PETA Supporters Dressed as Monkeys Protest Outside of Albertsons Headquarters

Protesters gathered outside of Albertsons corporate office on Parkcenter Blvd in downtown Boise on Friday afternoon to urge the grocery store chain to end business ties with Thailand’s Chaokoh brand, which has been exposed of using forced monkey labor.

A PETA Asia investigation revealed that Chaokoh forces monkeys to pick coconut used in their milk products. According to the investigation these monkeys are kept in cages barely larger than their bodies and are chained up to old tires. Many of the monkeys "displayed repetitive behavior indicative of extreme psychological anguish." One coconut farmer even confirmed that when the monkeys feel scared and threatened and try to defend themselves, their canine teeth may be pulled out.

PETA's ongoing efforts to end the distribution of coconut milk brands that use coconuts picked by monkeys has actually been very successful. More than 28,000 other stores - including chains such as Target, Wegmans, Costco, and Walgreens have agreed to stop doing business with these brands. On Friday, all efforts were turned towards Idaho-based Albertsons.

“Milk from coconuts picked by abused monkeys doesn’t belong on grocery shelves any more than monkeys belong on those chains,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA is calling on Albertsons to reject products of forced monkey labor.”

PETA supporters showed up on Friday dressed as monkeys and dumped hundreds of "humanely picked" coconuts in front of Albertsons headquarters. Coconuts were also reportedly sent to the homes of Albertsons executives. The message that PETA is trying to send is simple: "No more monkey business, Albertsons.