Many kind people choose coconut milk over cow’s milk because they don’t want to support animal cruelty. But alarming MAP Asia investigation showed that frightened young monkeys in Thailand are chained, brutally trained and forced to climb trees to collect coconuts, which are used to make coconut milk, meat, flour, butter and other products.
PETA Asia researchers visited eight farms where workers force monkeys to harvest coconuts, including suppliers for one of Thailand’s largest coconut milk producers, Chaokoh (pronounced CHOW-kaw), as well as several monkey training facilities and a coconut harvesting competition. In each of them, eyewitnesses documented that these sensitive animals were abused and exploited. The young monkeys were forced to perform tedious and arduous tasks, such as rolling heavy coconuts, until they fell from the trees from a great height. The researcher learned that if the monkeys tried to defend themselves, their fangs could be removed.
After PETA Asia’s investigation, more than 33,000 stores, including Albertsons, Target, Costco, Safeway, Kroger and Wegmans, have stopped buying the brand’s products, and most of them will no longer buy coconut products derived from the labor of Thai monkeys. But despite being warned about the ugly origins of Chaokoh coconut milk, major grocery chains Publix, Walmart, Jewel-Osco, Woodman’s Markets, as well as Tony’s Fresh Market continue to sell these products.
You can help the monkeys protect themselves by following these six steps.
1. Organize a protest to urge retailers to reconsider their relationship with Chaokoh – we can help!
Make sure everyone knows that Publix, Walmart, and the other grocery stores listed above pay monkey forced labor. Conduct a protest at the store closest to you – we will help you! We will provide you with attractive advertising signs, information brochures and even monkey costumes. We will also help you tell about your event. Contact us:
Request materials for protest
2. A flyer in front of a local grocery store selling Chaokoh coconut milk.
Couldn’t organize a protest action? One person is enough to make a loud statement. Order the sign “Chaokoh Coconut Milk: Forced Monkey Labor” and “Have Monkeys Abused Your Coconut Milk?” Brochures for distribution at your nearest Walmart, Publix or other grocery store that sells Chaokoh coconut milk. We will send you free supplies – just tell us how many signs and flyers you need along with your full name, Email, but name keep where will you scroll. Be sure to give your boss a flyer and ask him to reconsider his relationship with Chaoko.
Request materials for the flyer
3. Order free peel-off stickers.
Get creative with these Chaokoh peel-off stickers. Send us photos of your work to [email protected]…
Order free stickers
4. Call and ask retailers to reconsider their relationship with Chaokoh.
Pick up the phone and take action now for the monkeys:
- Call Publix at 1-800-242-1227; press 4 then 2
- Call Walmart at 1-800-925-6278; press 3, then 1, then say “No”
- If you live in Illinois, Indiana, or Iowa, call Jewel-Osco at 630-948-6000.
- If you live in Illinois or Wisconsin, call Woodman’s Markets at 608-754-8382.
- If you live in Illinois, call Tony’s Fresh Market at 630-735-6760 and press 4.
Not sure what to say? Our discussion topics can help in your conversation:
- Please reconsider your company’s ties to the coconut milk brand Chaokoh, whose suppliers shackle monkeys and force them to harvest coconuts. If the monkeys try to defend themselves, their fangs can be pulled out.
- I encourage my friends and family to shop elsewhere until you stop putting up with monkey exploitation.
Tell us about your call
5. Inbox messages from Bombard retailers
Insist that retailers reconsider their relationship with Chaokoh by sending emails to store executives. Use your words or conversation topics listed in step 4.
6. Advertise retailers on social media.
Use social media to name stores selling Chaokoh coconut milk. You can use your own words or use the discussion topics listed in step 4.
Companies like @Target as well as @kroger have already stopped selling #Chaoko, a brand of coconut milk using forced monkey labor.
tell @Walmart join! https://t.co/tPd0uZ7NrI #NationalCoconutDay pic.twitter.com/iAPG8geC3K
– MAP (@map) June 26, 2021