Part 2/5:
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically transformed the landscape of nonhuman primate research. With a surge in the need for these animals, the price of a longtailed macaque skyrocketed to approximately $50,000 each. This dramatic price increase has catalyzed illegal poaching activities, as individuals see the potential profits that can be derived from capturing and selling these animals on the black market. The demand has turned the business of monkey breeding and trading upside down, leading to a significant ethical dilemma surrounding the treatment of these creatures.