Monkey Dies While Being Trucked by JKL Secure Freight, PETA Finds
Update (January 12, 2026): PETA has obtained damning records showing that a young monkey died while being trucked by JKL Secure Freight in yet another apparent violation of federal animal welfare law. JKL transported 39 endangered long-tailed macaques across state lines, but upon arrival, one monkey was found dead with signs suggesting she died en route, contradicting the company’s paperwork listing all animals as “active and alert.” U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors investigated the animal’s death, but closed the case without citing the company, despite the apparent false reporting and inconsistencies between JKL’s records and the animal’s condition. We’re now urging the USDA Office of Inspector General to investigate further. You can help by taking action below. Please join us by urging JKL Secure Freight to stop transporting monkeys to laboratories.
Original post:
PETA has discovered that JKL Secure Freight (JKL)—a shady company best known for racking up numerous Animal Welfare Act violations—has once again shirked federal law to truck monkeys more than 2,000 miles and across at least five states in a move that is both cruel to animals and dangerous to public health. We need your help to stop this frightening freight in its tracks.
The Details
JKL transported 10 long-tailed macaques from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s New Iberia Research Center to animal experimentation giant Charles River Laboratories in Reno, Nevada, on January 8.
But none of the monkeys had valid, legally required health certificates, according to documents PETA obtained.
Federal law requires that an accredited veterinarian examine monkeys no more than 10 days before they cross state lines. The monkeys moved by JKL were examined on December 12, a full 28 days before their multistate journey. This trek marks at least the 18th time that JKL has ignored federal law requiring timely inspections.
Biosecurity Risk
Accurate health records are crucial for reducing the risk of dangerous and deadly pathogens that threaten animal welfare and public health. A new PETA report shows that cases of tuberculosis are rising among monkeys imported to the U.S. and that multiple strains of tuberculosis have been detected in imported monkeys used for experimentation.
Repeat Offender
JKL has tallied eight violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act since 2022 alone. In 2018, the company was cited after a monkey was found unresponsive in a shipping crate and later died after being ignored for 10.5 hours. In 2023, JKL was again cited for leaving crates packed with 336 monkeys on a hot Atlanta tarmac with no shade for more than 90 minutes.
What You Can Do
PETA is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate JKL’s latest wrongdoing. Please join us by telling JKL Secure Freight to stop transporting monkeys to laboratories. You can do so by sending polite comments to the following person:
Brian Rasmussen
President, JKL Secure Freight
[email protected]
Note: Feel free to use our pre-written letter that will appear when you click the e-mail address above, but remember, using your own words is always more effective!
Thank you for your compassion for animals.
