Indonesia considers resuming macaque exports amid conservation concerns
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Indonesia established a 2026 export quota of 1,920 long-tailed macaques and inaugurated a breeding facility in Lampung province to supply the species for international biomedical research. The government, supported by local officials in Mesuji regency, cited the need to manage primate overpopulation and resolve conflicts involving attacks on humans and crop destruction as primary justifications. While the IUCN classifies the long-tailed macaque as endangered, Indonesia’s 2024 national assessment categorized the species as of “least concern,” citing stable or growing populations in surveyed areas.
Consequences
The initiative is expected to facilitate exports primarily to the United States and potentially China, leveraging the 50-hectare facility operated by PT Bio Medika Nusantara Indah. However, the move has triggered opposition from animal welfare groups who argue that the trade undermines conservation efforts and remains misaligned with global trends seeking to reduce the use of primates in research.
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