THERE'S no monkeying around when it comes to scientific research - and that aphorism is literally coming true in some quarters due to shrinking supplies of primates.
The US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine released a report last week, concluding that the situation is significantly compromising critical biomedical studies.
The report found that almost two-thirds of US researchers have reported challenges in obtaining monkeys, with the issues resulting in delayed studies, the use of fewer and "less ideal" animals, and in some cases seen studies abandoned.
The organisation also cited skyrocketing monkey prices, which in some cases have tripled to US$24,000 each which puts them out of reach for many researchers, according to the Science journal.
The COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues have seen Asian sources of primates dry up, while domestic primate centres within the USA have been unable to expand their breeding programs.
The report notes that in 2019 the USA was receiving about 60% of its imported monkeys from China, with issues compounded by a rapid spike in demand due to vaccine research.
Other problems include the refusal of many airlines to carry monkeys for research purposes, and a major smuggling scandal in Cambodia, which had become a key alternate source.
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