NEWS

Hendry County finds no code violations at monkey research operation

Melissa Montoya
News-Press

Hendry County officials announced no land-use violations were found at two monkey farms that have been operating there amid controversy.

The investigations into Primate Products Inc. and The Manheimer Foundation began in March and April after the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent documents to Hendry County officials.

The controversy began because the land is zoned for agricultural use which the county argues includes primates, but opponents disagree.

“That is not agricultural,” said Jane Velez-Mitchell, a journalist who has reported on the monkey facilities. “There’s no way monkey abortions can constitute agriculture.”

The investigation by Hendry County officials included research from local, state and federal agencies, said Margaret Emblidge, planning and community development director for the county.

“This research was used in making the determination in these current cases,” Emblidge said.

The investigation on behalf of the Hendry County Code Enforcement and the Office of Planning and Zoning is now considered closed.

However, as recently as last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare conducted a joint investigation into Primate Products, said President Jeff Rowell.

The joint inspection found the facility needs improvement in its sanitation and pest control, Rowell said.

The facility has been given a September deadline to make those improvements. Rowell added that previous inspections findings have been corrected.

Rowell said he is pleased with the results of the Hendry County investigation.

“There was a tremendous amount of misinformation provided to the county and the public both in and outside of Florida,” Rowell said.

Madeleine Doran, a concerned Lee County resident, said the investigation by the county is a whitewash.

“I think it is an outrage that they would say Primate Products and bioculture did nothing wrong,” Doran said.

Doran said eyewitness accounts show that the monkeys were tortured. A video released by the animal rights organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, in June shows the primates on feces-smeared cement and yanked off chain-link fences by their tails along with questionable behavior by an employee.

“That is a clear violation of agricultural laws,” Doran said. “Allowing the torture to continue just shows you the kind of leadership Hendry County has.”

In a statement from PETA’s director of the Laboratory Investigations Department, Justin Goodman said other authorities are looking to hold the primate facilities accountable.

Additionally, Goodman said, there is a lawsuit against the facilities and the county because of the way the county approved the facilities without public input.

“Hendry County’s decision on this zoning issue will inflame the situation, not defuse it, and will certainly inspire even greater efforts to close down these monkey prisons,” Goodman said.

Doran said the county investigation is outrageous.

“They have not heard the last from protesters, that is for sure,” she said.

Rowell said the facility is used to protesters.

“I don’t expect that that will change,” Rowell said. “This is just part of the industry and just something we have to prepare for.”