Position Statement
The position of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group regarding the capture and
consumption of primates for food is to:
● Advocate for a reduction in primate hunting globally through sustainable local
management of wild meat resources, while acknowledging that a complete cessation is
not a realistic goal, and, in some societies, may not be culturally appropriate.
● Recognise that there is a difference between legal and illegal capture of primates and
that national legislation and international agreements take precedence over any
perspectives discussed in this position statement. In situations where it is evident that
“legal” hunting is leading towards species declines that will precipitate extinction, we
will work proactively with host communities and their governments to achieve more
sustainable outcomes.
● Support the use of the term “wild meat” when referring to non-domesticated, wild
animals caught for human consumption.
● Recognise that some species of primates are, in some circumstances, regarded as wild
meat, irrespective of their conservation threat status.
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IUCN SSC PSG Section on Human-Primate Interactions 