The heightened demand for long-tailed macaques in biomedical research, particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is posing a significant threat to their conservation. Despite claims of captive breeding, the unregulated trade originating from Southeast Asia is putting wild populations at risk, with mounting dangers stemming from hunting, trapping, and illicit trade. This unchecked trade not only jeopardizes the macaques’ well-being but also raises serious concerns for the integrity of biomedical research, said a new report from the TRAFFIC.
CRITICAL RISKS
Compromised Clinical Testing Regimes: Illegally captured and undeclared wild-caught animals introduce an element of uncertainty into clinical testing regimes. The unknown disease status of these animals, coupled with potential sickness resulting from stress during capture, transport, and exposure to novel pathogens, can undermine the validity of vaccine trials and compromise broader research programs.
Zoonotic Threats and Fraudulent Declarations: The close genetic relationship between non-human primates and humans makes the exchange of zoonotic pathogens a serious concern. Wild-caught animals being falsely declared as captive-bred pose a particular risk, as protective measures may be overlooked during importation. This oversight can lead to severe and potentially fatal infections in humans, especially considering the challenges in detecting certain infections that may spread through a captive population after the introduction of illegally laundered wild-caught animals.
Endangered Status and Unsustainable Trade: Long-tailed macaques are an endangered species, and the extensive exportation from countries like Indonesia, The Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam is considered “extremely unsustainable” by trade experts. The large-scale exportation over many years exacerbates the threat to the species, compromising their survival and contributing to ecological imbalances in their native habitats.
The urgent need for addressing these risks involves tighter regulation, enforcement of wildlife protection laws, and a collective effort to shift towards ethical and sustainable practices in biomedical research. As the demand for long-tailed macaques persists, a balanced approach that prioritizes both scientific progress and conservation efforts becomes imperative.
INCREASED DEMAND AND DISRUPTED SUPPLY
China was the world’s largest exporter of macaques until 2020 when its exports effectively dropped to zero. This fall is likely due to China’s ban on the export of live animals due to the COVID-19 pandemic in January 202030, which contributed, at least in part, to the current global shortage of nonhuman primates for clinical testing31 given the capability of the long-tailed macaque breeding farms is insufficient to meet demand, and sales prices have increased dramatically since 2018.
Recommendations
- Examine payments and political donations: CITES officials, while not universally implicated, pose a specific corruption risk as gatekeepers in a lucrative trade.
- Question round figure payments: Despite being an aged anti-money laundering (AML) recommendation, its relevance persists, as seen in the case in this report!
- Monitor use of cash compared to other businesses of a similar profile and scale.
- Prevalence of import-export and logistics companies: International trade companies, such as import-export, logistics, and travel agencies, may be linked to wildlife trafficking. They may unknowingly or knowingly move animals, their products, or parts, and could serve as front companies for laundering illicit proceeds.
- Transactions referencing wildlife-associated care or equipment: Illicit wildlife traffickers conduct transactions for enclosures, equipment, and veterinary services. Transactions tied to medical or pharmaceutical research may indicate animals trafficked for these purposes.
