Launceston City Council proposes to restrict breeding of snow monkey troop

A Tasmanian council is set to make a call on whether it should prevent future reproduction of its beloved population of Japanese snow monkeys, which have become a fixture of the city.

City Park snow monkeys in Launceston. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Launceston’s iconic monkey enclosure could be phased out in 20 years’ time as the local council proposes a breeding ban on its population of Japanese macaques.

At its meeting next Thursday, the Launceston City Council will vote on whether or not to adopt a recommendation from officers to prevent all future reproduction of the snow monkeys, which were gifted to the council in 1981 by its Japanese sister city Ikeda.

Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said it was no longer possible to introduce new genetic diversity into the troop of monkeys, which meant the council had no choice but to identify how best to manage the population into the future “in a way that is caring and humane”.

Japanese macaques in Launceston. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“In 2000, it was identified that the troop carried the herpes B virus, which is common in macaque monkeys, and the council of the day considered three future options for the troop as a result – euthanasia, rehoming or moving to a new management model,” he said.

“At that time, the council made a decision to keep the macaques and to attempt to introduce new genetic stock. However, this was ultimately unsuccessful.

“We know community sentiment toward keeping animals in captivity has shifted a lot since 1981 and it’s now time we consider this issue with fresh eyes, with the welfare of the troop as our top priority.”

Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood. Picture: Rob Burnett

The council has a Wildlife Exhibition Licence to operate the monkey enclosure but a condition of that licence is that breeding must be carefully overseen under a species management plan.

The Japanese macaque is no longer classified as a suitable species for live importation under federal environmental laws and it’s therefore impossible for Launceston to bring new macaques into its City Park troop.

The council says that if the officers’ recommendation is approved, there would be no snow monkeys living in the enclosure - where there are currently 25 macaques - approximately twenty years from now.

City of Launceston Primate Keeper Bridie Slattery at City Park. Picture: City of Launceston

Bridie Slattery, a primate keeper for the Launceston City Council, said that the inability to import new monkeys meant genetic deformities could emerge in the troop.

“They’re still extremely healthy, which is why we want to [take action] now. We don’t want to get to the point where they’re not healthy because that’s not the best practice for them,” she said.

“What we do see when we do start to get genetic issues is we’ll start to see more miscarriages and stillbirths, which will always have an effect on the troop, but also the carers that are looking after them, as well.”

Originally published as Launceston City Council proposes to restrict breeding of snow monkey troop