Elucidating discrepancies among reported wildlife trade: A response to “Is biomedical research demand driving a monkey business?” by Warne et al. (2023)

Abstract

Accurate representation of international trade in live macaques is a matter of considerable conservation and public health relevance. Our response to Warne et al. (2023) describes data handling and interpretation deficits among evaluation of non-human primate trade and the treatment of international wildlife trade more generally. In contradiction to statements made by Warne and colleagues, according to US trade records, thousands of live macaques have been exported to the United States from China since 2018 and this high-risk trade in endangered species continues to warrant attention from conservation and public health perspectives. The accuracy of wildlife trade data used to influence policy decisions also warrants greater scrutiny by researchers and decision-makers applying their results.