Known for its attractive coastal resorts with views of wide sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, Mauritius is a tourist hotspot. Approximately 1.2 million people call the East African nation home, but it’s not just humans that dwell on the island. Mauritius is also home to up to about 35,000 long-tailed monkeys, with tens of thousands more held in captivity. While tourists may take pictures with the primates, it’s not just visitors who have their eyes on the animals. The global biomedical research industry, too, is invested in Mauritius’ monkeys. In fact, the nation exports around 10,000 monkeys annually to labs in the US and Europe.
Want to find out more about this controversial practice that’s causing a stir in Mauritius and among conservationists? Click on to read more.