Animal Law Review
First Page
183
Abstract
For decades, long-tailed macaques have served an instrumental role in advancing biomedical research. However, due to the recent primate shortage in U.S. laboratories, these macaques have become coveted targets for poachers. In 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) elevated the long-tailed macaque’s threat level from “Vulnerable” to “Endangered,” citing research-related capture as a critical factor contributing to their decline. Under this new status, long-tailed macaques are at risk of being categorized under Appendix I of CITES, a designation that will subject them to stricter trade regulations. Alarmed by the potential obstacles this reclassification may pose to scientific research, the National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) petitioned against the IUCN’s assessment of the long-tailed macaque status. Joining the ranks of horseshoe crabs and chimpanzees, the long-tailed macaque finds itself embroiled in an ethical dilemma only science can resolve.
While sympathetic to the NABR’s concerns, this Article argues the true threat to scientific progress lies in the IUCN reverting the long-tailed macaque’s conservation status to Vulnerable. Presently listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), States are obligated to regulate the long-tail macaque’s trade within their jurisdictions. However, local laws often fall short in protecting these animals, particularly as human-macaque conflicts breed resentment toward the species. Capitalizing on the long-tailed macaques’ domestic vulnerability and premium international price tag, poachers have resorted to using falsified CITES permits to capture and sell wild macaques to research laboratories. In light of their rapid decline, this Article advocates for heightened protection under CITES for long-tailed macaques to incentivize stronger domestic and international regulations. Furthermore, by aligning the biomedical industry’s objectives with those of conservationists, this Article proposes legal strategies grounded in domestic and international law that the research sector can utilize to advance scientific progress while saving a species vital to its success.
Recommended Citation
Maliat Chowdhury,
Saving Species or Sacrificing Science?: Navigating the Legal Labyrinth of Research and Conservation Through The Case of the Long-Tailed Macaque,
2
Animal L. Rev.
183
(2024).
Available at:
https://lawcommons.lclark.edu/alr/vol30/iss2/4