Del Toro campaigns against monkey farm

Benicio Del Toro has written to Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuno begging him to reconsider the construction of a monkey-breeding farm in Guayama.

The Oscar-winning actor, who is originally from Puerto Rico, recently discovered that the facility will be run by Bioculture, a company that allegedly supplies monkeys to laboratories for animal testing.

In his letter to the Governor, Del Toro wrote: "I am disappointed to learn from my friends at Peta that a company called Bioculture is proposing to build a large monkeyfacility in Guayama... Won't you please use your influence as governor and stop this from happening on our beautiful island?"

He continued: "Most Puerto Ricans are strongly opposed to Bioculture's plans. Please don't allow Puerto Rico to be associated with a facility that profits from extreme animal abuse."

According to animal rights group PETA, Bioculture plans to capture monkeys from Mauritius, hold them captive for breeding and sell their offspring to science companies. PETA has already staged a major protest against the movement.