Global effort to protect baby monkeys sees 33 prosecutions

Los Angeles: A wave of international cooperation is delivering justice for exploited baby monkeys, with 33 people now prosecuted worldwide for their roles in torture video networks. The year 2026 has already seen new arrests and prison sentences, signaling that accountability is growing.

The progress follows years of work by advocates and law enforcement. In 2021, Lady Freethinker and Action for Primates exposed the private “Million Tears” group that commissioned custom abuse videos. Their findings helped shape the BBC documentary The Monkey Haters and were shared with authorities around the globe.

Since then, Lady Freethinker has documented and reported hundreds of cases of monkey torture content found on major platforms and encrypted chats. That ongoing effort has supported investigations leading to multiple convictions.

Animal protection groups, police, and prosecutors are now working together more closely than ever, treating these crimes with the seriousness they deserve. Advocates say the crackdown is creating real momentum and offering new hope for the protection of vulnerable primates worldwide.