Pressure Mounts on Canada to Halt Monkey Imports from Cambodia

Animal rights groups are pressuring the Canadian government to stop importing endangered long-tailed macaques from Cambodia for medical research. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has recommended suspending this trade, as thousands of monkeys have been imported into Canada since early 2023. The macaque trade is lucrative, with each monkey valued at around $20,000, but there are concerns about illegal trade practices in Cambodia.

Despite a US investigation finding evidence of false classification of monkeys as captive-bred for export, Canada has continued to import these animals. Dr. Lisa Jones-Engel from PETA expressed frustration with the situation, pointing out illegal trade practices in Cambodia. Canada's Environment Minister's office acknowledged the concerns and stated that Canadian officials will attend the upcoming CITES meeting to assess potential actions following the committee's decision.