The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has upheld the endangered status of long-tailed macaques, rejecting a challenge from the U.S. biomedical lobby. This decision is significant as it reflects the ongoing decline of wild populations, which have decreased by 50-70% over the past three decades due to illegal poaching and the pet trade. The IUCN's assessment noted that wild-caught macaques are often funneled through breeding farms in Southeast Asia, a practice termed 'monkey laundering.' Despite the biomedical industry's claims that they only use captive-bred macaques, evidence suggests that illegal activities continue to threaten the species. Conservationists are calling for stricter laws and greater accountability to protect these primates from exploitation and habitat loss.