Secret Giant Monkey Breeding Company Owners Hiding?

Who's Behind The Company Breeding 3,200 Monkeys For Animal Experiments?

LABELLE, FL. -- A primate breeding company hoping to build a facility for 3,200 monkeys in Hendry County, on the border of Lee County; is apparently being very careful to hide who owns and manages the company's land, which is called 'Oak Creek Hammock'.

The company, Soflo Ag; has mailing addresses listed, which turn out to be only Post Office Boxes at the UPS store in Lehigh Acres, FL.

It is believed the new captive monkey facility, will be used for breeding and quarantining Macaque monkeys imported from Mauritius, an island southeast of Africa, where the monkeys are bred. The offspring are separated from the mothers, and sold to export companies, in order to bypass regulations prohibiting the buying and selling of wild-caught monkeys.

After being sold, the young monkeys will end up in facilities like the ones in Hendry County. They will eventually be sold to universities and private biological research companies, who use young monkeys for experimental uses.

Aside from Humans, the Macaques are the most widespread Primate Genus.

Controversy has arisen in recent weeks after well-known TV personality, Jane Velez-Mitchell, broadcast a Cable TV show on HLN about the proposed Hendry County monkey breeding facility. The program questioned who has governmental authority to authorize breeding facilities for Primates; allowing them to be imported, sold, and used for animal experiments.

Last year, a company called Soflo Ag bought 34 acres of land about a mile south of State Road 80 at the end of Townsend Canal Road, along the Bedman Creek, and across the canal from Lee County. This property will be used to house monkeys, to be sold for experimentation to universities and private laboratories.

Hendry County already has a similar, but much larger primate facility. 'Primate Products' rests on 640 acres, a square mile of land north of Immokalee, and located on the Hendry and Collier County line.

A. Hopkins Kennemer, Jr. of Gulf Stream, FL in Palm Beach County, was the seller of the residential zoned land. He sold it for $65,000 in February, 2013. The land is now planned as 'Oak Creek Hammock'; and was reviewed by Hendry County Zoning Officials, and the County Commissioners.

It is located in an isolated area just north of homes, and 2.5 acres residential lots in a Hendry County subdivision. There is limited fire and police protection in the Hendry County subdivision, because of limited access to the rural area and dirt roads leading there.

In 2013, 'Oak Creek Hammock' received permission from the South Florida Water Management District, to pump 6.5 million gallons of water yearly; to provide drinking water for 3,200 monkeys, and irrigation for 3 acres of landscaping.  (See SFWMD permission letter with photo of property)

Last month, 'Oak Creek Hammock' received an environmental resource permit from the South Florida Water Management District, to modify or build a storm water management system at the property. The 34-acre property has also reportedly been fenced in.

Three Monkey Companies Operating Out Of A UPS Store Mailbox

Attempting to find the actual land owners, has led to a dead end. Soflo Ag LLC, the company on the deed, is owned by P2B2 LLC; according to the State of Florida Secretary of State's Office. Both company addresses are listed as 5781 Lee Blvd. in Lehigh Acres. That address is a UPS store.

But, P2B2 LLC is owned by XII LLC. And that company's address, is also a mail box in the UPS store. At this point, the chain of ownership turns to either fraud, error, or something very unusual going on. In 2012, a 'Zubair Khan' is listed as a representative of XII LLC, in the company's annual filing with the Secretary of State Office.

The Secretary of State's Office said today, that there is no record of XII LLC. Soflo LLC's agent (for purposes of filing applications and getting government permits for development), is Rock Enterprises in LaBelle, FL.

Who Is Primera and 'Primera Management'?

Primera's response to the community residents' concerns, appeared in a local newspaper on May 1, 2014. A 'Primera statement' to the 'Hendry County Board of Commissioners and Residents'; disparaged press reports, Jane Velez-Mitchell, and animal protection organization statements, including the Humane Society of the United States.

The author of the lengthy letter stated: "The unbalanced and shock value style of reporting portrayed in the media by various animal rights extremists, reflects a prejudicial and biased image of Primera."

The letter was signed by 'Primera Management', with no name of any official attached. A search for Primera with the Florida Secretary of State Office, shows no information or registration for the name 'Primera'. A Google search also shows no information on Primera, as well.
Some investigations have speculated that 'PreLabs, Inc.'  and 'PrimGen' of Hines, IL are behind the monkey breeding enterprise. An employee named 'Mohammad Khan' (same last name as Zubair Khan) registered the online domain names 'prelabs.com', 'primgen.com' and 'sofloag.com'.

Several species of Macaques are used extensively in animal testing; particularly in the 'neuroscience of visual perception' and the 'visual system' fields.

Nearly all (73%-100%) pet and captive Macaques, are carriers of the Herpes B virus. This virus is harmless to Macaques. Infections of Humans however, while rare, are potentially fatal; a risk that makes Macaques unsuitable as pets.
Previous Story (With Video) On Monkey Breeding Facilities In Hendry County

Story: Don Browne and Barbara Ann Cooper. Photo: courtesy Skamnelis and Wikipedia

Jane Velez-Mitchell And Sen. Dwight Bullard Fight Monkey Breeders

Secret Company Plans Giant Monkey Breeding Plant In Rural Hendry County

LABELLE, FL. --  Despite warnings from environmentalists, State Senator Dwight Bullard and TV host Jane Velez-Mitchell, Hendry County officials seem unable or unwilling to question the safety of a breeding facility for 3,200 Macaque monkeys at a site called Oak Creek Hammock in western Hendry County just blocks from rural homes south of State Road 80 and Townsend Canal Road.

A mystery company variously calling itself "Primera" and "SoFlo Ag" with no publicly listed phone number, address or names of company representatives has gained governmental permissions to build a breeding facility in western Hendry county, just east of the Lee county line and near homes in the rural community near Bedman Creek.

In a recent broadcast by Jane Velez-Mitchell, Florida Senator Dwight Bullard called for a look into the breeding facility over worries about the environmental compatibility of plans to house in Hendry county, and eventually sell to laboratories thousands of monkeys. Bullard is on the Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation.

Previous Southwest Florida Online Story On "Primera" Monkey Breeding Site In Hendry County

Obituaries - Fecundo, Sellers, Rumbarger, Gonzalez

Jose Roberto Facundo, age 83, of LaBelle, passed away June 30, 2021 in Lehigh Acres.

He was born Sep. 8, 1937 in San Benito, TX, to the late Evaristo and the late Luisa (Gonzalez) Facundo.

He retired from A. Duda & Sons as a Driver.

He was a member of Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana.

Survivors include his wife: Aurora (Gallegos) Facundo
three sons: Robert Facundo, Noe Facundo and Michael Facundo
five daughters: Brenda Facundo, Luisa Facundo, Linda Facundo, Aurora Facundo and Candace Facundo,
three brothers: Jr, Juan and Daniel
five sisters: Maria, Dora, Amelia, Lupe and Sara
23 Grandchildren, 12 Great Grandchildren, and 1 Great Great Grandchild

Funeral services will be held Thursday July 8, 2021 at 10 AM at Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana, LaBelle with Pastor John Gallegos officiating. Interment to follow at Fort Denaud Cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 7 PM at Akin-Davis Funeral Home, LaBelle, FL.

Retha June Sellers, age 70, of Palmdale, passed away June 27, 2021 in Sebring.

She was born Apr. 4, 1951 in Greenville, KY, to the late Jimmy Ray and Eula Mae (Mayes) Blake. Retha married Jimmy Lee Sellers.

 Retha was a school bus driver for Hendry County Schools for many years before she retired. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She will be dearly missed by everyone who knew and loved her. She enjoyed spending time gardening, working outside, with her two 4 legged children; Peanut and Bubby Dee.

Retha leaves behind beautiful memories with her husband; Jimmy Lee Sellers of Palmdale, mother, Eula Mae Blake, daughter; Julie Brown and husband Bradley of Providence, Kentucky,step-daughter; Lanel Morris and husband Bill of Dawson Springs, Kentucky, step-son; John Sellers and wife Angie, of Newnan, Georgia, seven grandchildren, six brothers; Jackie Blake, Tommy Blake, James Blake, Ernie Blake, Jimmy Blake and Gary Blake, two sisters; Brenda Prow, and Sandy Blake.

Celebration of her life was conducted at Palmdale Baptist Church on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. where a visitation was held one hour prior to the service. Rev. Earl Cline was the officiating minster for the celebration of life service.

Cremation arrangements are by Akin-Davis Funeral Home - LaBelle.

Kenneth E. Rumbarger, 82, of Moore Haven, FL died peacefully on June 23, 2021, in Palms West Hospital, Loxahatchee, FL with his wife of 16 years, Nancy, by his side.

Ken was born on October 9, 1938, in Petrolia, PA to the late Kenneth W. Rumbarger and Dorothy (Relic) Rumbarger. He graduated from Karns City High School in 1956 and went on to study industrial engineering at Pennsylvania State University. Ken proudly cheered for the Nittany Lions from his season ticket seats for over 50 years.

Ken’s degree in industrial engineering eventually led him to an illustrious career working for Pennzoil, and living in Oil City, PA, Clendenin, W. VA, and Karns City, PA where he retired as the plant manager of Penreco in 1990. Ken enjoyed retirement and often said he found himself so busy he wondered how he ever found time to work.

Ken was active in civic and church communities everywhere he lived. He served as president of the Jaycees and was especially fond of the time he spent coaching baseball in Oil City. Ken was a frequent patron of community theatre, and an especially ardent supporter of productions in which his grandchildren had roles. Ken was very proficient with computers and enjoyed working on the newsletters for his community and producing Christmas cards featuring Nancy’s artwork every year.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his children, Robb (Julie); his daughter, Lynn McFadden (Tim); his grandchildren, Trevor McFadden (Molly Smith) and Molly McFadden (James Carr); and his great granddaughters, Isla and Daphne. He is also survived by his sisters, Marilyn Rantilla, Carol Stiehler and Kay Stonebraker (Jerry); his brother, Richard Rumbarger; as well as former spouse and mother of his children, Linda Gannon; his three stepsons and a stepdaughter and numerous nieces and nephews. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Beverly and a wife, Patricia.

The celebration of his life will take place in October.

Sira Gonzalez, age 90, of Clewiston, passed away June 21, 2021 in Clewiston.

She was born Oct. 28, 1930 in Cuba , to the late Arturo Camacho and the late Gloria Montaner.

Survivors include her husband: Basilio Gonzalez
a daughter: Mayra Gonzalez
a brother: Roberto Camacho
1 Grandchild & 1 Great Grandchild

Arrangements by Akin-Davis Funeral Home - Clewiston.

LaBelle May Be Home To 20,000 Monkeys In Secret Deal

PETA Uncovers Deal to Cage 20,000 Monkeys In Florida

LaBelle, Fla. —PETA has uncovered a secret deal between monkey importer Charles River Laboratories and SIMI United States, LLC, a company newly incorporated by the executives behind Safer Human Medicine—the company intent on building a gigantic monkey farm and warehouse against the wishes of locals in Bainbridge, Georgia —to turn 70 acres of ecologically sensitive land in LaBelle into yet another massive monkey farm that would reportedly confine 20,000 endangered macaques.

SIMI bought properties at 7533 W State Road 80, and surrounding acreage off Wheeler Road west of LaBelle, near the Hendry/Lee county line and directly behind the new Old Florida RV Park. The site is not actually on SR80 but down Townsend Canal Rd., a so-called "private" dirt road on the east side of the RV Park. The company there breeding monkeys previously has been Pre-Labs LLC and Primera Science Labs.

Property records indicate they paid $3 Million for the 16 acres with a facility built there, and another 35 vacant acres around it. The facility with offices and labs is currently a monkey breeding facility. They reportedly import the animals and then sell them to laboratories for experimental studies. The adjoining land would presumably be additional building sites.

Click for: Hendry County Land Map and Info to see the property location

Click for: Google Map of the facility location

The companies tried to keep the deal hidden, said PETA who discovered it through whistleblower reports and public documents. Safer Human Medicine seemingly disguised its involvement by creating SIMI as a shell company, apparently to distance itself from backlash over its stalled and legally entangled plans for a monkey facility in Georgia.

Some officers of Safer Human Medicine are former Charles River executives, including former Executive Vice President David Johst and former Executive Director of Nonhuman Primate Operations Kurt Derfler. It is unclear whether Safer Human Medicine is abandoning its troubled Bainbridge, Georgia, monkey farm project.

Records show that Charles River Laboratories not only sold the land to SIMI but is also holding the mortgage for the deal. The property includes a small monkey warehouse where Charles River stored imported macaques—many of them from Cambodia. Charles River never publicized the closing of their LaBelle facility or the sale of the facility and additional neighboring plots of land to a competitor.

Plans are to expand the facility to confine up to 20,000 endangered long-tailed macaques imported from Vietnam, according to a whistleblower. Vietnam is a major source of monkeys infected with tuberculosis and is under scrutiny by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

“The primate importation industry thrives on secrecy, backroom deals, and hidden transactions because it knows the public won’t accept its plans to keep 20,000 monkeys caged for sale to laboratories, with all the inherent risks involved in such an enterprise,” says PETA Senior Science Advisor on Primate Issues Dr. Lisa Jones-Engel. “If this massive facility moves forward, it would be the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, fueling unprecedented animal suffering and serious environmental risks.”

PETA said, "The planned expansion of the existing Charles River facility could pose a major risk of environmental damage to the surrounding environment, which could be contaminated with monkeys’ saliva, blood, and other bodily fluids. Monkeys caught up in the primate importation pipeline have arrived to the U.S. infected with multiple strains of tuberculosis, malaria, Ebola-like viruses, simian hemorrhagic fever virus, deadly bacteria, and other pathogens and diseases that can be transmitted to humans and other animals. Monkey escapes are also common, most recently seen in the widely publicized escape of 43 monkeys from an Alpha Genesis facility in South Carolina in November."

Last year, PETA supporters and locals successfully pressured Charles River to scuttle plans to build a huge warehouse capable of holding 43,000 monkeys in Brazoria County, Texas.

In nature, macaques live in large groups with an intense focus on social relationships. These family-oriented animals are endangered, largely due to the biomedical industry decimating wild populations. Monkeys are torn from their families in the forest or bred on squalid factory farms before being boarded up in tiny wooden boxes, shipped to the U.S., and warehoused in barren metal cages until they’re sold and trucked to laboratories, where they will be poisoned, mutilated, and ultimately killed.


An injured, bleeding, and scared long-tailed macaque caught up in the international wildlife trade. This photo was obtained through a public records request by Stiching Animal Rights.

PETA points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

Obituaries - Larry Cardin, Jessiti Douglas-Chirila, Daniel Gallegos

Larry L. Cardin age 71 of Clewiston, Florida passed away at his home with his family at his side on March 8, 2023.

Larry was born on November 21, 1951 in Athens, Tennessee to the late Olie B. and the late Edna K. Hambey Cardin. 

He married Glanna Kay Fields, she survives. He and Glenna were married for 42 years.

Larry worked for many years as a mechanic then after he retired from being a mechanic he starting working as a maintenance man for Wal-Mart of LaBelle. 

Larry leaves fond memories with his loving wife; Glenna Kay Cardin of Clewiston, Florida, sons; Larry L. Cardin, II, and Jeremy Cardin, daughters; Vickie Colson, Teresa Carr aling with nine grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. Larry leaves behind sisters; Shirley Grooms, and Henerietta Jankowski and many long time family friends.

Larry was preceded in death by his daughter; Rebecca Dupree, brother; Carl Cardin and sister; Betty Brane,

Larry's life was celebrated with a memorial service at his home on Saturday, March 11, 2023. For more information please contact his family for details.

Cremation arrangements are being handled by Akin-Davis Funeral Home - Clewiston.

Jessiti Aubra Douglas-Chirila 1-year old of LaBelle, Florida passed away on March 4, 2023 in Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida.

Jessiti Aubre was born on August 29, 2021 in Belle Glade, Florida to Jessup Douglas and Faith Chirila. Jessiti Aubre was full of live, loved the outsdoors, loved music and dancing. She touched the hearts of everyone she came in contact with. A young life take to soon.

Jessiti Aubre leaves fond memories with her mother; Faith Chirla, father; Jessup Douglas, maternal grandparents; Wanda and Bob Chirila, paternal grandparents; Cheryl and Albert Herrera, also surrounded in love by many aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of the family. She is also survived by 3 siblings; Amaurion Carson Rivera (Brother), Aliyah Edwards and Jaylynne Douglas-Brooks (sisters).

Jessiti Aubre was welcomed through Heavens gates by many family members who went before her.

The family request donations be made to Akin-Davis Funeral Home for her services and headstone. We appreciate everyone's love and support in this difficult time.

Daniel Gallegos Funeral will be held at Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana De LaBelle, located at 3139 South Highway 29 LaBelle, FL 33935 on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Viewing: 10:00 am - 11:00 am. Service: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Burial Service will follow at: Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery, located at 820 north 11th Street Immokalee, FL 34142.