'Wake-up call.' Study finds surge in US primate sales on social media

A new study released May 19 by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), International Fund for Animal Welfare, and World Wildlife Fund identified 1,131 social media posts from 122 accounts advertising 1,614 primates on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube over six weeks in mid-2025. Researchers documented macaques as the most commonly listed species, alongside marmosets and capuchins, with prices varying from $250 to $6,500 depending on rarity and age. Many listings featured infants, often taken from their mothers in the wild, raising concerns about animal welfare and public safety. The study marks the first U.S.-only analysis of primate sales via social media, revealing a trade with few federal restrictions despite the endangered status of species like macaques, spider monkeys, lemurs, and chimpanzees. Demand for infant primates is driven by misconceptions about bonding with humans, though experts warn many die before reaching buyers or suffer long-term trauma due to smuggling and harsh transport conditions. About 75% of the world’s primates face extinction, with wildlife trafficking—valued at $23 billion globally—exacerbating the crisis. The report notes that many animals are smuggled into the U.S. through the Mexico border, fueled by online demand. The groups urge the public to avoid engaging with or purchasing primates through social media and to report listings using platform tools. The study highlights the strain on zoos and sanctuaries, which often care for confiscated primates for life, as many cannot be returned to the wild. Experts describe the digital marketplace as a growing threat, driven by both ignorant desire and calculated greed, further endangering already vulnerable species.