Monkey business: the illegal trade in Barbary macaques

Abstract

This article focuses on the organization, modus operandi and trade route of the illegal trade in Barbary macaques. The Barbary macaque is the most seized CITES mammal in the EU, accounting for almost 25% of live mammalrelated seizures. It is estimated that as few as 5,000-6,000 Barbary macaques remain in fragmented parts of Morocco and Algeria, partly as result of the illegal trade. Although it was formally believed that the trade was loosely based on the tourist industry, a relatively high degree of (criminal) organization was found in this study on the illegal trade in Barbary macaques. Sophisticated methods combined with high profits and large numbers ordered