Monkey hate

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Monkey hate is a form of zoosadism where humans have a hatred for monkeys and take pleasure in their suffering. [1] The phenomenon drew public attention after a global monkey torture ring was uncovered by the BBC in 2023, and is predominantly seen on the Internet. [2]

Contents

Occurrence and arrests

Baby macaques are the main target of abuse toward monkeys in online circles centered around monkey hate. Baby Bonnet macaque in Kerala.jpg
Baby macaques are the main target of abuse toward monkeys in online circles centered around monkey hate.

Videos of monkeys being tortured or abused have been commonly uploaded to social media platforms such as YouTube and Facebook. [1] [3] According to a September 2021–May 2023 study by Asia for Animals’ Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition (SMACC), videos by pet macaque owners had a total of 12.05 billion views online, with 12 percent of these videos involving intentional physical torture, 13 percent involving psychological abuse, and 60 percent involving direct physical abuse. [3] [4] Video titles have often contained broken English phrases such as "million pity" and "million sadness". [5]

Baby macaque monkeys are primarily targeted for abuse. [2] [6] Monkeys are often referred to within monkey hate communities as "tree rats". [2] Videos showing abuse of baby macaques are often referred to as "Sauce". Online groups called "KarenMafia" or "Fun Apes" distribute videos to a paying audience.

In 2021, a United States-based Telegram monkey torture group, Million Tears, was closed down after being brought to public attention. [3] [7] The group had about thirty members, who would pay owners of monkeys to carry out abuse on them. [8] In 2023, a continuation of the group, Ape's Cage, which involved around four hundred members, was uncovered by the BBC. [2] Video operators who carried out the monkey torture were primarily based in Indonesia, while the members of the group were largely American and from other Western countries. [2] Torture methods ranged from submerging monkeys in ice water to killing them in blenders, sawing them in half, or cutting off their tails and limbs. [2] [6] [3]

Several notable members of Ape's Cage have been arrested, including American Michael McCartney (known as "Torture King") [9] and two British women, Holly LeGresley and Adriana Orme. [10] [11] Two Indonesian men also received prison sentences for their involvement. [12] "Mr. Ape", the pseudonymous leader of the group, has not been publicly identified. [2]

Animal welfare organizations such as Action for Primates and Lady Freethinker have been involved in investigating monkey hate groups. [8]

Causes

According to Chief Inspector Kevin Lacks-Kelly from the British National Wildlife Crime Unit, people who consume monkey torture content generally defend their actions as caused by a "hatred for pregnant women or small children". [13] The Independent reported that macaques are used in abuse videos "because of perceived close similarities to human babies". [3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Messamore, W. E. (2020-02-29). "YouTube Has a Vile Monkey Torture Community That Needs Nuking". CCN.com. Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ajengrastri, Astudestra; Gunter, Joel; Henschke, Rebecca (2023-06-19). "Hunting the monkey torturers". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Dalton, Jane (2023-09-21). "Social media users abusing monkeys in sickening videos for money and hits". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2025-09-24. Retrieved 2024-07-04. Macaques - used because of perceived close similarities to human babies – are forced to suffer sexual abuse, dismembering and immersion in freezing cold or boiling hot water, the report says.
  4. ↑ "The Cruelty You Don't See: The suffering of pet macaques for social media content". World Animal Protection. 2023-09-18. Archived from the original on 2025-04-22. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  5. ↑ Ajengrastri, Astudestra; Gunter, Joel; Henschke, Rebecca (2023-06-19). "Video penyiksaan monyet: Investigasi BBC bongkar komunitas pembenci monyet internasional yang memesan video penyiksaan ke orang-orang di Indonesia". BBC News Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  6. 1 2 Freethinker, Lady (2021-08-06). "YouTube 'Monkey Haters' Form Private Group Where Members Are Paying to Have Baby Monkeys Tortured and Killed on Camera". Lady Freethinker. Archived from the original on 2021-11-12. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  7. ↑ Geiger, Gabriel (2021-08-13). "People Buy Custom Baby Monkey Torture Videos on World's Worst Forum". VICE. Archived from the original on 2025-05-19. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  8. 1 2 Bancroft, Holly (2021-08-11). "Baby monkeys tortured and killed in videos posted on US-based chat group". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  9. ↑ Gunter, Joel; Henschke, Rebecca (2024-04-03). "Ringleader of global monkey torture network, 'The Torture King', is charged". BBC Home. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  10. ↑ Lawson, Eleanor; Henschke, Joel Gunter & Rebecca (2024-05-07). "Kidderminster woman pleads guilty to role in monkey torture network". BBC Home. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  11. ↑ Carter, Sarah (2023-06-20). "Monkey torture video ring with suspects and customers in U.S. exposed by BBC investigation". CBS News. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  12. ↑ Odeen-Isbister, Sara (2023-06-20). "Global monkey torture ring paying people to abuse animals uncovered". Metro. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  13. ↑ Stephens, Max (2024-11-13). "I took my hatred of babies and women out on monkeys, claims female recluse behind torture ring". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2024-11-13. Retrieved 2025-06-27. Ch Insp Kevin Lacks-Kelly, from the NWCU, said LeGresley had deliberately targeted infant macaques because they were the closest animal substitute to humans. He told The Telegraph: "The general defence, almost that we have seen on a global scale, is that this 'product' is consumed because there's a general hatred for pregnant women or small children.
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