Abstract
This commentary emerged from a panel presentation at the International Primatological Society Congress in Nairobi, Kenya, 2018. The goal was to provide regional updates on the status of primate removal from habitat countries, especially for the pet trade, and develop guidelines that could help primatologists address this critical problem. The trade in live primates includes those used as pets, in entertainment, and as subjects of biomedical experimentation, but here we focus on those primates destined for the pet trade. Such transactions are a hugely lucrative business, impacting hundreds of thousands of individuals annually and affecting the survival of wild populations. Being intimately familiar with primate social behavior, life history and biology, primatologists, whether they work with captive or wild primates, are in a unique position to understand the nature of the trade and attempt to counter its effects. In addition to updating the status of the primate pet trade, we provide recommendations that may help primatologists formulate a plan to deal, locally and regionally, with illegal trafficking in live primates. General guidelines include increasing awareness of local customs, policies and laws; developing collaborative research opportunities for local people; engaging in training/informational opportunities; and instructing on how to take action when encountering illegally‐trafficked primates.
Highlights
The live primate trade consists of animals that are captured and removed from their native habitat and enter a local, national or international market for any reason
We encourage primatologists to disseminate information in scientific and popular journals or newspapers, in local languages, to publicize the plight of animals captured for the pet trade (e.g., Fuller et al, 2018)
We believe that our long‐term presence at field sites, appreciation for cultural patterns, and interest in gathering and exchanging information can provide local incentives to avoid the illegal capture of wild primates
Summary
The live primate trade consists of animals that are captured and removed from their native habitat and enter a local, national or international market for any reason (pets, entertainment, biomedical and pharmaceutical industries). Primatologists should strive to create social networks that include community members and local authorities to promote truthful information about local primates and other animals targeted for the illegal pet trade and their importance in shared ecosystems with humans. Tourist hotspots (e.g., hotels, Figure 5) may be exemplary locations for primatologists to educate both local tour operators and tourists themselves by becoming active participants and providing help with educational programs and signage
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