Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Seen as pests in some parts of Asia, long-tailed macaques are highly sought-after in the world of biopharmaceutical research for drug development.
But now a worldwide shortage means one monkey can sell for tens of thousands of dollars, so what’s driving up the cost?
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
China’s fast-developing biopharmaceutical industry has created more demand for macaques, and South East Asia is jumping on the opportunity to deliver.
Indonesia is resuming its export of macaques, to the chagrin of animal welfare groups who warn it may worsen the exploitation of an endangered species.
Not just any monkey can be used for testing.
Only captive-raised macaques are suitable, fuelling concerns that higher prices could lead to “monkey laundering” - where poached monkeys from the wild are introduced into the captive system under false records.
On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi is joined by the podcast’s Editor Bill Birtles, Bloomberg Asia pharma reporter Amber Tong and the BBC’s Jakarta-based senior journalist Liza Tambunan.
00:00 Introduction
01:21 Long-tailed macaques for preclinical trials
02:54 Why are lab monkeys so expensive?
03:58 How are monkeys obtained for research?
05:24 The changing landscape of monkey export
06:47 What is the average price for a monkey?
07:57 Monkey prices before China’s export ban
08:36 China’s growing dominance in drug development
10:12 US-China collaboration to deliver novel treatments
11:52 Alternatives to lab monkey testing
12:52 Moving away from animal testing
13:52 Monkey’s genetic similarity to humans
15:21 Indonesia’s resumption of monkey exports
17:25 How many monkeys was Indonesia exporting?
19:01 Where is Indonesia getting the monkeys from?
19:50 Concerns about poaching
Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽 youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc
Instagram: @bbcworldservice
Email: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Mariko Oi
Producers: Derek Cai, Rachel Lee, Cordelia Lee
Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli
Editor: Bill Birtles
----------------
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#BBCWorldService #WorldService #asiaspecific #asiaspecificpodcast #Geopolitics #animaltesting #drugdevelopment #endangeredspecies
Seen as pests in some parts of Asia, long-tailed macaques are highly sought-after in the world of biopharmaceutical research for drug development.
But now a worldwide shortage means one monkey can sell for tens of thousands of dollars, so what’s driving up the cost?
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
China’s fast-developing biopharmaceutical industry has created more demand for macaques, and South East Asia is jumping on the opportunity to deliver.
Indonesia is resuming its export of macaques, to the chagrin of animal welfare groups who warn it may worsen the exploitation of an endangered species.
Not just any monkey can be used for testing.
Only captive-raised macaques are suitable, fuelling concerns that higher prices could lead to “monkey laundering” - where poached monkeys from the wild are introduced into the captive system under false records.
On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi is joined by the podcast’s Editor Bill Birtles, Bloomberg Asia pharma reporter Amber Tong and the BBC’s Jakarta-based senior journalist Liza Tambunan.
00:00 Introduction
01:21 Long-tailed macaques for preclinical trials
02:54 Why are lab monkeys so expensive?
03:58 How are monkeys obtained for research?
05:24 The changing landscape of monkey export
06:47 What is the average price for a monkey?
07:57 Monkey prices before China’s export ban
08:36 China’s growing dominance in drug development
10:12 US-China collaboration to deliver novel treatments
11:52 Alternatives to lab monkey testing
12:52 Moving away from animal testing
13:52 Monkey’s genetic similarity to humans
15:21 Indonesia’s resumption of monkey exports
17:25 How many monkeys was Indonesia exporting?
19:01 Where is Indonesia getting the monkeys from?
19:50 Concerns about poaching
Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽 youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc
Instagram: @bbcworldservice
Email: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Mariko Oi
Producers: Derek Cai, Rachel Lee, Cordelia Lee
Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli
Editor: Bill Birtles
----------------
This is the official BBC World Service YouTube channel.
If you like what we do, you can also find us here:
Instagram 👉🏽 instagram.com/bbcworldservice
Twitter 👉🏽 twitter.com/bbcworldservice
Facebook 👉🏽 facebook.com/bbcworldservice
BBC World Service website 👉🏽 bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio
Thanks for watching and subscribing!
#BBCWorldService #WorldService #asiaspecific #asiaspecificpodcast #Geopolitics #animaltesting #drugdevelopment #endangeredspecies
