Stop the import of wild primates for the research and testing industries
Canada has imported nearly 1,800 wild-caught macaques for the research and testing industries in just three years—making it one of the world’s top importers of endangered primates. These long-tailed macaques, listed as Endangered by the IUCN, were ripped from the wild in Mauritius and Cambodia and shipped to Canadian facilities, primarily in Quebec.
This trade causes immense suffering, poses serious public health risks, and undermines scientific integrity. Wild primates carry zoonotic diseases and yield even more unreliable research results than captive-bred primates due to their unknown histories and genetics.
Humane World for Animals Canada is urging the Canadian government to take immediate action to:
- Ban the import (except for sanctuary rehabilitation), sale and use of wild-caught primates.
- Ensure the welfare of all imported macaques—at the importer’s expense.
- Invest in cruelty-free, human-relevant research methods.
- Advocate for increased transparency in Canada’s animal research oversight under the Canadian Council on Animal Care.
Ask lawmakers to protect animals, public health and scientific ethics.