To the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the continued legal export of long-tailed macaques from Cambodia, despite overwhelming evidence of illegal poaching and misrepresentation of wild-caught animals as captive-bred. We urge CITES to take immediate and decisive action to suspend all trade of long-tailed macaques, and indeed all primate species, from Cambodia.

The decision to delay a trade suspension until November 2025 is unacceptable. This delay allows the continued exploitation of endangered primates, fuels illegal wildlife trafficking, and undermines the very purpose of CITES.

We base our urgent call on the following undeniable facts:

• Widespread Illegal Poaching: Extensive investigations, including those by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have revealed a systemic practice of "monkey laundering," where wild-caught macaques are fraudulently declared as captive-bred. This practice decimates wild populations and threatens the long-term survival of the species.
• Unrealistic Breeding Rates: The reported breeding rates at Cambodian facilities are scientifically implausible, further substantiating the claim that wild-caught animals are being passed off as captive-bred.
  Threat to Wild Populations: The continued trade exacerbates the already critical decline of long-tailed macaque populations due to habitat loss and poaching.
• Zoonotic Disease Risk: The trade of wild-caught primates poses a significant risk of zoonotic disease transmission, endangering both human and animal health.
• Ethical Concerns: The use of wild-caught primates in biomedical research raises profound ethical concerns about animal welfare and the legitimacy of scientific data derived from compromised sources.
• Expansion to other Primate Species: The lack of proper controls, and the financial incentive to poach animals, creates a situation where other primate species are also in danger of being taken from the wild, and falsely labeled as captive bred.
  
  Therefore, we demand that CITES:

1. Immediately suspend all trade in long-tailed macaques and all other primate species from Cambodia.
2. Conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the Cambodian primate trade, including on-site inspections of breeding facilities and verification of breeding records.
3. Implement stricter regulations and enforcement mechanisms to prevent the illegal trade of primates globally.
4. Promote the use of ethical and humane alternatives to primate testing in biomedical research.
5. Prioritize the conservation of wild primate populations and their natural habitats.

The time for action is now. We cannot afford to wait until November 2025 while endangered primates continue to be exploited and traded illegally.

We urge CITES to uphold its mandate and protect these vulnerable species from extinction.

We, the undersigned, call upon CITES to demonstrate its commitment to wildlife conservation and take immediate steps to end the unsustainable and illegal trade of primates from Cambodia.

Sincerely,

The Monkeys Advocate,

Stop Abuse to Baby Monkeys,

A Voice for the Voiceless Macaques,

The undersigned petitioners.