How to Close the Gap in Taking Long-Tailed Monkeys from Nature?

Verification of the origin of *Macaca fascicularis* along with an audit of the breeding facilities is important to close the gap in the taking of long-tailed monkeys from the wild. Tracing lineage, individual identification, reproductive records, genetic examinations, and population reconciliation need to be conducted to test the origin of the long-tailed monkeys. The effectiveness of monitoring the trade of macaques needs to be assessed by the system's ability to ensure the legality of trade and follow up on data consistency. Thus, it is not just about the existence of regulations and procedures. Quotas, trade realization, breeding production, and monitoring results need to be available to the public so that researchers, civil society organizations, and other interested parties can evaluate them. How can the government close the gap in the taking of long-tailed monkeys from the wild amidst their utilization for various interests? Fahma Wijayanti, a lecturer of Primatology at UIN Jakarta, emphasized the importance of verifying the origin of *Macaca fascicularis* along with auditing its breeding facilities. This aims to ensure that claims about breeding results are not solely based on documents. According to him, ensuring that these intelligent primates truly originate from breeding requires a series of scientific examinations. Tracing lineage, individual identification, reproductive records, genetic examinations, and population reconciliation need to be conducted to test the origin of the animals. "The first thing is not to just trust the 'breeding results' claims in CITES documents," Fahma explained on Monday (12/10/26). Lineage tracing and individual identification can help ensure the history of each monkey, including its origin and kinship. Reproductive records are also needed to match the number of births with the number of animals called *kethek* that the breeding facilities possess. Meanwhile, facility audits can be used to check the consistency of population data with the breeding capacity. The examination is important to ensure that claims about breeding results are supported by verifiable data, not just administrative statements. The government, according to Fahma, also needs to ensure that the taking of long-tailed monkeys from the wild does not threaten their populations. "The determination of the amount that can be utilized should not only be based on the percentage of population estimates." Determination of quotas, in his view, must be supported by population analysis and Non-Detriment Finding (NDF), which is an assessment to ensure that utilization does not harm the survival of their populations in the wild. Several parameters need to be calculated, including population trends, age structure, sex ratio, effective reproductive population, mortality rate, as well as the presence of predators and competitors. By considering these factors, the determination of quotas is expected not only to refer to the estimated number of available monkeys but also to the wild population's ability to survive and reproduce. On the other hand, Fahma assesses that the use of long-tailed monkeys for research should be reduced. The development of alternative methods, such as organoids, organ-on-chip, and computer modeling, opens up opportunities to reduce research dependence on live animals. "It is clearly necessary," he said when asked whether the use of *Macaca* in research needs to be reduced. Fahma believes that the development and application of alternative methods are important from the ethical side of research, as well as reducing pressure on wild animal populations. Efforts to close the gap in taking long-tailed monkeys from the wild require monitoring the origin of the animals, auditing the breeding facilities, determining quotas based on scientific studies, and developing alternative research methods. "But, the effectiveness of these steps also depends on the consistency of implementation and the transparency of the data used as the basis for policy." Mardiastuti and colleagues (2026), in the article "Long-Tailed Macaques in Indonesia: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of Decades of Study" published in the Journal of Tropical Biodiversity and Biotechnology, have mapped 369 publications about macaques in Indonesia from 1992-2024. This study finds that research on this species has developed in various fields, including ecology, medicine, and behavior. However, the authors also identify knowledge gaps, especially regarding national population data and long-term population monitoring. One issue highlighted is the inconsistency of population research methods. Differences in observation techniques and survey scope can result in estimates that are difficult to compare between locations or periods. This condition shows the importance of developing standardized monitoring methods, conducted periodically, and covering a wider area of distribution. Without adequate data, changes in the population in a certain area risk not being accurately identified. Ensure the legality of trade Amanda Faradifa, a representative of the AfA Macaque Coalition, said the effectiveness of monitoring the trade of macaques needs to be assessed by the system's ability to ensure the legality of trade and follow up on data consistency. Thus, it is not just about the existence of regulations and procedures. In her view, one issue that needs to be examined is the consistency of trade reports submitted by the exporting and importing countries. "Differences in figures in the reports could be a clue to trace further the flow of long-tailed monkey trade across countries," she explained on Tuesday (14/10/26). Referring to the research by Hansen et al. three years ago, "Is biomedical research demand driving a monkey business?" which analyzed macaque trade data in the CITES database for the period 2000-2020, this research found no consistency in inter-country trade reports. This finding indicates the need for more consistent record-keeping and reconciliation of export and import data. Nevertheless, differences in figures in the reports do not automatically prove illegal trade or that these intelligent primates are the result of wild capture rather than captive breeding. "The effectiveness of monitoring needs to be assessed based on its ability to ensure the legality and origin of the animals, not just the existence of administrative regulations and procedures." When inconsistencies are found, authorities need to trace the causes and ensure there are follow-up actions consistent with the findings. Examinations can include matching trade data, permit documents, the number of animals reported, and information from the involved facilities. Amanda also highlights the importance of information openness to allow independent monitoring. Quotas, trade realization, breeding production, and monitoring results need to be available to the public so that researchers, civil society organizations, and other interested parties can evaluate them. "Openness must take into account the information that must be protected." However, information about the implementation of policies and monitoring results needs to be sufficient to show how trade is controlled and how suspected deviations are handled. Including the category of captive-bred or captive-born in trade databases does not automatically prove that the origin of each individual has been independently verified. "Information in trade documents need to be read together with supporting evidence and relevant examination results," Amanda explained. Reference: Mardiastuti, A., Kusrini, M. D., Mutiaradita, N. A., Iskandar, E., & Rianti, P. (2026). Long-Tailed Macaques in Indonesia: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of Decades of Study. Journal of Tropical Biodiversity and Biotechnology, 11(3). https://journal.ugm.ac.id/v3/jtbb/article/view/21142/7521 Friis Hansen, M., Gill, M., Briefer, E. F., Nielsen, D. R. K., & Nijman, V. (2022). Monetary value of live trade in a commonly traded primate, the long-tailed macaque, based on global trade statistics. Frontiers in Conservation Science, 3, 839131. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/conservation-science/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2022.839131/full