Online primate trade fuels animal cruelty

A recent report highlights the widespread online sale of primates, including endangered species, across popular social media platforms. Researchers documented over 1,100 listings over a six-week period in mid-2025, with many posts deceptively labeled as 'rehoming' or 'adoption.' This unregulated trade, fueled by demand for infant animals, operates with few federal restrictions in the United States, where owning primates is not federally banned.

Experts warn that this digital marketplace for complex wild animals, which are not pets, significantly increases pressure on zoos and sanctuaries that often care for confiscated wildlife. Approximately 75% of the world's primates are threatened with extinction, and wildlife trafficking remains a massive illegal global industry. Groups urge the public not to engage with or share primate listings online and to report them.

Many animals involved in this trade are infants, often taken from their mothers in the wild. They frequently suffer trauma and may die during smuggling or harsh transport conditions. The United States' lack of a federal ban on primate ownership, coupled with varying state laws, contributes to the problem. The illegal trade in wild primates poses a significant risk due to a combination of ignorance and greed.