A massive black market for primates is operating across Southeast Asia, driven by a surge in demand from pharmaceutical companies following China's 2020 ban on primate exports, according to a report by France 24.
Pharmaceutical giants continue to rely heavily on monkeys for testing new drugs and vaccines. However, the loss of Chinese supply has caused prices to skyrocket.
This scarcity has fueled an international trafficking network. The outlet reported that Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos sit at the heart of this illegal trade.
Pharmaceutical industry reliance
The demand for primates in labs has created a lucrative pipeline for smugglers. The report by France 24 journalists Justin McCurry, Théo Collet, Antoine Morel, and Cyrille Charpentier highlights how the industry's need for testing subjects sustains the network.
While the pharmaceutical industry requires these animals for critical medical research, the shift from legal supply chains to illicit ones has created a crisis in the region. The illegal movement of these animals through Thailand and neighboring borders remains a central component of the current black market operation.
