A new report has revealed a sharp increase in the online sale of primates across major social media platforms in the United States, raising concerns about wildlife trafficking, public safety, and animal welfare. The report, titled 'Primates for Purchase: The Surge in Sales on Social Media in the US', was released Tuesday by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Researchers monitored activity over a six-week period in mid-2025 and identified more than 1,600 primates listed for sale on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Many listings were easily found using search terms such as 'monkey rehoming' or 'adoption', despite platform restrictions on wildlife sales. Sellers frequently disguised commercial transactions as rescue or rehoming efforts to avoid detection.
The study documented 1,131 online posts from 122 social media users advertising 1,614 live primates for sale. Twelve primate taxa were identified, including macaques, capuchins, marmosets, spider monkeys, tamarins, squirrel monkeys, vervets, lemurs, bush babies, chimpanzees, howler monkeys, and owl monkeys. Macaques accounted for the largest number of listings, with 839 individuals, followed by marmosets at 293 and capuchins at 275. Prices ranged from $250 to $6,500 depending on species, age, and rarity.
Many of the animals advertised were infants and juveniles, often taken from their mothers in the wild because buyers believe younger animals bond more easily with humans. The report notes that many animals suffer severe trauma or die during smuggling operations before reaching buyers. About 60% of the world's primate species are threatened with extinction, and roughly 75% have declining populations due to habitat loss from human activities.
Sara Walker, senior adviser on wildlife trafficking at AZA, said: 'The ease with which primates are being bought and sold online should be a wake-up call. These are complex, long-lived wild animals – not pets – and this growing digital marketplace is fueling demand, causing animals to suffer.' Ed Newcomer, former special agent for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, added: 'Wild primates are just the latest wild animal put at risk by a combination of ignorant desire and calculated greed.'
Wildlife trafficking is estimated to be part of a global illicit trade worth about $23 billion annually. Experts warn that growing visibility and accessibility of primates online could continue to drive demand unless stronger enforcement and policy measures are introduced, such as strengthening federal laws and improving reporting tools for wildlife sales on social media platforms.
