Tuesday, December 08, 2015

Hearing Set For SoFlo Ag and Panther Tracts Monkey Breeding Facility

LABELLE, FL. -- The Animal Legal Defense Fund, an advocacy organization for animals, is continuing its fight to revoke permits for two new primate breeding facilities SoFlo Ag and Panther Tracts, heading to court on December 15 to argue a motion for summary judgment in its lawsuit against Hendry County on behalf of three concerned residents.

The lawsuit alleges Hendry County officials’ granting of permits in 2012 and 2013 was a violation of Florida’s open government law, the “Sunshine Law.” The plaintiffs contend Hendry County was required to hold public meetings before approving the development of these monkey breeding facilities. They have told the court the facilities, which would breed thousands of macaque monkeys to be sold to the biomedical research industry for vivisection (animal testing), are slated to be built in areas zoned for “agriculture,” usually reserved for raising domesticated animals and growing crops only.

“The public has a right to know what is going on in their backyards,” said Stephen Wells, Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director. “Florida’s Sunshine Law was designed to prohibit exactly the kind of back-room dealings that led to Hendry County’s approval of biomedical primate breeding facilities in a traditional agricultural neighborhood without any public notice whatsoever.”

ALDF contends not only are the proposed facility conditions cruel and inhumane for the monkeys being bred, but there are dangers associated with importing exotic animals to the U.S. Possession of primates like macaques is regulated by federal and state agencies due to the threat of disease carried by these animals, including Ebola, Herpes B, tuberculosis, and parasites.

A rhesus macaque was responsible for the death of a worker from Herpes B at the renowned Yerkes National Primate Research Center field station, and long-tailed macaques were responsible for an outbreak of the “Reston” strain of the Ebola virus at a Virginia research facility and a tuberculosis outbreak.

ALDF is also concerned about the potentially biohazardous waste produced by thousands of exotic primates. This waste could devastate the local environment, including the fragile ecosystem of the Big Cypress National Preserve—which is adjacent to the Panther Tracts facility—and pollute the wells of nearby residents, including those of the Plaintiffs in ALDF’s suit.

The motion for summary judgment will be argued on December 15, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. at the Hendry County Courthouse, 3rd floor. If ALDF’s motion is granted, the facilities’ permits will be revoked until a public hearing can be held on the matter.

Court information: Hearing on Plaintiffs’ and Defendant’s Motions for Summary Judgment, Stephens, Grey, and Cinkota v. Hendry County, Case No. 2014-CA-633

2 comments:

  1. Stop officials from ruining the area wildlife, don't contaiminate the area. Unless you do it in your backyard. This area is stressed already with all the canals diverting the fresh water into the Gulf. Now what do you want to do threaten the Gulf and everglades to the threat of diseases carried by these animals? Are they crazy Ebola, Herpes B, tuberculosis, and parasites. Lets not mention the fact of the inhumane treatment of animals. For what a few bucks. SMH

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stop officials from ruining the area wildlife, don't contaiminate the area. Unless you do it in your backyard. This area is stressed already with all the canals diverting the fresh water into the Gulf. Now what do you want to do threaten the Gulf and everglades to the threat of diseases carried by these animals? Are they crazy Ebola, Herpes B, tuberculosis, and parasites. Lets not mention the fact of the inhumane treatment of animals. For what a few bucks. SMH

    ReplyDelete