Monkeys, Weapons, and Drugs: Inside the Monkey-Smuggling Networks Supplying U.S. Labs

International monkey smuggling networks are driving endangered long-tailed macaques closer to extinction, as the demand for monkeys in U.S. laboratories continues to rise. The smuggling of monkeys from countries in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand and Cambodia, to breeding farms involves brutal trapping methods, long and grueling journeys in cramped conditions, and the false labeling of monkeys as "captive-bred" for international laboratory supply chains.

Authorities have seized thousands of endangered monkeys in recent years, revealing the extent of the problem in countries like Vietnam, China, and Laos. Monkey smuggling is often intertwined with the trafficking of weapons and drugs, posing public health risks as monkeys can carry diseases like tuberculosis and herpes B. The PRIMATE Act aims to end the importation of monkeys for experimentation in the U.S., protecting both endangered species and human health. Everyone is encouraged to take action by urging their Congressional representative to support the PRIMATE Act and calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to shut down the monkey-abduction pipeline.