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A growing global human population, habitat conversion, and the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources have created unsustainable demands on nature, resulting in widespread biodiversity loss. Primates, which represent the third most specious Order of mammals, are facing an extinction crisis. Currently, 69% of primate species are listed by the IUCN as threatened (Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered) and 94% have declining populations. Here, we examine two primary threats to primate population persistence, namely the commercialized hunting and capturing of wild primates and their body parts for food, traditional medicine, pets, and use in biomedical research. Both the legal wildlife trade and illegal wildlife trafficking represent multibillion-dollar industries that contribute to primate population decline, a reduction in genetic diversity, and local extirpation. Trade and trafficking also can lead to the emergence of infectious diseases, increasing biosecurity risks to humans. Between 2015 and 2021, CITES reported 337,511 live primates representing at least 99 species were legally traded, with 6.5% sourced directly from the wild. The recent indictment of Cambodian officials for allegedly laundering wild-caught long-tailed macaques into the U.S. by labelling them as captive-bred, highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability. Comprehensive data on the illegal trafficking of primates are extremely difficult to obtain. However, between 2009 and 2017, primates accounted for 20% of all seizures of illegally traded mammals in the air transport sector. International wildlife trafficking is dominated by criminal networks, corruption, and driven by the demands of wealthy consumers. In addition, the internet has expanded international opportunities to connect buyers and sellers of wild-caught primates and their body parts. Despite explicit bans on selling endangered primates, social media sites continue to do so. Moreover, data on the global food security index (GFSI) indicate that as the international demand for wild live primates, their meat, and other body parts has continued to increase, the majority of people in primate range nations have remained food insecure. Given that almost 70% of primate species are negatively impacted by hunting and trapping, we offer a set of recommendations to reduce the trade and trafficking of wild primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Civet coffee is produced with coffee beans that have passed through the digestive tract of civets which are then processed for drinking. Outlets, known as civet coffee tourism plantations are popular tourist attractions in Bali, Indonesia. These outlets keep caged civets for public viewing and sell civet coffee. We assessed civet welfare in 29 civet coffee tourism plantations to assess husbandry factors, the five freedoms and body condition scores. We also assessed civet welfare in eight wildlife markets where civets are sourced for civet coffee tourism and calculated turnover of civets. We found 99 civets in civet coffee tourism plantations and 136 in markets, where. Annually between 400 and 800 civets are sold. Welfare standards do not meet the Indonesian laws and regulations. Diet, hygiene, presence of water and mobility affected body condition scores and no civet met all of the five freedoms. Enforcement of welfare and trade laws is needed to improve civet welfare, and to curb the illegal civet trade. Tourists frequenting civet coffee tourism plantations should be made aware of the low welfare standards to inform their choice about supporting this industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Context: Limited information is available on the occurrence, conservation and management of Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) on Bali and Lombok, Indonesia. Some have even questioned their presence here. Aims: We present an overview of the current knowledge of pangolins on Bali and Lombok. Methods: Information was drawn from camera traps (2023), animal market surveys (1994–2024), and review of occurrence data (museum specimens, iNaturalist, literature), rescues and releases, and seizure data. Key results: We document the presence of wild pangolins from 11 sites in Bali (1994–2023) and 5 sites in Lombok (1939–2022). We document 8 rescues from Bali (2015–2023) but none from Lombok; there have been 11 releases of single pangolins in the forest near the Luhur Besi Kalung temple in Bali (2016–2023). We did not record, or find any records of, pangolins offered for sale in four animal markets in Bali (1994–2024) and Lombok (2018–2024), but there was one seizure of 15 live pangolins in Bali in 2009, and, unusually, limited evidence of trade from Lombok and Bali. Conclusions: There is a paucity of data of pangolins on Lombok, and on Bali the species appears to occur scattered throughout the island, with much of the contemporary information being derived from accidental encounters or rescues and active management of pangolins is largely absent. Implications: Compared to other parts of Indonesia, the conservation status of Sunda pangolins on Bali and Lombok is less bleak, and despite their small size, these two islands on the easternmost edge of the species' range may hold important populations. Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal globally and are the poster child of the illegal wildlife trade. We focused on the Indonesian islands of Bali and Lombok and found Sunda pangolins to be uncommon but widespread, with little evidence of trade. Although small, these two islands on the easternmost edge of the species distribution may turn out to be strongholds for their conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: There are clear links between tourism and the international wildlife trade, especially in countries with high levels of biodiversity and high numbers of international tourists. In the absence of clear regulations and implementation of existing policies, tourists can inadvertently have a negative impact on the environment, including through items bought as souvenirs. Bali is one of the world's premier tourist destinations. We investigated legally protected species that are offered for sale specifically targeting tourists in Bali. During December 2022–June 2023, we surveyed 66 shops offering curios (skulls, bones, carvings) of animals for which the international trade is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). We found items from >500 individuals of 20 CITES-listed species, including primate skulls, ivory carvings and decorated shells. According to vendors, there would be no problem exporting these items despite the absence of CITES permits. Export records over the last two decades provided by the Indonesian authorities, mostly indicating no exports, contrast sharply with our observations in Bali. A short but effective campaign as a collaborative effort between industry, tourism operators, local and expatriate communities and government agencies could result in a drastic reduction of protected and/or CITES-listed species ending up in trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There are clear links between wildlife trade and emerging infectious diseases including zoonotic diseases. In some cases, this leads to global outbreaks or even pandemics as recently seen with SARS and COVID-19 for instance. One of the first properly documented global pandemics caused by the trade of wildlife at a global level was the Great Parrot Fever Pandemic of 1929/1930. This pandemic was caused by psittacosis, a respiratory disease that can be transmitted to humans from infected birds (once transmitted to humans the disease is known as avian chlamydiosis). We assessed the risk of psittacosis becoming a zoonotic disease in Indonesia's bird markets where a wide range of wild-caught species, including parrots, are traded. In 14 markets on the islands of Java and Bali, we recorded almost 4500 parrots of 21 genera from all parts of the world and these were traded alongside each other. Genera offered for sale together did not cluster into geographic groups, were sold during all months of the year, and for 12/21 genera the presence of psittacosis had been reported in the past. We conclude that the omnipresence of wild-caught parrots from various geographic regions in large numbers within the same bird markets (visited by 100 s of people daily) increases the likelihood that psittacosis is indeed present. This poses a real risk for the zoonotic spread of avian chlamydiosis to humans. Wildlife trade, both legal and illegal, is increasingly recognized as a key factor in the rise of emerging viral infectious diseases, and this is especially apparent in Asia, where large numbers of wildlife are openly offered for sale in bird markets. We here focus on the risk of Psittacosis becoming a zoonotic disease in the wildlife markets of Java and Bali, Indonesia. Psittacosis is particularly prevalent in parrots (hence the name), and the trade in parrots was instrumental in the Great Parrot Fever Pandemic in 1929/1930. Between 2014 and 2023, we conducted 176 surveys of 14 bird markets, during which we recorded 4446 largely wild-caught parrots for sale. On average, each market had nine genera on offer, and the diversity of genera increased with the increasing presence of parrots (up to 16 genera). For most of the bird markets during each survey, parrots from different genera and originating from different parts of the world, were offered for sale alongside each other. Genera offered for sale together did not cluster into natural (geographic) groups. We found no temporal difference in the sale of parrots. We conclude that the omnipresence of wild-caught parrots from various geographic regions in large numbers within the same bird markets increases the risk that psittacosis is present and that this poses a real risk for the zoonotic spread of avian chlamydiosis to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Threatened Taxa is the property of Wildlife Information Liaison Development and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)