalf of Hercules and Leo, research chimpanzees at Stony Brook University.
The Lake County Fair, the Delta Fair & Music Festival, and the Georgia State Fair
The local fairs featured a controversial monkey rodeo event.
US Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced an end to the split-listing of captive and wild born chimpanzees under the Endangered Species Act. All chimpanzees will now be considered endangered. Read FAQs for more information on exactly what this will mean, and see NAPSA’s inclusion in a New York Times article on the topic.
The Sun newspaper, producers and advertising agency
The publication aired a commercial that involved two macaques.
Target, and agency Chandelier Creative
The ad agency used a capuchin in a commercial advertising Target’s Lilly Pulitzer collaboration.
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson
Proposed ruling HB 1551 would weaken a law created to restrict primate ownership.
Ben Stiller and the co-producers of his show
The show “Big Time in Hollywood, FL”, filmed promotional segments with a chimpanzee.
McDonald’s Corporation
Victory! After hearing from NAPSA and other concerned advocates, McDonald’s pulled their ad using a live chimpanzee in a McDonald’s France commercial.
Illinois Exotic Animal Show
An animal-selling event advertised the appearance of “Mindy the monkey”.
Hayden Panettiere
The actress posed for photographs with a trained chimpanzee at an amusement park.
The CHIMP Act’s Senate Bill 252
President Obama signed Senate Bill 252, clearing a roadblock to funding sanctuary retirement for federally owned chimpanzees.
US Fish and Wildlife Service
It was announced in the Federal Register that the service is proposing to remove the “split-listing” that provides unequal protections for captive and free-living chimpanzees under the Endangered Species Act.
National Institutes of Health
NAPSA applauds the National Institutes of Health’s announcing a significant reduction in the chimpanzee research it funds.