THUMBNAIL
Called the 18-4 Khanh Hoa Company, this facility is located in suburban Nha Trang City and on several offshore islands. These photos show the main farm and one of the islands. The company was originally built with support from the former Soviet Union to service their scientific research industry. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the company sought new partners from the First World.
The first five photos show the main farm. The top photo shows the main office and veterinary centre. This building has extra space available to house on-site researchers.
The second and third photos gives views of colony housing. Most of the animal holding buildings at the main farm have a large indoor area as well as a outdoor concrete floored run. The cages have few environment enrichment materials but otherwise are clean. The animals in these cages looked well and were free of injuries.
In sharp contrast, the next two photos show the interior of a shed containing a large number of pig-tailed macaques Macaca nemestrina. They are in small holding cages, meant to hold one or two animals for only a short time. These animals had been kept in this 'temporary' facility for at least 18 months - they were filmed in March 1992 in a video released by the International Primate Protection League (IPPL). The close-up of the young female shows that this animal's left hand is severely damaged, probably in a fight with nearby animals in these very confined conditions. Other animals showed similar wounds, most wounds had been treated by the medical staff. To minimise rate bites, the animals were raised off the ground on low metal tables. But this is hardly acceptable animal caging.
Why were these particular animals so poorly housed? It was an economic problem. Apparently, the managers discovered that M. nemestrina was valuable as in HIV/AIDS studies. They acquired some young animals which they then hoped to sell. At the same time they hoped to reduce their holdings of other macaque species which they were having trouble selling overseas. The director then, Mr Truong Van Hung, spent a lot of time in Hanoi trying to negotiate sales. Meanwhile - apparently a long while at that - these animals were kept under very poor conditions.
The next four photos are of one island used to keep free-ranging long-tailed macaques Macaca fascicularis and rhesus macaques Macaca mulatta. Two species are kept on the same island but are fed separately ad several different locations. Again, these animals appeared in good condition.
The lack of sales at the time also had an effect on food supplies. Dr Ngoc-Trai showed me her food supplies which were adequate though frugal. Medicines were expensive, but all animals which were expected to be sold internationally were vaccinated. The IPPL video cited above may lead one to think that a main product is a medicinal balm and even a wine from boiled down monkey tissue. This is only specialty by-product. The main object of the company is to produce high quality animals for scientific research laboratories. In general this was a very well-run company, except for the management of pig-tailed macaques.
This trip was funded by the Government of Vietnam and the Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam. I thank the Vice director and his colleagues, Professor Thuong and Mr Hoang Quang the excellent interpreter.
The final photo is of my hosts: Mr Hoang Quang, Professor Nguyen Van Thuong, Dr Hoang Thi Minh Tam, Dr Ngoc-Trai and Mr Nguyen Van Loi at the company office on Tran Phu Street in Nha Trang.
The address:
18-4 Khanh Hoa Company
68 Tran Phu Street
Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa
Vietnam
Location: Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province
Date: 25-28 February 1993
Credit: Vern Weitzel